Israel has called its military operation against Iran “Rising Lion”, taking the name from a biblical verse that promises a victorious future for a powerful Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was photographed on Thursday putting a handwritten note into a crack of Jerusalem’s Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest prayer site, which in retrospect pointed to the looming strikes on Iran.
His office on Friday released a photo of the note, which said “the people shall rise up as a lion”.
The expression comes from verse 23:24 of the Book of Numbers in the Bible: “Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.”
This verse is part of the first oracle of Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet and diviner, where he foretells the strength and power of Israel, comparing it to a lion that will not rest until it has satisfied its hunger.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Israel’s strikes “satanic”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed deep grief over the demise of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was among the victims of the Air India crash in Ahmedabad a day earlier.
Rupani, 68, was travelling on board flight AI-171 to London when the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, claiming the lives of 241 passengers.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister paid tribute to the late leader, describing his passing as “unimaginable” and recalling a long association with him that spanned decades.
“I’ve known him for decades. We worked together, shoulder to shoulder, including during some of the most challenging times. Vijaybhai was humble and hardworking, firmly committed to the Party’s ideology,” PM Modi said in his post.
He went on to highlight Rupani’s journey in public life, mentioning his early work in the Rajkot Municipal Corporation, his tenure as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, and his leadership as President of the Gujarat BJP.
“In every role assigned, he distinguished himself… as Gujarat BJP President and as Cabinet Minister in the State Government,” the Prime Minister said, adding that Rupani had made lasting contributions during his time as Chief Minister, particularly in initiatives aimed at improving ease of living for citizens.
The Prime Minister also visited the late leader’s family to offer condolences in person. “Will always cherish the interactions we had. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this hour of grief. Om Shanti,” he said.
Rupani served as the 16th Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2016 to 2021.
A week before India begins their five-match Test series against England in Leeds, head coach Gautam Gambhir has flown back home due to a family emergency. Gambhir had been with the Indian team at Beckenham ahead of their intra-squad practice match starting on Friday.
“Yes it came to the light yesterday that Gambhir would be flying back home due to an important family emergency related to his mother. As of now, we believe that Gambhir has already linked up with his family in New Delhi. Keeping in mind the current situation, it’s not known yet about when he would join the India team ahead of the Test series’ commencement,” said sources aware of development to IANS on Friday.
In Gambhir’s absence, alongside batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, bowling coach Morne Morkel, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate and fielding coach T Dilip will help the Indian team prepare for the upcoming Test series against Ben Stokes-led England, which starts at Headingley.
The Test tour of England will also be right-handed batter Shubman Gill’s first assignment as the captain of the Indian team, following the retirement of Rohit Sharma last month. At 25 years and 258 days, Gill will also become the fifth-youngest cricketer to captain India in Tests.
Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will be India’s vice-captain on the all-important Test series, which runs from June 20 to August 4. India and England will also play matches at Edgbaston in Birmingham, Lord’s in London, Old Trafford in Manchester and The Oval in London.
India are aiming to win a Test series in England for the first time since 2007. The Test series in England will also be India’s first assignment in the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Senior Police Call AGM cum Luncheon held Speaking at the luncheon, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming, said the SPC has been established for over ten years, aiming at promoting safety, health and community participation of the elderly. The Government adopted measures to promote the silver economy last month to enhance the quality of life for the elderly. In line with the policy direction, the SPC has launched a wide range of activities and training programmes to help its members achieve physical, mental and spiritual health.
In order to enhance the anti-deception awareness among senior citizens and to tackle the various and emerging deception tactics, the SPC launched the “IT Captain” training programme in May this year. This includes the education on the use of the one-stop scam and pitfall search engine “Scameter+”. Together with the “SPC Wealth Management and Anti-Investment Scam Ambassador” programme, the elderly get familiarised with the latest scam tactics and cyber traps, and are encouraged to spread the message of fraud prevention in the community. Trained “IT Captains” will guide elderly and citizens in the community to use the commonly-used mobile apps of the Government, assisting them to integrate into digital life.
An increase of 28 per cent was recorded in the number of deception cases involving elderly victims, reaching 6 345 cases in 2024 compared to 4 929 cases in 2023. There was also an increase of approximately 20 per cent in related fraud cases from January to April this year compared to the same period last year, to over 1 700 cases. Of these, more than half were classified as online frauds, while around 40 per cent were related to telephone scams.
At the AGM today, 44 SPC members were presented with the “Best SPC Captain” and “Most Active SPC Member” awards in recognition of their enthusiastic participation over the past year.
