The City of Greater Bendigo is delighted to unveil the artist and location for a new public statue to honour pioneering cricketer Barbara Rae, the top scorer at Australia’s first women’s cricket match held during the Bendigo Easter Fair in 1874.
The permanent statue will take pride of place at the entrance to Queen Elizabeth Oval (QEO), a fitting tribute as Greater Bendigo’s premier sports stadium for cricket and football, and part of the Rosalind Park Precinct where the birthplace of women’s cricket occurred.
Lis Johnson, a central Victorian artist and one of Australia’s most respected figurative sculptors, has been commissioned to create the permanent sculpture to celebrate the trailblazing cricketer.
The artist has an impressive portfolio of crafting lifelike bronze figures. Her sculptures include the iconic Rod Laver statue at Rod Laver Arena, works at the Vietnam War Memorial, and the Avenue of Legends at the MCG. She is also known for celebrating the contributions of women and First Nations people through public art.
The inaugural women’s cricket match between the Blues and the Reds at the Bendigo Easter Fair in 1874 raised funds for the Bendigo Hospital and Benevolent Asylum. It marked a bold step forward for women in sport.
Primary school teacher Barbara Rae, who was 19, was pivotal in organising the inaugural match, recruiting players and enlisting coaches for training sessions at the local cricket grounds. Barbara captained the winning team and was top scorer.
The sculpture is expected to be installed later this year following the City’s successful submission to the Victorian Women’s Public Art Program. It was developed to support the recognition of women’s contributions through public art. Barbara Rae’s was the first of six funded public artworks announced earlier this year to address the under-representation of women and their achievements in public life.
Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said she was thrilled that Barbara Rae’s legacy was being celebrated in this way.
“Barbara Rae was a trailblazer who defied the social norms of her time. This sculpture not only honours her courage and leadership but also sends a powerful message to women, girls and anyone who doesn’t fit the stereotypical mould—that cricket, and sport more broadly, is for everyone,” Cr Metcalf said.
“Barbara’s public art will be only the second public statue in Australia commemorating a female cricketer. The QEO is the perfect location—our premier cricket and footy venue and part of the very precinct where Barbara made history.
“This sculpture will ensure her legacy continues to inspire future generations.
“The artwork is expected to be unveiled later this year marking a significant moment in both local history and the broader recognition of women in sport.”
Lis Johnson said the commission was very special.
“I’m especially happy in recent times to see the gender and diversity imbalance being addressed in commemorative public artworks, and to contribute to that,” Lis Johnson said.
“I want to capture Barbara Rae’s youthful confidence and determination and to faithfully sculpt her many-layered intricate period outfit. The bronze sculpture will portray her poise and determination in a moment of free-spirited celebration.
“I hope when people observe the Barbara Rae sculpture, they will see a renewed invitation to play, as if Barbara is saying ‘come on ladies, we can do this, ignore those ignorant critics, follow me – let’s play cricket!’.
“I look forward to seeing Barbara’s sculpture proudly displayed in front of the QEO, inspiring curiosity and discussion for many years to come.”
Having created a maquette of the sculpture, Ms Johnson has used historical imagery to recreate the period cricket attire alongside leading costume designer Larry Edwards and is currently sculpting the full-sized piece in clay.
Once the mould is created, a cast will be made in museum grade silicon bronze, lasting up to 1000+ years.
The bronze statue will weigh 140kg and reach a height of 1900mm, set on a plinth sympathetic to the surrounding garden beds outside the QEO entrance gates. The statue will be unveiled in late 2025.
Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
06.02.25
National Weather Service Partial Rehire Plan Isn’t Good Enough, Says Cantwell
NWS lost over 560 employees under Trump firings, creating unprecedented forecasting interruptions; today’s approval of 126 new hires represents less than 1/4 of that total; Months before the current crisis, Cantwell called for an exemption and accurately predicted the current situation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, released this statement following the Trump administration’s announcement of a plan to partially undo the damage done by their indiscriminate firings, resignations, and attrition plaguing the National Weather Service (NWS) workforce.
“The Trump Administration is trying to put a flimsy band-aid over their massive cut to the National Weather Service,” said Sen. Cantwell. “Hiring back less than a quarter of the people they fired isn’t good enough with hurricane and wildfire seasons bearing down. The administration should immediately end its hiring freeze for the National Weather Service, along with other critical safety roles throughout NOAA, including weather researchers and maritime professionals that weather forecasters and fisheries managers depend on.”
This dangerous decision to leave critical jobs unfilled comes as the National Interagency Fire Center, a partnership which includes NWS, released its Fire Maps for the next four months predicting above normal significant fire potential across the Northwest, and the National Weather Service predicts an above-normal hurricane season, which began yesterday.
Just last Thursday, Sen. Cantwell sent a letter demanding that the Trump Administration immediately exempt the NWS from its current federal hiring freeze so that citizens and communities will not be left to fend for themselves without adequate warnings as both hurricane season and wildfire season rapidly approach.
Today’s action by the administration lifted the hiring freeze on 126 positions across four roles – meteorologists, hydrologists, physical scientists, and electronic technicians. However, many other important roles remain subject to the freeze, including credentialed mariners needed to safety operate NOAA research vessels, weather scientists, and weather satellite technicians. NOAA vessels and satellites are crucial to maintaining forecast and weather infrastructure needed for meteorologists to issue quality and timely forecasts. These firings also impact our economy, with a number of commercial fishing surveys cancelled this year, including for Alaska pollock and salmon. Elimination of surveys will take catch from fishing families, which will result in job loss and increased cost for consumers that want access to high quality American seafood at their local markets and restaurants.
Multiple recent reports have documented the impacts of the hiring freeze. The Washington Post reports that “Some…forecasting teams are so critically understaffed that the agency is offering to pay moving expenses for any staff willing to transfer to those offices, according to notices recently sent to employees…” And the New York Times found that “The National Weather Service is preparing for the probability that fewer forecast updates will be fine-tuned by specialists, among other cutbacks, because of ‘severe shortages’ of meteorologists and other employees, according to an internal agency document.” These reports make clear that action must be taken immediately to avoid a catastrophic gap in capacity in the face of a future storm or wildfire.
In February, Sen. Cantwell sent Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick a letter warning of the likelihood of this exact situation.
New York, New York, June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Univest Securities, LLC (“Univest”), a premier boutique full-service investment bank and securities broker-dealer firm based in New York, is pleased to announce that it will be participating as a Platinum Sponsor in the upcoming Japan GO IPO Summit, set to take place on June 5, 2025. This premier event brings together leading experts, investors, and industry leaders to discuss the latest trends and opportunities in the US IPO landscape.
As part of its commitment to fostering innovation and growth in the capital markets, Univest is honored to participate in this prestigious summit. Edric Guo, CEO of Univest, will be speaking on the panel “Tapping the Markets: Shelf Offerings, ATMs, and PIPEs,” where he will share his insights on strategic financing options and market opportunities for US listed companies from Asia including Japan.
“We are excited to be part of the Japan GO IPO Summit and to contribute to the ongoing dialogue about capital markets and investment strategies,” said Edric Guo. “Our participation underscores our commitment to supporting companies navigating the complexities of growth and capital raising on a global scale.”
For more information about the Japan GO IPO Summit and Univest’ involvement, please visit the event website: https://japangoipo.com/.
About Univest Securities, LLC
Registered with FINRA since 1994, Univest Securities, LLC provides a wide variety of financial services to its institutional and retail clients globally including brokerage and execution services, sales and trading, market making, investment banking and advisory, and wealth management. It strives to provide clients with value-add service and focuses on building long-term relationships with its clients. As a prominent name on Wall Street, Univest has successfully raised over $1.3 billion in capital for issuers across the globe since 2019 and has completed approximately 100 transactions spanning a wide array of investment banking services in various industries, including technology, life sciences, industrial, consumer goods, etc. For more information, please visit: http://www.univest.us/.
For more information, please contact:
Univest Securities, LLC Edric Guo Chief Executive Officer 75 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 18C New York, NY 10019 Phone: (212) 343-8888 Email: info@univest.us
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grant Duncan, Teaching Fellow in Politics and International Relations, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Imagine getting a positive pregnancy test and then – just a few days later – learning you’ll be prime minister. In hindsight, being willing and able to deal with the unexpected would become the hallmark of former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern’s political career.
She had always stood out as a leader, but her tumultuous political journey followed none of the predictable pathways. Readers of her memoir will relive what this was like, from her feelings about motherhood through to meeting world leaders.
Review: A Different Kind of Power – Jacinda Ardern (Penguin Random House)
The title of her book promises more than just that, however. Many people hope for a different kind of leader, but what personal qualities or strengths do such leaders need? More generally, can the personal qualities that contribute to great leadership be learned and applied by others?
The answer seems to be a qualified yes. Since leaving office, Ardern has become something of a global influencer. But as her career pivots towards celebrity appearances and international agencies, her memoir also serves as a leadership manifesto – especially for women, or aspirants of any gender, who suffer self-doubt.
The limits of empathy
In her formative years, working as an assistant to Labour leader Helen Clark, Ardern relates how she let political opponents get under her skin. Was she “too thin-skinned” for politics? She soon learned “you could be sensitive and survive”. Better still, she could use her sensitivity as a strength.
But “it is different for women in the public eye”, she writes. Derogatory terms were used against her, such as the “show pony” epithet coined by a senior woman journalist. There were questions about whether she had “substance”. These things could undermine people’s belief in her competence – perhaps even her own self-belief.
What she did about this is instructive. Lashing out at jibes and cartoon images would make her look “humourless and too sensitive”. The “trick” was to respond in a way that would “take the story nowhere”. She became adept at that, deflecting comments aimed at putting her down.
This also meant being a feminist but not using feminism as her ideological platform. Other than admonishing a TV presenter that it was “unacceptable” for him to ask whether a sitting prime minister could take maternity leave, she generally let others do the outrage and avoided becoming an even bigger target for culture warriors.
But A Different Kind of Power asks the question: different from what? Ardern’s political career has been a challenge, if not a rebuke, to leaders who indulge in egotistical, competitive, always-be-winning behaviour. Need one even mention Donald Trump?