The newly launched “PALS@SPC” initiative this year represents four key themes of the SPC’s activities, with “P” standing for “Participate”, “A” for “Alert”, “L” for “Learn” and “S” for “Safeguard”. The SPC will continue to collaborate with various organisations to roll out a broader range of programmes, encouraging more senior citizens to become SPC members, and to enhance themselves through recreation and sports activities as well as courses and seminars. Being crime-fighting partners of the Police, SPC members join hands to serve the community and achieve the SPC sprit – “Helping Oneself and Others”.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed “Contribute”, “Lightshadow” and “Twilight”, and a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed “Windsand”, for four consecutive days from June 9 to yesterday (June 12). A total of 12 suspected illegal workers, two suspected employers and one suspected aider and abettor were arrested.
During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided 81 target locations including commercial buildings, an industrial building, residential buildings, a massage parlour, restaurants and retail stores. Twelve suspected illegal workers, two suspected employers and one suspected aider and abettor were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised five men and seven women, aged 21 to 57. Among them, two men and one woman were holders of a recognisance form, which prohibits them from taking any employment. In addition, one woman was also suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card; one man was suspected of using and being in possession of a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. One man and one woman, aged 30 and 63, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested. One woman, aged 32, who was suspected of aiding and abetting a person who breached the condition of stay in Hong Kong, was also arrested.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Record of discussion of meeting of Exchange Fund Advisory Committee Currency Board Sub-Committee held on April 30 Report on Currency Board Operations (25 December, 2024 – 16 April, 2025) ————————————————————————————
The Currency Board Sub-Committee (Sub-Committee) noted that the Hong Kong dollar (HKD) traded within a range of 7.7555 – 7.7927 against the US dollar (USD) during the review period. The HKD exchange rate moderated in early January 2025 as liquidity tightness subsided at the end of 2024 and global markets reacted to US tariff announcements, but strengthened in mid-February 2025, supported by strong performance of the local stock market amid Mainland China’s recent advancements in artificial intelligence and net inflows from the Southbound Stock Connect. In early April, in response to further US tariffs, the HKD strengthened further as long USD carry trades unwound amid a risk-off sentiment and southbound inflows continued. HKD interbank rates (HIBORs) continued to track the USD rates while shorter-tenor rates were also being affected by local supply and demand. Short-term HIBORs tightened briefly near the year-end but softened thereafter as funding demand faded. The Convertibility Undertakings were not triggered during the review period and the Aggregate Balance was stable at around HK$45 billion. No abnormality was noted in the usage of the Discount Window. Overall, the HKD exchange and interbank markets continued to trade in a smooth and orderly manner.
The Sub-Committee noted that the Monetary Base increased to HK$1,980.99 billion at the end of the review period. In accordance with the Currency Board principles, all changes in the Monetary Base had been fully matched by changes in foreign reserves.
The Report on Currency Board Operations for the review period is at Annex.
Monitoring of Risks and Vulnerabilities ——————————————
The Sub-Committee noted that downside growth risks to the global economy had intensified following the US announcement of imposing reciprocal tariffs that exceeded market expectations. In response, global financial markets had gyrated, although they continued to operate smoothly with no sign of widespread funding stress. While the postponement of reciprocal tariffs had offered some reprieve for export-reliant Asian economies which generally faced higher rates, the prospect of tariffs being implemented further down the road still posed significant growth headwinds.
The Sub-Committee noted that in Mainland China, the economy entered 2025 amid some green shoots and improved equity market sentiment. In particular, at the “two sessions” in March, the authorities sent strong pro-growth signals, including prioritising consumption and strengthening fiscal support. From April onwards, the Mainland economic outlook faced stiffer external headwinds due to the US reciprocal tariffs. It was expected that Mainland China would place increasing emphasis on supporting consumption.
The Sub-Committee noted that in Hong Kong, downside risks to the growth outlook heightened following the imposition of the US reciprocal tariffs. Yet, several factors might help alleviate some of the impact, including the Mainland’s pro-growth policies and its advancement in artificial intelligence, the prospective US rate cuts expected by the markets, and the ongoing recovery of inbound tourism. Meanwhile, housing market transactions gained momentum in March following the Government’s adjustment in stamp duties for lower-value properties, although market sentiment turned conservative in early April amid the global financial market volatility. The commercial real estate markets remained subdued, especially in the office segment.