Instead, Ardern offers kindness and empathy. The approach showed its true strength in the days following the terrorist atrocity in Christchurch in 2019. At a time when anti-immigrant and Islamophobic sentiments were growing, Ardern embraced the victims. “They are us”, she declared. Emotions that could have generated a cycle of blame were guided by her towards sharing of grief and aroha.
Like any political virtue, though, empathy has limitations: it touches those whose suffering commands our attention, but it is partial. Effective social policy also requires an impartial administration and redistribution of resources. Leaders must ensure public goods are delivered equitably to those in need, which calls for rational planning.
And sometimes a national emergency may call for actions that feel unfair or insensitive to some.
Pandemic politics
COVID-19 was that emergency. It created deep uncertainty for governments, and there was no “kind” pathway forward. The Ardern government did an exemplary job, saving many lives, and the Labour Party was rewarded at the 2020 election with an unprecedented 50% of the party vote. But Ardern’s retelling of that time is surprisingly brief, especially given her pivotal role.
She put herself daily at the centre of it all, patiently explaining the public health responses. During this battle with a virus, however, she couldn’t inoculate against the political consequences and shifts in public opinion.
As the pandemic wore on, many New Zealanders whose businesses had been shut down, who had been isolated in their homes, who had difficulty returning home from abroad or who’d been ostracised for not getting vaccinated, weren’t feeling much empathy or kindness from their government. And they felt they were being silenced. This sentiment grew far beyond the activists who had made themselves heard on parliament grounds in early 2022.
Ardern refused to meet with those protestors. “How could I send a message that if you disagree with something, you can illegally occupy the grounds of parliament and then have your demands met?”
But she (or a senior minister) could have heard their demands and explained why they couldn’t be met. Her refusal to listen left the field open to veteran populist Winston Peters, who exploited the opportunity, launching his campaign to return to parliament – in which he now sits and Ardern doesn’t.
While vaccine mandates were a key concern for protestors, it’s disappointing that, to this day, Ardern blames the dissenters, as if they were “not us” – kicked out of the “team of five million”. She attributes the dissent solely to their “mistrust”. Refusing to listen – not just to protestors, but to deeper shifts in public opinion – would cost Labour dearly.
Induced by the pandemic fiscal stimulus, inflation peaked at 7.3% in June 2022. By that time, two switches had occurred: the National Party was ahead in polls and a majority were saying the country was heading in the wrong direction. In January 2023, then, Ardern resigned as prime minister. She believed, probably correctly, that it would be “good for my party and perhaps it would be good for the election”.
Power and parenthood: Jacinda Ardern with her partner Clarke Gayford and their baby daughter, 2018. Getty Images
The toll of leadership
But she also reveals in her memoir that a cancer scare influenced the decision – a false alarm, but a sign perhaps that the job was taking its toll. Her leaving could “take the heat out of the politics”, she reasoned. And anyway, she was tired, stressed and losing her patience.
The leadership change to Chris Hipkins – and a devastating cyclone – boosted Labour’s polling for a while. But their 1,443,545 party votes in 2020 fell to 767,540 in the October 2023 election.
Hundreds of thousands of voters had turned their backs on the Labour Party, and the COVID response wasn’t solely to blame. There were also controversial or failed policies – such as restructuring water services, a proposed unemployment insurance scheme, and Māori co-governance initiatives – that were ruthlessly exploited by the political opposition. These were all initiated under Ardern, although unmentioned in her memoir.
Her book is more about subjective self-doubt and empathy. She doesn’t critically examine her own policies. Nor does she express empathy for those who felt disadvantaged or excluded by them – granting as always that emergency measures had been necessary. And, as she heads further into an international career, there’s no expression of empathy for those who now need it most, be they children in Gaza or refugees in South Sudan.
It’s disappointing Ardern doesn’t define key words: empathy, leadership or power, for example. There are different ways to understand them, and definitions carry assumptions. But she’s not addressing academics or political analysts. Her audience is primarily American – a much larger and more lucrative market than her home country. With the Democrats struggling to find direction and leadership after last year’s losses, Ardern – who poses no threat to anyone’s political ambitions there – offers some inspiration.
Some may fault it for avoiding those harder questions about her time at the top, but Ardern’s memoir interweaves an authentically retold personal story with high political drama. It tells of one woman’s struggle with morning sickness, childbirth, breastfeeding and motherhood, even while taking on huge public responsibilities and media exposure. It’s still amazing how she managed to do all that.
I was a personal acquaintance of Jacinda, when she was a list MP in Auckland Central.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Visitors interact with a robot during the world robot carnival in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, June 2, 2025. The event kicked off here on Monday, featuring nearly 100 robots including pet robots, make-up robots, robotics band, etc. People interacted with the robots to experience the charm of technology-empowered life. (Xinhua/Du Zixuan)
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China has launched a pilot program at hospitals in deeply aging regions, offering patients the option of relying on nurses and related workers rather than family members or private caregivers for round-the-clock care.
In China, caring for hospitalized patients who have difficulties performing daily activities is traditionally the responsibility of relatives — which often leads to their fatigue and stress — or self-hired caregivers, who can be either costly or lack sufficient training.
The pilot project, announced in a notice released by the National Health Commission last week, is aimed at addressing these issues as China’s population continues to age rapidly and an increasing number of people require round-the-clock care.
Public, tertiary hospitals in provincial capitals and major cities with accelerated aging trends will be prioritized to implement the program. Measures will first be carried out in wards that see many patients with high care demands, typically in geriatrics, neurology, cardiovascular medicine and general surgery.
Under the program, which runs until June 2027, hospitalized patients can choose so-called “no-accompany care services”, in which daily life care is provided by nursing aides hired by hospitals, freeing family members from their burden.
Nursing aides will aid patients with partial or complete loss of self-care ability and those with limited mobility in activities such as meal assistance, hygiene care and bathing, under the guidance of medical staff.
For example, they will help patients wash their hands before meals, help feed them and handle post-meal cleanup. They will also monitor eating pace and portion sizes and promptly report any swallowing difficulties, nausea or vomiting to medical staff.
The commission stressed that nursing aides must not perform specialized medical or nursing tasks or replace the duties of licensed medical personnel.
Local health authorities will be responsible for training nursing aides to improve their professional expertise, communication skills, and knowledge of quality and safety protocols and infection control. Pilot hospitals must also provide necessary occupational health protection supplies and monitor the aides’ health conditions. Additionally, hospitals should streamline the delivery of specimens, drugs and meals to facilitate the aides’ work.
“Advanced information technologies such as smart bedside call systems and data collection tools should be fully used to streamline workflows and improve service efficiency,” the notice said.
“Inpatient visitation policies should be upgraded to balance compassionate care with maintaining a quiet, orderly hospital environment.”
By the end of last year, about 310 million people in China were age 60 or older, accounting for 22 percent of the total population. By 2035, this number is projected to exceed 400 million, or 30 percent.
Before the national program was launched, some regions had already begun regional trials.
At Jiulongpo People’s Hospital in Chongqing, 18 nurses manage the 35-bed orthopedic ward and frequently face overwhelming workloads. The addition of three nursing aides six months ago has significantly helped meet demand and enabled professional nurses to focus more on their specialized nursing skills.
He Bo, head nurse of the ward, told China Central Television that nursing aides undergo about six months of training in fundamental medical knowledge and caregiving techniques.
“For our orthopedic department caregivers, we provide specialized instruction to them addressing patient-specific needs, including proper positioning and safe transfer methods,” she said.
Zhang Jun, a resident of Wuxi, Jiangsu province, hired a nursing aide at a pilot hospital ward for her 90-year-old mother, who underwent orthopedic surgery last month. The service cost 120 yuan ($16.70) per day.
Zhang said she felt reassured delegating tasks such as repositioning her mother or adjusting the bed’s incline, as the aide demonstrated careful attention to proper techniques to avoid injury. However, she still chose to personally accompany her mother most of the time, believing that genuine compassion could not be expected from a stranger.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Egypt’s New Urban Communities Authority and a Chinese-Egyptian joint venture have signed a comprehensive operation and maintenance agreement for the Central Business District (CBD) in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital.
According to the agreement, Horizon Operations Management (Egypt) Co., Ltd. will be responsible for the operation of the CBD project, initially focusing on property and municipal management.
This photo taken on Sept. 18, 2024 shows a view of the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt’s new administrative capital, east of Cairo, Egypt. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
According to a statement by the Egyptian cabinet, Egyptian Minister of Housing Sherif El-Sherbiny said during pre-signing talks that the agreement covers the maintenance and management of important facilities and the provision of integrated urban services to residents, tourists, and businesses in the CBD.
El-Sherbiny emphasized that this move represents a significant transition in Egypt’s approach to public facility management — from traditional models to performance-based governance rooted in quality and sustainability.
The signing ceremony on Sunday was also attended by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, China’s Vice Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Dong Jianguo, and representatives of China State Construction Engineering Corporation, which led the construction of the CBD.
Located in the heart of the desert some 50 km east of the capital Cairo, the CBD is one of the key projects of the China-Egypt joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. The project includes 20 commercial and residential skyscrapers as well as supporting municipal infrastructure, among which is a 385.8-meter-high iconic tower, the tallest building in Africa.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
People in traditional Chinese costumes take part in a celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in New York, the United States, on June 1, 2025. (Photo by Qin Mingwei/Xinhua)
A parade was held in Manhattan, New York City (NYC), to celebrate the traditional culture of Asian Americans on Sunday, drawing hundreds of participants and spectators.
The celebration was hosted by the Chinese-American organization Better Chinatown Society, as part of national celebrations of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, which is observed in May in the United States.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Chinese Consul General in New York Chen Li, and representatives from the Better Chinatown Society addressed the crowd, emphasizing the importance of cultural exchange and community empowerment for Asian and Chinese Americans.
The celebration plays a positive role in uniting community members in the United States to defend their rights, spread culture and strengthen the friendship between the United States and China, and other global countries, according to Chen.