A Study on “Discount Window Stigma” ——————————————-
The Sub-Committee noted a paper that examined the usage of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s (HKMA) Discount Window and the associated “stigma effect” by banks over time. The results showed that the Discount Window was tapped more frequently and the associated stigma diminished in the current period of tight liquidity, compared with the previous period of tight liquidity in 2018 – 2020. This trend coincided with the HKMA’s proactive communication efforts with banks to alleviate concerns about the “stigma effect” during recent periods. Issued at HKT 16:36
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
27 landlords of subdivided units under regulated tenancies convicted of contravening relevant statutory requirements The offences of these 27 landlords include (1) failing to submit a Notice of Tenancy (Form AR2) to the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation within 60 days after the term of the regulated tenancy commenced; and (2) requesting the tenant to pay money other than the types permitted under the Ordinance (i.e. requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance). One of the landlords committed 16 offences under (1) and (2) and was fined $13,000.
The RVD earlier discovered that the landlords failed to comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance. Upon an in-depth investigation and evidence collection, the RVD prosecuted the landlords.
A spokesman for the RVD reiterated that SDU landlords must comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance, including prohibiting landlords from doing any act calculated to interfere with the peace or comfort of members of the tenant’s household, with the intention of causing the tenant to give up occupation of the SDU; or requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance, and also reminded tenants of their rights under the Ordinance, including a four-year (i.e. two years plus two years) security of tenure. He also stressed that the RVD will continue to take resolute enforcement action against any contraventions of the Ordinance. Apart from following up on reported cases, the RVD has been adopting a multipronged approach to proactively identify, investigate and follow up on cases concerning landlords who are suspected of contravening the Ordinance. In particular, the RVD has been requiring landlords of regulated tenancies to provide information and reference documents of their tenancies for checking whether they have complied with the requirements of the Ordinance. If a landlord, without reasonable excuse, refuses to provide the relevant information or neglects the RVD’s request, the landlord commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine at level 3 ($10,000) and to imprisonment for three months. Depending on the actual circumstances, and having regard to the information and evidence collected, the RVD will take appropriate actions on individual cases, including instigating prosecution against suspected contraventions of the Ordinance. In addition, the RVD has started a new round of publicity and education work to enhance public awareness about the key offences and penalties, emphasising that the RVD proactively checks whether landlords have committed the offences under the Ordinance. The RVD reminds that pursuant to the Ordinance, a regulated cycle of regulated tenancies is to comprise two consecutive regulated tenancies (i.e. the first-term tenancy and second-term tenancy) for an SDU, and the term of each regulated tenancy is two years. A tenant of a first-term tenancy for an SDU is entitled to be granted a second-term tenancy of the regulated cycle, thus enjoying a total of four years of security of tenure. The RVD has been issuing letters enclosing relevant information to the landlords and tenants concerned of regulated tenancies in batches, according to the expiry time of their first-term tenancies, to assist them in understanding the important matters pertaining to the second-term tenancy, and to remind them about the procedures that need to be followed about two months prior to the commencement of the purported second-term tenancy as well as their respective obligations and rights under the Ordinance. These landlords and tenants may also visit the dedicated page for the second-term tenancy on the RVD’s website (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/tenancy_matters/second_term_tenancy.html For enquiries related to regulated tenancies, please call the telephone hotline (2150 8303) or visit the RVD’s webpage (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/our_services/part_iva.htmlIssued at HKT 15:48
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced today (June 13) that Runseason World Trade Catering Co Ltd (Runseason), a Mainland catering brand specialising in coconut chicken hot pot, has officially opened its first restaurant in Hong Kong, marking a significant step in its global expansion strategy.
The new restaurant, located in Causeway Bay, will also serve as a regional office and a strategic launch pad for the company’s ambitions to enter European markets and elevate its brand on the global stage, according to Runseason co-founder Mr Huang Guangchun.
Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK Mr Arnold Lau said, “Runseason’s decision to establish its foothold in Hong Kong underscores the city as the premier choice for Mainland brands to go global. It also highlights Hong Kong’s unique advantages as a launch pad for food and beverage companies aiming to expand internationally. We are delighted to support Runseason in leveraging Hong Kong’s vibrant market and international connectivity to achieve its ambitious expansion goals.”
Mr Huang said, “Hong Kong’s status as an international culinary hub, with its mature market and diverse consumers, makes it the ideal base for Runseason to refine its product offerings, strengthen its supply chain resilience, and enhance its digital services. Aligning with the company’s ‘family standards and conscientious quality’ philosophy, the Hong Kong restaurant will develop a replicable model for global expansion, showcasing its signature coconut chicken hot pot and innovative dishes to a global audience.”