“We should uphold the spirit of openness and inclusiveness, respect different systems, develop international people exchanges and cooperation and work together to build a community with a shared future,” Chen noted.
The national anthems of China and the United States were played during the event, stirring patriotic feelings among the audience from diverse backgrounds.
The performers showcased lion dances, Sichuan opera face-changing and Cantonese singing, drawing rounds of applause.
The event attracted thousands of citizens to line the streets and watch. Norma Anderson, a visitor from Sacramento, California, said she was particularly impressed by the lion dance and the variety of traditional Chinese costumes.
“Every era and region in China and Asia has different clothing, which is so beautiful and amazing,” said Anderson.
Jimmy Li, a Chinese American who lives in Flushing, NYC, said the celebration reminded him of his hometown.
“I’m an immigrant from Guangdong, and hearing Cantonese songs in New York moved me to tears,” Li said. “This is cultural transmission.”
This is the fourth Asian Heritage parade held in New York. May was officially designated AAPI Heritage Month in 1992 in the United States.
The month-long observance provides an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the AAPI community’s contributions to American culture, society and history over the centuries.
Lion dances are staged in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in New York, the United States, on June 1, 2025. (Photo by Qin Mingwei/Xinhua)
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The U.S. Trump administration on Monday filed an appeal with the Supreme Court seeking to overturn the federal court’s injunction that had prevented federal agencies from carrying out large-scale workforce reductions and reorganizations.
In the appeal, U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer argued that “controlling the personnel of federal agencies lies at the heartland” of the president’s authority, and “the Constitution does not erect a presumption against presidential control of agency staffing, and the president does not need special permission from Congress to exercise” his core constitutional powers.
On May 30, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected the Trump administration’s appeal, upholding the temporary injunction issued earlier by Judge Susan Illston of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The injunction barred federal agencies and the Office of Management and Budget from moving forward with broad-scale layoffs and structural reorganizations.
The Ninth Circuit held that implementing extensive layoffs and reorganizations would seriously impair many areas, including the national food safety system and veterans’ healthcare, and therefore such actions should be suspended while the litigation proceeds.
On May 9, Illston issued a two-week temporary injunction requiring federal agencies to halt enforcement of the administrative order signed by President Donald Trump in February, as well as the subsequent memorandum issued by the Office of Management and Budget. She also ordered agencies to rescind any layoff notices issued under the president’s order, to reinstate positions for employees placed on administrative leave, and to provide appropriate compensation.
In her ruling, Illston stated that the president must obtain congressional approval in order to reform federal agencies. Agencies may not undertake mass reorganizations or layoffs without authorization from Congress.
On May 22, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California further ruled to extend the injunction indefinitely. The Department of Justice filed an appeal with the Ninth Circuit the following day.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Boosted by China’s trade-in program for consumer products, the country saw strong growth in retail sales of cars, home appliances and electronic products in the first five months of this year, indicating steady growth in the overall consumption market, latest data from the Ministry of Commerce showed.
The trade-in program has driven total retail sales of consumer goods in the country to 1.1 trillion yuan ($152.8 billion) as of Saturday, the ministry said on Sunday.
China has vowed to implement solid supporting measures to boost domestic consumption. The plan outlines the issuance of ultra-long special treasury bonds totaling 300 billion yuan to bolster the consumer goods trade-in program this year, double the figure in 2024.
In the first five months of this year, around 175 million units of subsidies were distributed directly to consumers with the trade-in program, according to the ministry.
“We will continue to expand the scope of the trade-in program and organize diverse consumption promotional events,” said Li Gang, director-general of the ministry’s Department of Market Operation and Consumption Promotion, at an earlier news conference in Beijing.
“China’s consumption market boasts strong resilience and great potential, and is full of vitality. The basic trend of recovery and improvement remains unchanged for the long term,” Li said.
Over the five-month period, there were more than 4.12 million applications for car trade-in subsidies. In addition, nearly 50 million consumers purchased home appliances through trade-in activities, and they bought over 77 million units of 12 types of household appliances, the ministry said.
During the same period, more than 53 million consumers bought 56 million digital products, including mobile phones. Meanwhile, over 6.5 million electric bicycles were traded for new ones, and consumers traded over 57 million home decoration, kitchen and bathroom products for new ones, the ministry said.
Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association, said that the trade-in program started earlier this year, and the subsidy policy was well implemented. Different regions have introduced corresponding consumption promotional policies.
“China’s automobile consumption market began to pick up in March, and the market saw a peak in customers during the May Day holiday,” Cui said.
In the first four months of this year, new energy vehicles accounted for over 53 percent of the car trade-in activities in the country, according to the association.
Since the introduction of the trade-in program in early 2024, more than 120 million consumers have used the subsidies, the Commerce Ministry said.
In the Government Work Report delivered in March, boosting consumption was listed as a top priority among this year’s tasks.
Denis Cheng, consumer sector leader at Ernst & Young China, said that China’s overall consumption market is expected to show a stable and positive growth trend this year, supported by the government’s favorable policies.
“The trade-in program has directly created benefits for consumers and enhanced their confidence and willingness to shop. For goods consumption, the trade-in program has continued to be effective, and sales of key commodities such as automobiles, home appliances and home furnishings are improving,” Cheng said.
He added that further efforts have been made to expand the scope of the program, and it is expected to promote sustained release of the consumption potential of durable goods.
Xu Dongsheng, deputy president of China Household Electrical Appliances Association, said the introduction of the trade-in policy will continue to encourage consumers to upgrade their home appliances to smarter ones and help drive industrial upgrading.
Lily Chen, a 35-year-old office worker in Beijing, recently bought a new washing machine and enjoyed a discount of about 2,000 yuan with national subsidies. Benefiting from the trade-in policy, she also got 50 yuan for exchanging the old one, and the retailer took away the old machine.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
French international forward Antoine Griezmann has signed a contract extension that will keep him at Atletico Madrid until the end of June 2027.
Inter Milan’s Matteo Darmian (R) vies with Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st leg match between Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid in Milan, Italy, Feb.20, 2024. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
“Antoine Griezmann and Atletico Madrid have reached an agreement for the French footballer to renew his contract until June 30th, 2027,” explained the Atletico website.
The news means that Griezmann will stay at the club he originally joined from Real Sociedad in 2014, until he is 36 years old.
Griezmann has played 442 games for Atletico in two spells, with a two-year hiatus at FC Barcelona between 2019 and 2021.
He has also scored a club record 197 goals and is the non-Spanish player with the third-highest number of appearances for the club after team-mates Jan Oblak and Angel Correa.
This season saw his performances drop slightly in comparison with previous years, but Griezmann still scored eight goals in La Liga and 16 in all competitions, as well as giving nine assists in 53 appearances in Liga, Copa and Champions League.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Manchester City has confirmed that midfielder Mateo Kovacic will miss the Club World Cup, which kicks off in just under two weeks.
Manchester City’s Mateo Kovacic (1st R) celebrates scoring with teammates during the English Premier League match between Manchester City and Luton Town in Manchester, Britain, April 13, 2024. (Xinhua)
The team coached by Pep Guardiola starts its campaign against Moroccan side Wydad AC in Philadelphia on June 18th, but Kovacic won’t be in the starting 11 after an announcement from the club on Monday that he has had an operation on an Achilles tendon injury.
“The Croatian midfielder is now set to miss the FIFA Club World Cup as City head to the USA in June. Mateo will spend the summer rehabilitating from the operation, and everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery,” confirmed the club website.
Guardiola will be hoping that Rodrigo Hernandez is able to return to full fitness and form in the United States.
Rodrigo made a brief appearance against Bournemouth at the end of the campaign after missing nearly all of last season with a cruciate knee ligament injury, but is still short of match fitness after not previously playing since September.
Meanwhile, the club is reported in the British press to be interested in signing Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Algeria defender Rayan Ait Nouri, although whether the move will happen in time for the Club World Cup is not certain.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Michael Anthony Rangel, 43, of Ogden, Utah, was sentenced today to 84 months’ imprisonment after a federal jury found him guilty of unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
In addition to the sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Howard C. Nielson, Jr. sentenced Rangel to three years’ supervised release.
According to evidence presented at trial, and statements made at Rangel’s sentencing hearing, in July 2022, during a traffic stop, Rangel, knowing he was a convicted felon and restricted from possessing a firearm and ammunition, possessed a stolen Taurus PT111 G2 pistol. The firearm and associated ammunition were seized by law enforcement.
Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case was investigated by Ogden Metro Gang Task Force.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Branden B. Miles and Assistant United States Attorney Luisa Gough of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A Tuscaloosa man has been sentenced for possessing and conspiring to steal over $800,000 in high-end motor vehicles, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Jamarus D. Hoskins, 30, of Greensboro, Alabama, to 60 months in prison for conspiring to steal at least 18 high-end motor vehicles, and to 97 months in prison for receiving or possessing stolen motor vehicles. The sentences will run concurrently. Hoskins was convicted by a jury in November 2024.
According to evidence presented at trial, between December 2020 and January 2023, Hoskins was the ringleader of an organized conspiracy to steal high-end motor vehicles from private citizens and car dealerships at various locations across the United States. Hoskins directed members of the conspiracy to steal vehicles and replace the Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) with fake VINs. The vehicles were registered with the Alabama Department of Revenue using fraudulent out-of-state titles, and Hoskins sold them for cash at below market price. Hoskins and his co-conspirators stole multiple vehicles, including a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk from a victim in Michigan, a Chevrolet Corvette from a victim in Tennessee, three Ford trucks from a dealership in Tennessee, and a Chevrolet Camaro and several vehicle tags from another dealership in Tennessee.
“Jamarus Hoskins and his co-conspirators terrorized car dealerships and innocent victims across the United States for years,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “Hoskins and his crew thought the fast cars they stole and sophisticated techniques they used would help them escape responsibility for their crimes. They were wrong.”
“I am extremely proud of the collaborative effort our team put forth to ensure this defendant was brought to justice and can no longer terrorize or threaten the hardworking citizens and businesses in our country,” said David R. Fitzgibbons, Special Agent in Charge of the Birmingham Division. “This case serves as another example of our U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners working together to identify, dismantle, and disrupt organized criminal networks while effectively holding reckless criminals accountable. Let it be clear: the rule of law is not optional.”
The FBI investigated the case along with the Tuscaloosa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittney L. Plyler and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward “Ted” Canter prosecuted the case.
WASHINGTON – Devonne Keith Brown, 56, of the District of Columbia, was arraigned today on a federal child pornography charge, announced U.S. Attorney Jeannine Pirro and FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven Jensen of the Washington Field Office.
According to the FBI, Brown was employed at a school in Northeast Washington, D.C. and may have also been involved with a local youth track club.
Brown is charged with one count of receipt of child pornography. He made an appearance today in U.S. District Court and was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for June 4, 2025.
According to court documents, Brown is alleged to have solicited the production of child sexual abuse material from a minor in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Juan Carlos Ruiz Jr., aka “Goer”, 26, of Coalinga, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for distributing methamphetamine and firearms trafficking, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, Ruiz distributed more than 4 kilograms of methamphetamine and sold 19 firearms over several occasions. Ruiz is also a felon and documented Bulldog gang member.
Ruiz joins several other co-defendants that have now been sentenced to prison.
On March 31, 2025, Javier Alfonso Lopez Lopez was sentenced to four years in prison for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.
On Jan. 6, 2025, Sostenes Quintero Lopez was sentenced to over 10 years in prison for manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine.
On June 24, 2024, Angel Sanchez was sentenced to 14 years in prison for distributing methamphetamine and firearms trafficking with Ruiz, who is his cousin.
On Sept. 25, 2023, Alma Sanchez was sentenced to over 16 years in prison for distributing methamphetamine to Ruiz, who is her son.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Coalinga Police Department, Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, Tulare County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Unit (HIDTA), and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio J. Pataca prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
LITTLE ROCK—Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced today that eight defendants have been sentenced by United States District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky to federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Each of the defendants previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
On August 1, 2023, Jaylen Ester, aka Sumo; Adrian Perry; Miguel Thompson; James Chenault, aka LJ; Saundra Lunsford; Carma Brown; April Reyes; and Briana McElroy were indicted by a federal grand jury in a 13-count indictment. All defendants were indicted on Count 1, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
The defendants each pled guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment and Judge Rudofsky sentenced each of them to federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
Defendant
Age
City/State
Sentencing Date
Sentence
Adrian Perry
39
England, Arkansas
6-2-2025
180 months,
5 years’ supervised release
Briana McElroy
34
Dardanelle, Arkansas
4-15-2025
60 months,
4 years’ supervised release
Miguel Thompson
42
Russellville, Arkansas
4-15-2025
197 months,
5 years’ supervised release
Jaylen Ester aka Sumo
31
North Little Rock, Arkansas
1-16-2025
192 months,
5 years’ supervised release
April Reyes
41
Russellville, Arkansas
12-16-2024
60 months,
4 years’ supervised release
Saundra Lunsford
30
Russellville, Arkansas
12-10-2024
60 months,
4 years’ supervised release
James Chenault aka LJ
42
Russellville, Arkansas
11-4-2024
210 months,
5 years’ supervised release
Carma Brown
38
Russellville, Arkansas
10-22-2024
41 months,
4 years’ supervised release
Multiple defendants had significant criminal histories, and defendants Perry, Thompson, Chenault are classified as career offenders. Perry’s criminal history includes convictions for possession of cocaine with purpose to deliver and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. The criminal history for Ester includes convictions for residential burglary and robbery. During Ester’s sentencing, the United States presented evidence to the court of his arrest for terroristic act, felon in possession of a firearm, and aggravated assault in an incident where Ester shot at an occupied residence with children present.
Thompson’s criminal history includes four convictions for delivery of marijuana, three convictions for possession with intent to deliver marijuana, intimidating a witness, delivery of methamphetamine, three convictions for possession with intent to deliver oxycodone, and terroristic act. Chenault’s criminal history includes three convictions for delivery of marijuana, battery and domestic battery, escape, possession of methamphetamine and cocaine with intent to deliver, and four convictions for delivery of cocaine or methamphetamine, aggravated assault, and possession of firearms by certain persons.
“Because fentanyl is so deadly and because it is being sent to our country by foreign adversaries ostensibly to result in the deaths of many Americans, our office will continue to regard the distribution of fentanyl as a violent crime which commands our office’s full attention,” said Ross. “Protecting our citizens from violent crime is the basic responsibility of law enforcement and so prosecuting those involved with distributing deadly drugs is part of the core mission at the Department of Justice. If you are involved in distributing the poisons of fentanyl and methamphetamine, we will not concern ourselves with trying to empathize with you as to why you made such despicable decisions; rather, we will commit to fully prosecuting you and seeking to keep you away from our communities through incarceration.”
Through an investigation, law enforcement officers learned that from 2020 through approximately December 2022, the defendants were distributing fentanyl for redistribution in the River Valley and central Arkansas areas.
In November 2021, information was received that Ester travelled to and from Little Rock and Russellville trafficking fentanyl from his girlfriend’s apartment. During surveillance of the girlfriend’s apartment, law enforcement officers observed the girlfriend leave in their vehicle. At this time law enforcement officers knocked on the door and Ester opened it and then attempted to shut the door, but law enforcement officers prevented the door from closing. Law enforcement officers observed children and Ester, a parolee who has a search waiver on file and felony warrants, inside the apartment. During a search of the apartment, law enforcement officers located fentanyl, marijuana, and close to $3,000 in cash. Law enforcement also recovered a bag of fentanyl tablets Ester’s girlfriend discarded, which Ester admitted was intended for distribution. Ester admitted obtaining thousands of fentanyl tablets and hundreds of pounds of marijuana for distribution.
On December 22, 2021, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop in which Perry, who had warrants, was a passenger. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement officers located a can of Coke in the center console that contained 13 fentanyl pills. During a search of Perry’s person, law enforcement officers located $3,262.00.
In May 2022, law enforcement recovered fentanyl tablets and marijuana during an incident involving Chenault, and during the execution of a search warrant at Chenault and Lunsford’s residence located 142 whole fentanyl pills and ten partial fentanyl pills, over 300 grams of marijuana, and over 5 grams of methamphetamine. In July 2022, law enforcement recovered over 1,000 fentanyl tablets and cocaine from Thompson and McElroy after a traffic stop and search of Thompson’s residence. In August 2022, law enforcement recovered fentanyl tablets, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia from Reyes’s residence. In November 2022, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from Brown. On November 22, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a home visit at Thompson’s residence and recovered methamphetamine, marijuana, and fentanyl.
“Sending career criminals like this to prison is another example of our commitment to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect our communities from those who spread fentanyl poison in our neighborhoods,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “Bringing our expertise and resources to target individuals and organizations that plague our communities with drug trafficking is a top priority for ATF. The sentence imposed today sends a message to the community that drug traffickers will be held accountable.”
“The Russellville Police Department is proud to have played a role in the successful prosecution of those responsible for distributing these deadly drugs in our community,” said David Ewing, Chief of Police, Russellville Police Department. “This outcome reflects our ongoing commitment to working alongside our federal partners to combat the fentanyl crisis and protect the safety and well-being of our citizens.”
“I’m so proud of the dedicated people I have working with me in the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force. Their cooperation with other local law enforcement in Pope County is so important in aggressively addressing criminal activity in our county – primarily drug sales and trafficking,” said Jeff Phillips, Fifth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney. “I also want to thank the federal authorities in partnering with us to make a difference in our community.”
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force, and the Russellville Police Department.
# # #
Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
HOUSTON – A 33-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison following his convictions for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Fredrick Douglass Shelton pleaded guilty Feb. 13.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt has now ordered Shelton to serve 324 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court recognized the families of the deceased and commented on the disturbing fact that after the deaths, Shelton continued to sell fentanyl with a verbal warning to customers that the drugs are strong. In handing down the sentence, Judge Hoyt noted Shelton’s history of drug dealing and conduct during this offense which made him question whether there is anywhere Shelton could be safely housed.
“The defendant’s conduct in this case vividly illustrates his utter disregard for human life and the safety of others,” said Ganjei. “Not only was his fentanyl trafficking linked to three overdose deaths, but he also left a 10-month-old baby alone, surrounded by guns and drugs (including fentanyl), while he was out dealing. With today’s sentencing—made possible by collaboration with our partners—this dangerous individual is now off the street for decades to come, and Houstonians are safer for it.”
The investigation began following evidence linking three fatal fentanyl overdoses to Shelton. He had sold large quantities of highly potent fentanyl to numerous individuals in the Houston area.
As Shelton left his residence to conduct yet another drug transaction, law enforcement conducted a search at his residence. They found large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, narcotics packaging equipment and firearms strewn throughout the residence in a disorderly fashion, including on counters, scales and the floor.
Authorities also discovered Shelton had left his 10-month-old child in the residence alone and exposed to the narcotics.
Shelton will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI Houston Field Office and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of the Montgomery County Narcotics Enforcement Team and sheriff’s offices in Montgomery and Harris Counties. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Tallichet prosecuted the case.
This abuse in elite sport sport has been particularly visible but it is not just happening at the top level. Abusive and harmful practices are happening in all sports, at all ages and at all competition levels.
While sport can have many wonderful benefits for young people, it can also have a dark side, one where abuse can flourish, leading to serious psychological and physical harm.
A 2022 Australian study showed 82% of children had experienced physical, psychological or sexual abuse during their time participating in community sport. This makes the abuse prevalence similar to that found in elite sport environments.
The line between abuse and acceptable behaviour is blurred more in sport than in many other environments.
For example, in school, it would be unacceptable for a teacher to scream at a child who performed poorly on a test but in sports, screaming is a commonly used strategy by a coach to correct a young athlete’s behaviour.
The following quote from an elite-level gymnast in an ongoing research project demonstrates how athletes often learn to accept abusive behaviours as necessary for their performance:
(He) was a strict coach. He spoke loudly […] but I’m a gymnast, I need that. I don’t know if everybody needs that but if I did something really bad, he screamed at me and this kind of gave me motivation to push myself more, so for me this type of coaching style was really good.