He added, “Hong Kong, as an international city where East meets West, provides an unparalleled opportunity for Runseason to introduce our coconut chicken – a delicacy rooted in Eastern dietary wisdom – to international markets. By leveraging Hong Kong’s diverse consumer base and its reputation for culinary excellence, we aim to transform this regional specialty into a global cultural symbol of healthy and sustainable dining.”
Founded in 2009, Runseason is a subsidiary of Shenzhen Runyuan Four Seasons Catering Co Ltd, offering its signature coconut chicken hot pot, in which the brand sources fresh ingredients directly from its own coconut plantations and Wenchang chicken breeding farm in Hainan, ensuring a premium dining experience. It operates over 20 restaurants across Mainland China, bringing its beloved hot pot to an ever-growing customer base.
Pangolins are scaly mammals found across Asia and Africa. They are considered the world’s most trafficked wild mammals and they are exploited in different ways on different continents.
In Asia, mainly China, their scales are used in large-scale therapeutic medicines, despite not having known medicinal properties. Their meat is consumed as a delicacy, so it’s expensive and highly sought after.
Due to the relatively recent rise in international demand, the drivers of African pangolin exploitation remain unclear. However, some conservationists and researchers propose that this exploitation is primarily driven by overseas demand for pangolin scales used in traditional medicine.
My new study challenges this view and suggests that African pangolin exploitation is motivated more by local demand for meat than international demand for scales.
Having grown up in Nigeria, I developed personal connections with many of the hunters and vendors and have spent the past five years building a trustworthy relationship with them in order to research pangolin trade from within the industry.
My colleagues and I sent an anonymous questionnaire to 590 hunters and 219 wild meat vendors in 33 locations in southeast Nigeria. We wanted to find out how many pangolins they caught annually and how they were captured. We also asked what their motivations for hunting were, how much they sold pangolin products for and the subsequent uses of meat and scales.
Given that pangolin meat is eaten as food, we asked another group of 570 hunters, vendors, and other household members to score the palatability (perceived sensory qualities of meat flavour and texture) of 96 meat and fish dishes consumed in Nigerian communities.
Of the approximately 21,000 white- and black-bellied pangolins, which we estimated were killed annually across the hunters in the landscape between 2020 and 2023, 97% were captured opportunistically (that is, while performing activities other than hunting) or during general hunting. Of those, were picked up by hand – these animals weigh just 2-3kg on average and are relatively slow-moving.
Surprisingly, 98% of captured pangolins were caught for their meat, with 71% eaten by the hunters and 27% sold locally. This high rate of personal consumption compared to local sales is likely driven by their exceptional taste. In southeast Nigeria, the three pangolin species eaten scored highest in palatability among 96 wild meats assessed, and were comparable only with the African brush-tailed porcupine.
By comparison, rural southeast Asian communities increasingly forego eating the pangolins themselves and instead sell them to urban centres because they get high prices for meat and scales.
Most of the pangolin scales (70%) were discarded. Less than 30% were traded illegally. We also found that, on a per-animal basis, pangolin scales have been three to four times lower than meat since 2010, when Nigeria’s first pangolin scale seizure was documented.
Beyond Nigeria
While our study focused on pangolin trade in southeast Nigeria, our findings likely apply to other African forest regions where pangolins make up a similar proportion of the hunters’ total catch and where the price of scales is comparable.
Our analysis only applies to white- and black-bellied pangolins; but this is still substantial as they make up approximately 98% of African pangolins trafficked internationally (based on seizure data) and 96% of pangolins caught by hunters across central and west Africa (based on hunter offtake data from six countries).
Securing the future of African pangolins demands a bold shift if they are primarily being hunted for meat rather than scales, as appears to be the case in southeast Nigeria. Anti-trafficking measures alone won’t protect pangolins if hunting for local consumption remains unchecked.
Promoting alternative protein sources or sustainable livelihoods for hunters could help reduce wild meat dependence. As current global trade bans don’t always reflect local hunting motivations, understanding why people hunt protected species and how they get traded both locally and globally will be crucial in developing conservation strategies that will tackle the root of the problem and encourage a transition to more sustainable practices.
Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
Charles Emogor receives funding from the British High Commission in Nigeria, National Geographic Society, Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Conservation Network, Rufford Foundation, Conservation Leadership Programme, and Save Pangolins. He is the founder of Pangolin Protection Network (aka Pangolino).
Carl Morck is psychologically damaged. He’s socially insufferable. And he’s a departmental embarrassment. Yet this broken man becomes an incredibly effective investigator. Welcome to the brilliant paradox of Netflix’s Dept. Q, where mental trauma doesn’t disable – it supercharges.