Challenges and changes
The “win-at-all-costs” mentality in many sports is also problematic.
When winning is everything, abusive practices are not seen as a problem to be stamped out but rather as legitimate strategies to motivate and toughen up the participants.
Athletes are not the only ones who normalise these practices. Parents, coaches and administrators might also come to tolerate, accept or even celebrate abusive behaviours and cultures as a “natural” part of sport.
This means experiences of abuse may flourish in such environments.
Thankfully, some sports organisations have in recent years made significant changes to reduce the likelihood of abuse and deal with cases as soon as they arise.
Sport Integrity Australia (SIA), for example, is implementing national policies for safeguarding and whistleblowing, where abuse and harmful behaviour can be reported.
SIA has also recently co-developed a course with other leading sport agencies to help coaches working with young athletes better navigate the complexities of physical, emotional and psychological development.
While these are potentially steps in the right direction, researchers have pointed out that similar efforts have achieved mixed results and there are no guarantees of athlete safety.
Parents may therefore rightly ask what they might do to protect their child(ren) from abuse and maximise the positive gains from participating in sport.
This involves being informed about training times and competition schedules, training content, coaching style and behavioural expectations.
Parents should also be welcomed to watch their children’s training sessions at any time and unannounced.
Denying parents information or access to facilities have been identified as a potential risk factors.
The right for inclusion also refers to decision-making. Sport is often hierarchical with authoritarian leadership styles, which are significant risk factors for abuse in sports.
So it is important children and their parents are provided with spaces and opportunities to have a say in matters related to their (child’s) sporting participation.
Secondly, young athletes and their parents/caregivers should be made aware of the policies and safety measures put in place to keep children safe.
If these are not clearly communicated, parents/caregivers are encouraged to ask what actions a club has put in place.
If protection and prevention are not developed, or considered limited or ineffective, parents are recommended to raise their concerns.
Lastly, parents should be conscious of the “win-at-all-costs” mentality found in many sports and consider how this can lead to abusive practices being accepted as a “natural” part of sport.
By staying informed, involved and attentive, parents can play a powerful role in supporting safer sporting environments for all children.
Natalie Barker-Ruchti is affiliated with Safesport Sweden.
Fanny Kuhlin, Jessica Lee, and Steven Rynne do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Last month, Google announced SynthID Detector, a new tool to detect AI-generated content. Google claims it can identify AI-generated content in text, image, video or audio.
But there are some caveats. One of them is that the tool is currently only available to “early testers” through a waitlist.
The main catch is that SynthID primarily works for content that’s been generated using a Google AI service – such as Gemini for text, Veo for video, Imagen for images, or Lyria for audio.
If you try to use Google’s AI detector tool to see if something you’ve generated using ChatGPT is flagged, it won’t work.
That’s because, strictly speaking, the tool can’t detect the presence of AI-generated content or distinguish it from other kinds of content. Instead, it detects the presence of a “watermark” that Google’s AI products (and a couple of others) embed in their output through the use of SynthID.
A watermark is a special machine-readable element embedded in an image, video, sound or text. Digital watermarks have been used to ensure that information about the origins or authorship of content travels with it. They have been used to assert authorship in creative works and address misinformation challenges in the media.
SynthID embeds watermarks in the output from AI models. The watermarks are not visible to readers or audiences, but can be used by other tools to identify content that was made or edited using an AI model with SynthID on board.
Several AI companies, including Meta, have developed their own watermarking tools and detectors, similar to SynthID. But these are “model specific” solutions, not universal ones.
This means users have to juggle multiple tools to verify content. Despite researchers calling for a unified system, and major players like Google seeking to have their tool adopted by others, the landscape remains fragmented.
A parallel effort focuses on metadata – encoded information about the origin, authorship and edit history of media. For example, the Content Credentials inspect tool allows users to verify media by checking the edit history attached to the content.
However, metadata can be easily stripped when content is uploaded to social media or converted into a different file format. This is particularly problematic if someone has deliberately tried to obscure the origin and authorship of a piece of content.
There are detectors that rely on forensic cues, such as visual inconsistencies or lighting anomalies. While some of these tools are automated, many depend on human judgement and common sense methods, like counting the number of fingers in AI-generated images. These methods may become redundant as AI model performance improves.
Logical inconsistencies, such as extra fingers, are some of the visual ‘tells’ of the current era of AI-generated imagery. T J Thomson, CC BY-NC
How effective are AI detection tools?
Overall, AI detection tools can vary dramatically in their effectiveness. Some work better when the content is entirely AI-generated, such as when an entire essay has been generated from scratch by a chatbot.
The situation becomes murkier when AI is used to edit or transform human-created content. In such cases, AI detectors can get it badly wrong. They can fail to detect AI or flag human-created content as AI-generated.
AI detection tools don’t often explain how they arrived at their decision, which adds to the confusion. When used for plagiarism detection in university assessment, they are considered an “ethical minefield” and are known to discriminate against non-native English speakers.
A wide variety of use cases exist for AI detection tools. Take insurance claims, for example. Knowing whether the image a client shares depicts what it claims to depict can help insurers know how to respond.
Journalists and fact checkers might draw on AI detectors, in addition to their other approaches, when trying to decide if potentially newsworthy information ought to be shared further.
Employers and job applicants alike increasingly need to assess whether the person on the other side of the recruiting process is genuine or an AI fake.
Users of dating apps need to know whether the profile of the person they’ve met online represents a real romantic prospect, or an AI avatar, perhaps fronting a romance scam.
If you’re an emergency responder deciding whether to send help to a call, confidently knowing whether the caller is human or AI can save resources and lives.
Where to from here?
As these examples show, the challenges of authenticity are now happening in real time, and static tools like watermarking are unlikely to be enough. AI detectors that work on audio and video in real time are a pressing area of development.
Whatever the scenario, it is unlikely that judgements about authenticity can ever be fully delegated to a single tool.
Understanding the way such tools work, including their limitations, is an important first step. Triangulating these with other information and your own contextual knowledge will remain essential.
T.J. Thomson receives funding from the Australian Research Council. He is an affiliated researcher with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making & Society.
Elif Buse Doyuran receives funding from the Australian Research Council. She is a research fellow at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision Making and Society.
Jean Burgess receives funding from the Australian Research Council including the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S), and from the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Council.
The City of Cape Town and race organisers have expressed their heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the runner who tragically passed away during the Slave Route Challenge held on Sunday, 1 June 2025.
According to the Slave Route Challenge race organising committee, the incident occurred when an oak tree unexpectedly fell along the race route in the Garden area, striking a runner along Government Avenue.
“Emergency services responded swiftly and transported the runner to the hospital, where she sadly succumbed to her injuries.
“On behalf of the Slave Route Challenge organising committee, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the runner’s family, friends, and loved ones. This is a devastating loss, and we are holding her family in our thoughts during this profoundly difficult time,” a City of Cape Town statement said.
The city described the incident as ”tragic”. “We are working closely with the event organisers and the South African Police Service to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
Meanwhile, the race organising team said the safety and well-being of every participant have always been their top priority.
“All safety and security protocols were observed and implemented ahead of the event in close collaboration with the City of Cape Town and emergency services. This was a tragic and unforeseeable accident, and we are working closely with the relevant authorities to fully understand the circumstances surrounding it.
“Out of respect, we will not be releasing any further details. We ask that the privacy of the runner’s family be respected as they mourn.”
Founded in 2011 by Farouk Meyer, a founding member of the Itheko Running Club, this race has grown into a significant annual tradition.
The event traces the “slave route” and honours those who built Cape Town, and brings together people from all walks of life.
Beginning at City Hall, the route winds through District Six, Bo-Kaap, the Castle of Good Hope, and other iconic landmarks before concluding at the Grand Parade. – SAnews.gov.za
Over 4.78 million young people are now registered on the National Pathway Management Network, with more than 1.67 million earning opportunities secured to date through the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI), Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli said.
Mhlauli said this reflects the strength of the PYEI approach in aggregating demand, coordinating partners and enabling pathways that enhance young people’s economic participation.
Addressing the media in Pretoria on the PYEI fourth quarter report of the 2024/2025 financial year on Monday, the Deputy Minister said the programme continues to make meaningful strides in unlocking sustainable earning opportunities for young people across South Africa.
The report covered the period from January to March 2025.
WATCH | Deputy Minister briefs media on the PYEI report
According Mhlauli, over R70 million had been disbursed to 11 implementing partners, including R30 million in this quarter alone.
“We are particularly proud of the continued momentum of the Jobs Boost Outcomes Fund, which uses an innovative pay-for-performance model to incentivise the placement of young people into sustained, quality jobs, has made steady progress in its pilot phase.”
Mhlauli said by the end of March 2025, over 5,400 young people had been enrolled reaching 65% of the programme’s enrolment target.
“More than 3 000 young people had been placed into quality jobs and over R70 million had been disbursed to 11 implementing partners including R30 million in this quarter alone. These jobs are not just temporary placements.
“They are quality jobs, defined by duration, income level, and growth potential. We are already seeing shifts in employer practices as a result to better accommodate excluded young people,” Mhlauli said.
The Deputy Minister said government remains committed to building a connected, demand-led ecosystem that not only creates opportunities but also drives systems change in the labour market.
“As always, the success of this initiative is due to the ongoing collaboration between government, private sector, development partners, and the young people themselves.
“We will continue sharing our progress through these quarterly reports. As always, detailed data and insights are available on the PYEI dashboard at www.stateofthenation.gov.za .
“We also invite our youth to register on SAYouth.Mobi which is a zero-rated site where they will access information about the PYEI as well as all youth empowerment related matters,” she explained.
Launched in 2020 by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the PYEI is a direct response to the challenge that too many young people are not transitioning from learning to earning.
The PYEI is South Africa’s most comprehensive effort yet to address this crisis. Its goal is to transition young people successfully from learning to earning.