Detective Morck’s story begins with catastrophic failure. Ignoring protocol, he and his partner, James Hardy, rush headlong into what they think is a routine murder scene. It’s an ambush. Hardy ends up paralysed for life, a rookie officer dies and Morck survives with crushing survivor’s guilt and severe PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Most detectives would retire. Morck comes back more determined to get his man.
Months later, Morck returns to work. He obsessively replays the rookie’s body camera video hundreds of times as well as the ballistics reconstruction. His colleagues flee his toxic presence. His commander ships him off to the basement with a stack of cold cases, hoping he’ll disappear into bureaucratic obscurity.
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Instead, she accidentally creates the perfect storm.
Morck’s first basement case involves Merritt Lingard, a prosecutor who vanished from a ferry four years earlier. The official conclusion was she fell overboard and drowned. Case closed. But Morck can’t move on from anything anymore. His trauma-rewired brain won’t let him.
He watches the ferry security footage with the same obsessive intensity he brings to replaying his shooting. Frame by frame. Over and over. The same compulsive attention to detail that torments him with endless replays of his failure becomes his investigative superpower. Where normal detectives see a tragic accident, Morck’s damaged neural pathways spot the inconsistencies everyone else missed.
This isn’t nonsense, it’s neuroscience. Research shows that depression fundamentally rewires information processing, creating enhanced sensitivity to negative details and threats. What his therapist calls pathological rumination becomes detective gold.
The banished misfits
Morck is saddled with a team of misfits: Hardy (paralysed and bitter), Akram Salim (a Syrian refugee with mysterious combat skills), and Rose Dickson (battling her own demons). Together, they form a collection of damaged individuals that conventional policing would write off.
But here’s the magic: their shared outsider status creates collective investigative superpowers.
Take their interview with William Lingard, Merritt’s disabled brother. William draws pictures of “a man in a hat with a bird logo” — evidence that conventional investigators would probably set aside because it wouldn’t hold up in court. The series shows this attitude earlier when a young mother recants her witness statement. While other officers dismiss it as useless since it can’t help prosecute a case, Morck argues it’s still valuable investigative information.
This reflects a fundamental difference in approach: most police focus on building prosecutable cases, but Dept. Q’s outsider status frees them to pursue any lead that might reveal truth, regardless of its courtroom value. Taking William’s drawings seriously as investigative intelligence, rather than dismissing them as legally inadmissible, eventually leads them to identify the crucial cormorant logo connection.
Organisational psychology research shows that socially excluded groups are more willing to ask questions that insiders avoid due to workplace politics or social taboos. Operating from their basement exile, Department Q pursues theories that proper procedure would shut down. Their isolation becomes investigative freedom, unencumbered by institutional constraints.
Department Q isn’t just entertainment, it’s a master class in psychological diversity’s investigative value. Real police departments might benefit from understanding how different types of cognitive processing can reveal different types of evidence. The systematic pessimism of depression, the hypervigilance of PTSD, the pattern recognition of anxiety – these aren’t just symptoms to medicate away, they’re investigative tools waiting to be properly deployed.
The series suggests that our most psychologically damaged individuals might see truths that healthy minds systematically miss, which research backs up. It’s a provocative idea: maybe the people we consider “broken” are exactly who we need investigating the cases that have broken everyone else.
Department Q proves that in the right circumstances, psychological damage doesn’t create victims. It creates visionaries.
Edward White is affiliated with Kingston University.
Israel launched widescale strikes against Iran on Friday, saying it targeted nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders during the start of a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.
Iran, which has denied such intentions, has in the past threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz for traffic in retaliation to Western pressure. Experts have said that any closure of the strait could restrict trade and impact global oil prices.
Below are details about the strait:
The strait lies between Oman and Iran and links the Gulf north of it with the Gulf of Oman to the south and the Arabian Sea beyond.
It is 21 miles (33 km) wide at its narrowest point, with the shipping lane just two miles (three km) wide in either direction.
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
About a fifth of the world’s total oil consumption passes through the strait. Between the start of 2022 and last month, roughly 17.8 million to 20.8 million barrels of crude, condensate and fuels flowed through the strait daily, according to data from Vortexa.
OPEC members Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq export most of their crude via the strait, mainly to Asia.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia have sought to find other routes to bypass the strait.
Around 2.6 million bpd of unused capacity from existing UAE and Saudi pipelines could be available to bypass Hormuz, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in June last year.
Qatar, among the world’s biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters, sends almost all of its LNG through the strait.
Iran has threatened over the years to block the strait but has never followed through.
The U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, is tasked with protecting commercial shipping in the area.