The PYEI coordinates, accelerates, and enhances existing programmes while driving innovation and creating pathways to earning for young people at scale.
To this end, the intervention brings together the strengths of numerous government institutions and social partners to deliver more opportunities for young people. The PYEI integrates with other interventions coordinated by the Project Management Office in the Presidency to drive structural reforms and enable job creation.
The PYEI seeks to coordinate, accelerate and enhance existing programmes while driving innovation and creating pathways to earning for young people at scale.
The PYEI is focused on four pillars namely: • Implementation of the Pathway Management Network, • Implementation of demand-led training through a ‘pay for performance’ model • Rollout of the revitalised National Youth Service, • And Implementation of interventions to stimulate local economies through the establishment of Local Ecosystem Enablement Fund.
At a briefing on the PYEI third quarter report in February, the Deputy Minister said the initiative remains a cornerstone of national efforts to address the persistent challenge of youth unemployment by ensuring that young South Africans have access to economic opportunities.
“Over 53 379 earning opportunities were secured through the National Pathway Management Network (NPMN), bringing the total to 1.57 million opportunities since the inception of the PYEI,” the Deputy Minister said at the briefing in February. – SAnews.gov.za
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) is set to study the final report into the deadly George building collapse that claimed the lives of 34 people.
This as Minister Dean Macpherson has received the final report on the tragic building collapse in George on 6 May 2024 which claimed the lives of 34 people and injured 28 others.
In a statement on Monday, the DPWI said the Minister received the final report from the Council for the Built Environment (CBE), through its body Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).
The department said the report marks a critical step in its commitment to uncover the truth behind the disaster and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
“As the department, we will now carefully study the report to develop a pathway forward to ensure that a tragedy such as the George Building collapse never happens again. As I have previously committed, after studying the report, I will personally return to George to present the findings of this report to the families affected by this tragedy. They deserve to hear directly from us, not through the media, about what went wrong and how we intend to rectify it,” said the Minister.
He also emphasised that the collapse was the result of systemic failures across various regulatory bodies and a lack of cooperation among key stakeholders. He reiterated that accountability cannot be optional when human lives are lost due to human error. The department will continue to work with the South African Police Service (SAPS), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and other relevant regulatory bodies to ensure accountability.
“As I have said before, the collapse of the George building was entirely preventable, and we will therefore work towards accountability and address any errors which may have been identified. By working together, we are ensuring a safe and secure construction sector for all stakeholders,” said the Minister.
Last month marked the one-year anniversary of the building collapse which saw the Minister address the community at the George Town Hall.
In April, an independent forensic investigation into the collapse in the Western Cape revealed systemic failures at multiple levels. The findings, presented by Human Settlements Minister, Thembi Simelane, revealed a series of procedural and structural failures, including irregular project enrolment, inspection lapses, poor material quality, and violations of occupational health and safety (OHS) protocols. –SAnews.gov.za
Through the proposed Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, South Africa is actively working to combat tobacco use, including e-cigarettes and hookahs which are also known as “hubbly bubblies.”
This is according to the Deputy Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, who was delivering a keynote address to commemorate World No Tobacco Day in Midrand, Johannesburg.
“We want to make sure we regulate these upcoming products because currently they’re not covered. That is, e-cigarettes and the ‘hubbly bubblies.’ We want to make sure they are properly regulated because currently they are everywhere,” Phaahla said on Monday.
He informed the attendees that the proposed Bill seeks to implement significant changes to tobacco regulation. These changes include the introduction of plain packaging, the expansion of smoke-free zones, stricter controls on emerging tobacco products, regulation of e-cigarettes, and enhanced support for tobacco cessation programs.
“Every life lost through tobacco is preventable. We don’t need it in our bodies. Nicotine doesn’t add any value,” Phaahla stressed, calling for a united effort from government, civil society, and media to combat tobacco use.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), tobacco use remains one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease globally, responsible for over eight million deaths each year, including more than one million from second-hand smoke exposure.
World No Tobacco Day is an annual event that raises awareness about the dangers of tobacco use, the practices of tobacco companies, and the efforts of the WHO to combat the tobacco epidemic.
It also encourages people worldwide to assert their right to health and healthy living, while advocating for the protection of future generations.
Phaahla stated that the Cessation Support Bill, also known as the Tobacco Control Bill, aims to enhance support for users trying to quit and improve their health.
However, the Deputy Minister underscored the tobacco industry’s aggressive attempts to undermine the legislation. He noted that some individuals sponsored by the industry, have actively opposed the Bill during public hearings.
“Of course, throughout the public hearings, the industry has been spending huge amounts of money, you know, sponsoring people to go to the public hearings. And that’s how powerful this industry can be.
“They’ve also had their own special people who were some of the medical practitioners who have been sponsored to do this, to promote these products as a form of harm reduction, and that our Bill is ignoring these products as part of the package of harm reduction. But we already know that’s not the case.”
The bill is expected to proceed to Parliament, with government confident that it will pass despite industry pushback.
“We want to assure you that we value your contribution and are confident that this bill will ultimately pass in Parliament despite the efforts of the industry to mobilise even very passionate Members of Parliament …at every turn to find the loophole.”
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister has thrown his weight behind the Chairperson of the Health Portfolio Committee, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo.
“We have a very strong team … led by the Chairperson of the committee, a former colleague in the previous administration, as the Deputy Minister, now chair of the committee. Dr Dhlomo is leading from the front for the team there. So, we’re quite confident that we’ll succeed.” – SAnews.gov.za
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
NEW YORK, June 2 (Xinhua) — A magnitude 6.2 earthquake jolted Greece’s Dodecanese islands at 23:17:28 GMT on Monday, the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) said.
According to initial data, the epicenter of the earthquake was located at a point with coordinates of 36.59 degrees north latitude and 28.30 degrees east longitude. The hypocenter was located at a depth of 64.4 km –0–
WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, & Counterterrorism, and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, visited Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, and Iraq to meet with heads of state and government leaders to discuss ways to increase stability throughout the region. During her visit to the region, Senator Rosen advocated for increased regional security, strengthening of the Abraham Accords, development and humanitarian partnerships with the U.S., and ways to counter Iranian aggression. While in Israel, Senator Rosen paid her respects at the sites where Hamas attacked innocent men, women, and children on October 7, 2023, including the site of the Nova Musical Festival, Kibbutz Nir Oz, and a military outpost near the Gaza border.
While in the Middle East, Senator Rosen met with deployed U.S. servicemembers, including Nevadans, to express her gratitude for their service and discuss how she can best support them in Congress.
“As Iran continues its destabilizing efforts in the Middle East, it couldn’t be more important to strengthen long-lasting relationships with our allies and partners in the region at this moment,” said Senator Rosen. “I had very productive meetings with heads of state and government officials in Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, and Iraq to discuss ways the United States can work with them to increase stability, combat Iranian aggression, strengthen partnerships with the U.S., and foster regional cooperation.”
In visiting these countries, Senator Rosen had meetings with government officials, including:
ISRAEL: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid to discuss reinforcing and strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship, the war in Gaza and freeing the hostages, rising antisemitism, and regional security.
WEST BANK: Prime Minister of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Mohammad Abdullah Mohammad Mustafa, and Vice President of the PLO Hussein Al-Sheikh to discuss economic, governance, and prisoner payment reforms.
JORDAN: His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Toukan, and Director of the General Intelligence Department Maj. Gen. Ahmad Husni to discuss combating terrorism and pursuing peace and security in the Middle East.
IRAQ: Government of Iraq (GOI) meetings included Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani, Minister of Migration and Displacement Evan Faeq Jabro, and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein to discuss U.S.-Iraq priorities in the fight against ISIS and other security threats, economic development, displaced persons, and countering Iran. Senator Rosen also met with Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and KRG Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani on maintaining U.S. security partnerships, regional developments, and improving relations between the KRG and GOI.
In the March quarter 2025, average retail petrol prices across the five largest cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth) were 182.2 cents per litre (cpl), an increase of 2.4 cpl from the previous quarter.
Quarterly average retail prices were higher in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth and only marginally lower in Melbourne (by 0.7 cpl) and Adelaide (by 0.4 cpl).
A lower AUD-USD exchange rate was the main contributor to higher average retail prices
Higher retail petrol prices on average largely reflected the impact of a lower AUD-USD exchange rate, which makes the international cost of refined petrol relatively more expensive in Australian dollar terms.
In the March quarter 2025, the AUD-USD exchange rate averaged US 62.7 cents, which was the lowest quarterly average AUD-USD exchange rate in more than 20 years.
The international price of refined petrol (Mogas 95) is traded in US dollars in global markets and made up the largest component of average retail petrol prices.
The following figure shows the impact of changes in various components on average retail petrol prices across the five largest cities between the December quarter 2024 and the March quarter 2025.
Components of average retail petrol prices across the five largest cities – Australian cpl
Source: ACCC calculations based on data from Informed Sources, Argus Media, Ampol, bp, Mobil, Viva Energy, FuelWatch, the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Australian Taxation Office. Notes: cents per litre change from the previous quarter) Excise and wholesale goods and services tax (66.0 cpl) excludes a component of retail goods and services tax (1.3 cpl) in the above chart. This is for consistency in reporting gross indicative retail difference figures throughout this report, which include a small component of goods and services tax. Total excise and goods and services tax for both wholesale and retail (67.3 cpl) is shown in the petrol bowser in the ‘March quarter 2025 – Petrol snapshot’.
If the quarterly average AUD–USD exchange rate had remained the same, Mogas 95 prices would have decreased by 0.5 cpl in the quarter. Instead, the lower AUD–USD exchange rate meant that average Mogas 95 prices increased by 2.9 cpl in Australian dollar terms.
“The lower AUD-USD exchange rate meant that consumers paid higher prices on average at the bowser in the most recent quarter,” Commissioner Anna Brakey said.
Other components of retail prices include taxes, wholesale costs and margins, and retail costs and margins (represented by gross indicative retail differences). Gross indicative retail differences are a broad indicator of gross retail margins and include both retail operating costs and retail profits.