HISTORY OF TENSIONS
In 1973, Arab producers led by Saudi Arabia slapped an oil embargo on Western supporters of Israel in its war with Egypt.
While Western countries were the main buyers of crude produced by the Arab countries at the time, nowadays Asia is the main buyer of OPEC’s crude.
The United States more than doubled its oil liquids production in the last two decades and has turned from the world’s biggest oil importer into one of the top exporters.
During the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, the two sides sought to disrupt each other’s exports in what was called the Tanker War.
In July 1988, a U.S. warship shot down an Iranian airliner, killing all 290 aboard, in what Washington said was an accident and Tehran said was a deliberate attack.
In January 2012, Iran threatened to block the strait in retaliation for U.S. and European sanctions. In May 2019, four vessels – including two Saudi oil tankers – were attacked off the UAE coast, outside the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
HAIKOU, June 13 (Xinhua) — More than tens of thousands of residents in south China’s Hainan Province have been evacuated to safe areas as Typhoon Wutip (Butterfly), the first typhoon of the year, approaches.
As of 8:00 p.m. Thursday, a total of 16,561 people had been evacuated from construction sites, low-lying areas threatened by flooding and areas at risk from mountain torrents in the province.
All 30,721 fishing vessels in the province have either returned to ports or taken shelter elsewhere, with more than 40,000 people working on them evacuated to shore.
As Typhoon Wutip continues to intensify, the provincial meteorological office extended the typhoon alert to Level 3 at 11 a.m. Friday.
Typhoon Wutip strengthened into a severe tropical storm at 8 p.m. Thursday. As of 10 a.m. Friday, its epicenter was located near Ledong Li Autonomous County on Hainan Island, with maximum wind speeds of about 28 meters per second near the epicenter. Heavy rainfall is expected in many parts of the province by 8 p.m.
According to meteorologists’ forecasts, the typhoon is moving in a northwesterly direction at a speed of 5-10 km/h.
On Friday, Wutip may make landfall or pass near the coastal area between Ledong County and Dongfang City as a severe tropical storm with wind gusts of 25 to 28 meters per second. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
NANJING, June 13 (Xinhua) — An international team of paleontologists led by Chinese scientists has discovered two previously unknown species of parasitic fungi preserved in two pieces of amber from Myanmar’s Kachin region, which are about 100 million years old, according to the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
The new discovery provides important evidence for the study of fungi and insects’ coevolution. The study also suggests that the parasitic fungi group Ophiocordyceps evolved about 30 million years earlier than previously thought.
As the head of the research project, senior researcher at the institute Wang Bo, explained, the fungi do not have a solid structure and are easily decomposed. Research into the origin and evolution of Ophiocordyceps is hampered by the extreme limitation of fossil evidence.
The two pieces of amber have well-preserved mushroom structures, making it possible to compare them with modern analogues. Using computer microtomography, the researchers discovered their insect hosts.
The scientists also obtained and analyzed genetic data on 120 modern Ophiocordyceps species. Using these fossils as a reference, they reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of Ophiocordyceps and revised the data on the origin of this group of fungi.
“The results suggest that the origin of Ophiocordyceps must have occurred around 130 million years ago, in the Early Cretaceous, which is 30 million years earlier than previously thought,” he said.
The results of the study were published Wednesday in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
LOS ANGELES, June 13 (Xinhua) — A federal judge on Thursday issued a temporary order ordering U.S. President Donald Trump to return control of the state’s National Guard to California authorities.
Trump’s deployment of the California National Guard and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles was unlawful because it violated the Tenth Amendment and exceeded the president’s statutory powers, according to the order, which will go into effect Friday at 12 p.m.
US District Judge Charles Breyer said Trump overstepped his authority when he ordered about 4,000 National Guard troops to be deployed to Los Angeles, where immigration protests have erupted.
California Governor Gavin Newsom challenged the measure in court. California later filed an emergency motion asking a judge to bar the National Guard from assisting immigration enforcement raids.
Breyer’s injunction was “a sharp rebuke of President Trump’s efforts to deploy thousands of National Guard troops to the streets of an American city, which has led to nearly a week of political standoffs and protests across the country,” the New York Times writes.
During an hour-long hearing in San Francisco, a Justice Department official said courts do not have the authority to review the president’s decisions regarding the National Guard and Marines, which Trump sent to Los Angeles despite objections from state and local officials.
C. Breyer expressed doubt that D. Trump fulfilled the conditions of the law determining when National Guard units, which are usually commanded by the state governor, can be federalized.
The judge stayed the order until Friday afternoon to allow an appeal, but he set a June 20 hearing on whether to make the restrictions permanent. The Trump administration has appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday offered condolences to Indian President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the deaths of many people in the crash of an Air India plane.
In his message, Xi Jinping said he was shocked to learn of the plane crash that claimed many lives. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, he expressed deep condolences over the loss of life, sympathized with the victims and the families of the deceased, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang also sent a message of condolences to Modi on Friday. –0–
In South Africa, most long-term care for older people happens at home through the efforts of family members, largely female kin, not through government services.
With South Africa’s population growing older, combined with reduced funding for community care, higher levels of disability in old age, and widespread poverty and unemployment, family care has become more important than ever and more challenging. But government and policy makers don’t know how it happens, and we can’t just assume it happens.
The Family Caregiving Programme is the first major programme dedicated to understanding family care of older persons in southern Africa. As part of the research team for this programme we are looking at how family care works and how it can be better supported. The five-year programme aims to improve our understanding of how family care is experienced in South Africa, Malawi, Namibia and Botswana.
For the latest research report, we worked with 103 caregivers and 96 older persons in 100 family units across seven locations in three South African provinces: the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal. We worked in two rural areas, one peri-urban area and four urban areas including two townships.
Three quarters of the sample of older persons required constant care or supervision.
We found that all the care needs were being met – but at a significant cost for caregivers, older persons and society.
Care needs go beyond physiological and cognitive issues and are shaped by the physical and social environment. The environment can make care more challenging and create more dependency. Lack of access to water, sanitation and electricity adds to care work.
For care needs to be met, older persons need supported caregivers, access to care services and basic services.
The gaps
South Africa’s long term care policy encourages “ageing in place”, meaning older people should live in their homes, supported by community-based services. But the reality is that support is limited.
Of the 5.5 million older people in South Africa, around 4 million receive the Older Person’s Grant, and at least 1.5 million need help with daily activities. Very few receive home-based care or subsidised meals. Even fewer receive assistive devices and materials such as wheelchairs or incontinence products.
It’s a common assumption that if an older person lives with family, they’re being cared for. But this isn’t always true. Sometimes the available family member isn’t able – physically, emotionally, or financially – to provide proper care. Mental health support is also largely missing. Many older people experience loneliness and depression, but help is hard to find. In our study, one in five older persons experienced feelings of loneliness, anxiety and despair.
Many older people don’t have running water, proper toilets, wheelchairs, or incontinence products. If basic services are missing, the older person needs more help. Older black people in rural areas and in under-resourced townships are most affected.
Family Caregiving Programme
Older people also need help accessing healthcare. High levels of diabetes, hypertension and arthritis in many cases lead to disability in later life. But getting help to access care isn’t always available.
Mary Mwebu (we have used pseudonyms), who lives in the rural Eastern Cape and has TB of the spine and mobility challenges, has no running water in her home. She also has no accessible and affordable transport, so she hasn’t been to the clinic in 10 years and struggles to manage her pain.
Care needs of older persons include basic provision of food. Our findings show that older persons and their households spend way below what is needed for a healthy diet.
The older person’s grant, at R2,315 (US$130) a month in 2025 and similar to the cost of incontinence products for the month, is often the main income in the household and is used to cover the costs for everyone, especially in a context where 64% of people living with an older person are unemployed.
Food is the biggest cost, often up to two thirds of income. It is the first thing to cut when there’s not enough money.
Money is particularly tight in black low-income households. In many cases expenditure exceeds income, and older people are left vulnerable. If any unexpected costs like medical needs or hygiene products arise, the older person will often have to sacrifice food.
Others will obtain loans and so many fall into debt. Borrowing from loan sharks is a way to buy food but high interest rates put people in a worse position the following month.
Limiting spending, eating less, and limited help from family members are the only other ways to meet their needs.
Why care is depleting
The average older person household has five people in it. Large households have many care needs, not just elder care. We found that women – especially daughters and female relatives – are the main caregivers.
But the findings show that due to HIV/Aids and migration, older people can’t always rely on their children. In such instances care is also provided by nieces, neighbours, and adult granddaughters.
Looking after an older person often requires caregivers to relocate. Our findings showed that one in five caregivers had to move, often with young children or leaving spouses behind.
Sometimes older persons need to move to get care. This happened in one in 10 older persons in our sample. Many are reluctant to move from their homes and the process can take years.
The findings show that family caregiving is not an endless supply of “free” labour. It is physically, emotionally and financially costly, especially for black low-income women.
Some answers
The report proposes three key recommendations.
Firstly, family caregivers and careworkers should be adequately compensated for their work.