Petrol gross indicative retail differences were 14.4 cpl across the five largest cities in the quarter, a decrease of 2.8 cpl from the previous quarter. They varied between the five largest cities, and were lowest in Adelaide (7.6 cpl) and highest in Brisbane (24.2 cpl).
Average retail petrol prices were higher in the smaller capital cities and on average across the regions
In Canberra, Hobart and Darwin quarterly average retail petrol prices were also higher from the previous quarter. Quarterly average retail petrol prices in Canberra were the highest among the eight capital cities.
Across 190 regional locations that the ACCC monitors, average retail petrol prices across regional locations (in aggregate) were 184.3 cpl, an increase of 4.8 cpl from the previous quarter. On average, regional retail prices across all locations were 2.1 cpl higher than prices across the five largest cities (182.2 cpl).
“We continue to encourage consumers to use information available through fuel price apps and websites to find lower priced retailers and save money where possible,” Ms Brakey said.
“Fuel price transparency schemes collect price data for display on fuel price apps and websites. In January, the Victorian Government announced a price transparency scheme to be phased in over 2025, which would then mean every jurisdiction in Australia is covered by one of these schemes.”
After initial uptick, international crude oil prices then trended downward in the quarter
International prices for refined petrol (Mogas 95) are largely driven by international crude oil prices. In the March quarter 2025, after an initial increase, crude oil prices largely trended downward.
This downward trend was influenced by international factors, including concerns of lower demand stemming from the United States’ plans for higher tariffs, the potential for Russian oil supply to re-enter the market as part of a peace deal with Ukraine, and several OPEC countries increasing supply.
Diesel prices were higher in all capital cities for the first time in four consecutive quarters
Quarterly average retail diesel prices increased in all eight capital cities. Across the five largest cities, quarterly average retail diesel prices were 186.9 cpl, an increase of 9.8 cpl from the previous quarter. Retail diesel prices generally followed international diesel benchmark prices, which accounted for the largest component of retail diesel prices.
The higher quarterly prices followed four consecutive quarters of decline, from the December quarter 2023 to the December quarter 2024.
Note to editors
‘Petrol’ means regular unleaded petrol unless otherwise specified.
Price changes are reported in nominal terms unless otherwise specified.
Singapore Mogas 95 Unleaded (Mogas 95) is the relevant international benchmark for the wholesale price of petrol in Australia. Singapore Gasoil with 10 parts per million sulphur content (Gasoil 10 ppm) is the international benchmark for the wholesale price of diesel.
Background
The ACCC has been monitoring retail prices in all capital cities and over 190 regional locations across Australia since 2007.
On 14 December 2022, the Treasurer issued a direction to the ACCC to continue to monitor the prices, costs and profits relating to the supply of petroleum products in the petroleum industry in Australia and produce a report every quarter for a further three years.
Asia Pacific: Here is a summary of significant articles published on ForeignAffairs.co.nz on June 3, 2025.
MIL-OSI Australia: Average retail petrol prices edge higher in the March quarter on the back of a lower Australian dollar Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development Retail petrol prices across Australia’s five largest cities moved higher in the March quarter 2025, according to the ACCC’s latest quarterly petrol monitoring report. In the March quarter 2025, average retail petrol prices across the five largest cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth) were 182.2 cents per litre (cpl), […]
MIL-OSI Australia: Three arrested and 113kg of cannabis seized Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services Drug and Organised Crime Detectives have seized 113 kilograms of cannabis and approximately $270,000 in cash in a major drug interdiction operation that has significantly disrupted the activities of a Vietnamese organised crime syndicate operating across state borders. A small amount of cocaine was also seized. The seizure […]
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Man nabbed on North Shore Source: New Zealand Police A man is facing at least 18 charges after a string of alleged offending across the North Shore area in recent months. Waitematā East Police caught up with the man and he is custody until his next court date later in June. Businesses and commuters have been the alleged targets of […]
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Community-led projects get a boost from Ngā Hapori Momoho grant allocations Source: Auckland Council A range of projects led by community groups have been allocated a share of $303,119 from Auckland Council in the latest round of Ngā Hapori Momoho | Thriving Communities grants for 2024/2025, approved by the Community Committee on 27 May. The grants support regional goals in the council’s Ngā Hapori Momoho | […]
MIL-OSI China: S. Koreans go to polls to pick new president Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News Polls began early Tuesday nationwide to pick South Korea’s new president. The election is scheduled to last from 6:00 a.m. local time (2100 GMT Monday) to 8:00 p.m. (1100 GMT Tuesday) at 14,295 polling stations across the country. The presidential race was triggered by the removal […]
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update: Muriwai sudden death Source: New Zealand Police Police can now provide a brief update into a sudden death in Muriwai earlier this morning. A person’s body was located after a car fire was reported on Jack Butt Lane. Police can now advise enquiries are being made on behalf of the Coroner in this matter. ENDS. Jarred Williamson/NZ Police […]
MIL-OSI Australia: Intermediaries Source: New places to play in Gungahlin Our commitment to you We are committed to providing you with accurate, consistent and clear information to help you understand your rights and entitlements and meet your obligations. If you follow our information and it turns out to be incorrect, or it is misleading and you make a […]
MIL-OSI Australia: Not-for-profit Source: New places to play in Gungahlin The Global Anti-Base Erosion Model Rules (GloBE rules) provide for a coordinated system of taxation intended to ensure multinational enterprise groups (MNE groups) are subject to a global minimum tax rate of 15% in each of the jurisdictions where they operate. On 10 December 2024, the Taxation (Multinational—Global and […]
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders – Funding eligibility Source: Tertiary Education Commission Eligibility criteriaIf you are approved to provide work-based delivery, AEWV holders that undertake work-based learning with you may be eligible for TEC funding. To be eligible, they must: For more information about ‘domestic student’ requirements, see:Other valid domestic enrolmentsWhich programmes are funded?TEC publishes a list of funded programmes for work-based learners […]
MIL-OSI New Zealand: WorkSafe changes a welcome step towards modern, supportive regulation Source: EMA The change in focus for WorkSafe New Zealand is long overdue and should assist employers in keeping workers safer while having fewer concerns about being punished, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA). The changes – including a new letter of expectations, a restructured funding model, and a legislative rewrite of the regulator’s core […]
MIL-OSI New Zealand: GAZA – Dozens of Palestinians massacred at US-Israel backed food distribution sites- MSF Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Jerusalem: Dozens of Palestinians were killed and hundreds more injured yesterday, 1 June, as they waited for food at the newly created Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution centres in Rafah and close to the Netzarim Corridor, according to the Ministry of Health. Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) teams […]
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Views sought on new Building Product Specifications Source: Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Dr Dave Gittings, Manager, Building Performance and Engineering, said: “This new document streamlines the process for those looking to use proven and tested overseas products, knowing they will be accepted through the consenting system.” “The draft Building Product Specifications document released today contains specifications and overseas standards […]
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Road cone digital hotline opens Source: Worksafe New Zealand 3 June 2025 Concerns about road cone use anywhere in New Zealand can now be reported to WorkSafe New Zealand through a new digital hotline on the WorkSafe website. The hotline is part of a 12-month pilot, brought about by work health and safety reforms announced by the Government(external link), to […]
MIL-OSI Australia: Scams, fraud and other illicit activity: AUSTRAC puts crypto ATM operators on notice Source: Australian Department of Communications AUSTRAC has refused to renew a crypto ATM operator’s registration and placed operating conditions, including transaction limits, on other Australian crypto ATM providers.The conditions come after an AUSTRAC taskforce flagged worrying trends in crypto ATM compliance.AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas said over several months, the taskforce observed customer activity that bears […]
MIL-OSI Canada: First Ministers’ statement on building a strong Canadian economy and advancing major projects Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister “Today, Canada’s First Ministers met in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to build a stronger, more competitive, and more resilient Canadian economy. This marks the first time that a First Ministers’ Meeting has taken place in Saskatchewan in over 40 years. “First Ministers expressed their deep concern regarding the wildfire situations […]
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bank on the UK in volatile times’ Trade Secretary tells G7 and European businesses Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments Press release Bank on the UK in volatile times’ Trade Secretary tells G7 and European businesses Trade Secretary’s message comes after UK sealed landmark deals with India, the US and EU Jonathan Reynolds to meet G7 and EU counterparts in Paris and Brussels to discuss economic security […]
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Indicative allocations by year Source: Tertiary Education Commission Last updated 3 June 2024Last updated 3 June 2024 Print Share The indicative allocation is our early estimate of each tertiary education organisation’s on-Plan funding. It indicates what you could receive for the following year if your Investment Plan is approved for funding.The indicative allocation is our early estimate of each […]
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Farmer satisfaction with banks better – but fragile Source: Federated Farmers Farmers are feeling more satisfied with their banks, pointing to improved communication and less ‘undue pressure’, Federated Farmers’ latest Banking Survey shows. “It’s good to see things are improving but farmers’ trust in their banks is still fragile,” Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre says. “Where farmers have given positive feedback in the […]
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Culture – Pushing the boundaries of creativity in kapa haka Source: Rata Foundation When new rōpū Kōkō Tangiwai stormed to the front of the Waitaha region kapa haka competitions in 2024 they pushed the boundaries of creativity and innovation to take out the top spot and earn their place at Te Matatini 2025. Kapa haka is a vital expression of Māori identity, history, and culture. It […]
South America: Here is a summary of significant articles published on ForeignAffairs.co.nz on June 3, 2025.
MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marshals Extradite Austin Fugitive Intercepted by Foreign Officials in Panama Source: US Marshals Service Austin, TX – The U.S. Marshals, working with the Department of State, and Panamanian Officials received custody of a man who had been sought by the Austin Police Department on a warrant issued May 17, 2024, for aggravated kidnapping. Brayan Estiven Rios, 29, Columbian national, was wanted by the Austin Police […]
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Stansbury Fights to Secure Millions for New Mexico Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) $158.45 million in federal Community Project Funding (CPF) requests will support essential local projects WASHINGTON D.C. — As the U.S. House of Representatives begins marking up appropriations bills in the House this week, Representative Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) submitted 15 Congressionally funded community projects, totaling […]
MIL-OSI Security: Three Admit to Roles in Drug Trafficking Organization (DOJ) Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Three people have admitted to working in a large-scale drug operation in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties. Juan Carlos Suarez-Lugo, age 55, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, and Alexis Alvarado, age 38, of Ranson, West Virginia, each pled guilty to conspiracy to […]
MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Pressley, Advocates, Families Tell ICE: Hands Off Our Immigrant Neighbors Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) Convening Comes Amid Disturbing Uptick in ICE Activity Across Massachusetts 7th Press Conference (YouTube) | Photos (Dropbox) EAST BOSTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) convened a roundtable and press conference in East Boston with immigrant justice advocates, local leaders, and impacted families to tell […]
MIL-OSI Security: Father and Son Indicted for Providing Material Support to Mexican Cartel Engaged in Terrorism Source: US FBI Defendants are alleged to have illegally imported tens of millions of dollars in crude oil BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Two family members with ties to South Texas have been charged with allegedly conspiring to materially support a Mexican cartel previously designated as a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to commit money laundering and related […]
MIL-OSI Security: Four-Hundred-Thirteen New Immigration Cases This Week in the Western District of Texas Source: US FBI SAN ANTONIO – Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 413 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from May 23 through May 29. Among the new cases, Salvadoran national Jaqueline Del Carmen Aleman-Aguilar was charged with one count […]
MIL-OSI Security: Leader of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to Decade in Prison for Fentanyl Conspiracy Source: Office of United States Attorneys BOSTON – A Braintree man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for leading a large-scale drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed fentanyl sourced from Latin America. Jonathan Melendez Decatro, a/k/a “Jacha,” 32, of Braintree, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to […]
MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Boozman Propose Tax Credit to Assist Blind Americans with Obtaining Access Technology US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico) Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) introduced the bipartisan Access Technology Affordability Act to create a refundable tax credit to help blind Americans afford the technology and tools that can enhance their ability to perform daily, necessary […]
MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Heinrich Urge FEMA to Implement Reforms to Better Address Disasters in New Mexico, Western States US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico) “FEMA was originally structured to respond to large-scale hurricanes and disasters on the East Coast, and its current – and outdated – model reflects that legacy.” Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) urged the Federal Emergency Management […]
Heinrich, Luján Urge FEMA to Implement Reforms to Better Address Disasters in New Mexico, Western States US Senate News: Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich “FEMA was originally structured to respond to large-scale hurricanes and disasters on the East Coast, and its current – and outdated – model reflects that legacy.” Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) urged the Federal Emergency Management […]
MIL-OSI Economics: Nicaragua 101st WTO member to formally accept Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies Source: WTO Headline: Nicaragua 101st WTO member to formally accept Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies DG Okonjo-Iweala said: “WTO members’ adoption of this landmark Agreement in 2022 set us on a more sustainable path toward restoring the abundance and vitality of our oceans. The next step is the Agreement’s entry into force. With Nicaragua’s formal acceptance […]
MIL-OSI Security: South Florida Jury Convicts Murder-For-Hire Conspirators, Face Life in Prison Source: Office of United States Attorneys MIAMI – A federal jury convicted three South Florida men for their involvement in a murder-for-hire plot carried out in August 2019. On May 21, Rolando Ramirez, 52, of Doral, and Rasheed “Fresh” Ali, 39, of Miami, were found guilty of solicitation of a crime of violence (interstate stalking), […]
MIL-OSI Global: Mexico’s cartels use violence against women as a means of social control Source: The Conversation – UK – By Adriana Marin, Lecturer in International Relations, Coventry University Mexico’s drug cartels are often described as powerful rivals to the state, with their influence measured in weapons, money and murdered officials. But this framing misses a fundamental truth. Organised crime in Mexico is also a system of gendered governance […]
MIL-OSI USA: ICE, federal partners arrest nearly 1,500 illegal aliens in Massachusetts during immigration enforcement operation Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement BOSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and federal law enforcement partners apprehended almost 1,500 illegal aliens during a monthlong enforcement operation focusing on transnational organized crime, gangs and egregious illegal alien offenders throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. During the enhanced operation, named Operation Patriot, officers from ICE Boston […]
MIL-OSI Video: Fisheries Subsidies: Nicaragua’s acceptance Source: World Trade Organization – WTO (video statements) On 2 June, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala received Nicaragua’s instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies from Nicaragua’s WTO Ambassador Rosalía Bohorquez Palacios. Just ten more acceptances are needed for the Agreement to enter into force. Download this video from the WTO website: https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/webcas_e/webcas_e.htm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmDVmuN2yzs […]
India: Here is a summary of significant articles published on ForeignAffairs.co.nz on June 3, 2025.
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bank on the UK in volatile times’ Trade Secretary tells G7 and European businesses Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments Press release Bank on the UK in volatile times’ Trade Secretary tells G7 and European businesses Trade Secretary’s message comes after UK sealed landmark deals with India, the US and EU Jonathan Reynolds to meet G7 and EU counterparts in Paris and Brussels to discuss economic security […]
WHA78: Traditional medicine takes centre stage Source: World Health Organisation A major milestone was achieved on 26 May 2025, when the Member States agreed on the new WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 to take forward the development of evidence-based practice of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) into the next decade. In discussing the Strategy, Member States deliberated on crucial components for […]
Malaysians commend India’s resolute response to terrorism Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) An all-party Parliamentary delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha on Monday held an engaging discussion with leading Malaysian think tanks and academia including Asia Europe Institute, Economic Club of Kuala Lumpur, Institute of Strategic and International Studies, and academia briefing them on the heinous […]
PM Modi highlights India’s aviation boom at IATA’s 81st Annual General Meeting Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 81st Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the plenary session of the World Air Transport Summit (WATS) at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, emphasizing India’s emergence as a global leader in aviation and space […]
India launches ‘BharatGen’ AI model to revolutionize multilingual innovation at BharatGen Summit Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, unveiled ‘BharatGen,’ India’s first indigenously developed, government-funded, multimodal Large Language Model (LLM) designed for Indian languages, at the BharatGen Summit on Monday. Held as India’s largest Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and LLM summit […]
India and Japan strengthen maritime ties with focus on shipbuilding, green ports, and smart islands Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) In a significant step toward deepening maritime cooperation, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday held a bilateral meeting with Japan’s Vice Minister for International Affairs, Terada Yoshimichi, in Oslo, Norway. The discussions, aimed at fostering stronger maritime relations between India and […]
Indian delegation reaffirms anti-terror stance during Liberia visit Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) An all-party Indian parliamentary delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde is on a three-day visit to Liberia as part of India’s global outreach to reinforce its message of zero tolerance towards terrorism. According to a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Monrovia, […]
Supriya Sule-led delegation concludes Ethiopia visit, conveys India’s stand against terrorism Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) An all-party Indian Parliamentary delegation led by NCP MP Supriya Sule concluded its official visit to Ethiopia on Sunday, as part of India’s diplomatic outreach to reinforce its zero-tolerance policy on cross-border terrorism. During the visit, the delegation engaged with Ethiopian dignitaries, media, academia, civil society […]
India manufacturing PMI stands at 57.6 in May: HSBC Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) India’s manufacturing sector maintained strong momentum in May, with the HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) posting a reading of 57.6, according to data released Monday. While slightly below April’s 58.2, the index remained comfortably above the neutral 50 mark, indicating sustained growth. The […]
Hard work clearly visible: PM Modi hails India’s athletics champions Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Indian athletes for their stellar performance at the recently concluded 2025 Asian Athletics Championships, stating that their “hard work and determination were clearly visible” throughout the tournament. India secured a total of 24 medals — eight gold, 10 silver, and […]
India, Oman close to finalizing free trade agreement: Piyush Goyal Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) India is nearing the conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Oman, with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal indicating that an announcement could be made soon. The move is expected to significantly boost bilateral trade and investment flows between the two countries. “I think […]
India to create 7.29 million green jobs by FY28, 35 million by 2047: Report Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) India’s green economy is growing rapidly and is expected to reach a value of $1 trillion by 2030, and a staggering $15 trillion by 2070, a new report said on Monday. With this massive growth, India is also set to create a huge number of green […]
Indian delegation meets UK Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel, highlights Operation Sindoor and India’s counter-terrorism resolve Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (2) n all-party Indian parliamentary delegation, led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, met with the UK’s Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel and her team on Sunday to convey India’s unwavering resolve in combating cross-border terrorism. During the meeting, the delegation emphasized India’s evolving counter-terrorism doctrine, highlighting […]
President of Paraguay Santiago Peña begins state visit to India Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (2) he President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña Palacios, arrived in India on Monday for a State Visit from June 2 to 4 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This marks his first official visit to India and only the second-ever visit by a Paraguayan head […]
India Stands Out as Global Fintech Bright Spot as Credit Demand Surges Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (2) ndia has emerged as one of the most dynamic fintech markets globally, driven by a potent combination of digital public infrastructure (UPI, Aadhaar, Account Aggregator), a mobile-first population, and regulatory clarity, a report showed on Monday. Fintech-led digital lending grew at a 35 per cent CAGR […]
Indian parliamentary delegation meets PKR leaders in Malaysia, seeks support against terrorism Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (2) n all-party Indian parliamentary delegation, led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, met with representatives of Malaysia’s People’s Justice Party (PKR) in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, as part of India’s global outreach campaign following the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent military response under Operation Sindoor. The […]
MIL-OSI Banking: RBI launches the 15th round of the Survey on Foreign Collaboration in Indian Industry Source: Reserve Bank of India The Reserve Bank of India has been conducting the Survey on Foreign Collaboration in Indian Industry since 1965. The 15th round of the survey with 2023-24 and 2024-25 as the reference period has now been launched. The survey collects information on the operations of the Indian companies having foreign technical […]
Integral Humanism is not a complex philosophy; it is the essence of Indian thought: Shivraj Singh Chouhan Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday addressed a National Memorial Symposium at the NDMC Convention Centre in New Delhi, commemorating the 60th anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s philosophy of ‘Integral Humanism.’ The symposium brought together scholars, policymakers, and thought leaders […]