Secondly, we call for expanding home-based care services to ease the load and give caregivers breaks and mental health support.
And thirdly, care-related items, such as wheelchairs, incontinence products and healthy food, should be made more easily available.
Supporting family caregivers means supporting the wellbeing of millions of older South Africans. It’s time the country took elder and family care seriously and backed it with real investment and action.
– Older South Africans need better support and basic services – and so do their caregivers – https://theconversation.com/older-south-africans-need-better-support-and-basic-services-and-so-do-their-caregivers-258409
IEC to host the first Symposium on Political Funding in SA
The Electoral Commission is preparing to host a symposium on Political Funding in South Africa.
This follows four years of implementing the Political Funding Act of 2018. This law took effect on 1 April 2021.
The symposium will be held in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on 18 and 19 June 2025.
The symposium will be held under the theme: “Sustaining Multi-Party Democracy through Enhancing Political Funding Regulation in South Africa”.
The aim of the symposium is to foster informed dialogue on matters related to the use of money in politics, the required transparency and accountability models, as well as possible reforms to ensure an effective political finance regulatory regime in South Africa.
The key highlights of the programme of the symposium include opening remarks by the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mosotho Moepya.
The Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo, and the political funding unit will outline the experience of implementing the law since its promulgation. This aspect will involve the points of success and areas of challenge.
The Human Sciences Research Council will outline the preliminary outcomes of a research study which, amongst others, gathered the views and perspectives of stakeholders and the public on political financing in the country. Several scholars will also present their work in this area.
The Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, is also scheduled to address the symposium. The Minister is expected to provide a perspective on the public funding of elected representatives to enhance multi-party democracy.
Highlights of the programme include the following:
• A global perspective on political funding and campaign finance.
• The role and mandate of the political funding framework in strengthening democratic governance.
• Assessing the capacity and commitment of key stakeholders in improving the regulation of political funding.
• Transparency in public and private political party funding.
The symposium will convene a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from political parties, Members of Parliament, academia, civil society, media, the business sector, as well as international and intergovernmental organisations.
Speaking ahead of the symposium, Mamabolo said a collective commitment to enhancing transparency in the political funding landscape is important to foster a vibrant system of multiparty democracy.
“By convening diverse stakeholders, we aim to critically assess our progress and explore avenues for strengthening the current regulatory framework and thus ensure that our democracy remains robust and resilient,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
Government is implementing comprehensive measures to support small-scale farmers, especially in rural and underdeveloped provinces like the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal.
This is according to Deputy President Paul Mashatile who outlined key strategies during a parliamentary question-and-answer session. At Thursday’s session, the Deputy President emphasised the importance of enhancing agricultural productivity and improving access to funding.
Addressing the National Assembly, he stated that the government is improving agricultural productivity through the Agriculture Agro-Processing Master Plan (AAPP) and various support programmes, including the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) and the Blended Finance Scheme.
WATCH | Deputy President addresses the National Assembly
He explained that the Master Plan aims to enhance agricultural products, promote agro-processing, and improve market access by building capacity, accelerating land reform, and providing financial assistance to farmers.
“We need to support it to promote economic growth, ensure food security and employment creation, particularly in rural areas. “Government is playing a crucial role in ensuring that small farmers become sustainable and thriving enterprises aligned to the country’s land reform and rural development objectives,” he said.
He announced that government is assisting farmers by offering grants and loans through partnerships with financial institutions like the Land Bank, Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
According to the Deputy President, the state is providing blended finance schemes targeting black-owned agricultural enterprises.
“We are enhancing collaboration between government and private entities to boost productivity, service delivery and sustainability growth. Infrastructure and technology adoption depend on these collaborations,” he said.
He told Members of Parliament that efforts are being made to address the challenge of accessing funding from commercial banks by de-risking investments and mobilising Development Finance Institutions (DFIs).
Meanwhile, the Deputy President said government is also leveraging trade agreements, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to boost regional trade.
“If we effectively utilise regional structures like the African Continental Free Trade Area, our smallholder farmers will have a platform to access larger regional markets and potentially benefit from increased demand for their products.
“In this regard, continuous industry consultation and reporting are taking place through the agricultural trade forum.”
Export opportunities
He announced that South Africa is exploring export opportunities in strategic markets like Japan and focusing on products such as citrus fruits and avocados.
In the meantime, arrangements are currently in place with the European Union and the country’s BRICS partners to fast-track export protocols, enhance biosecurity to meet international standards and ensure international outreach is professional, responsive and strategic.
BRICS is an intergovernmental organisation comprising 10 countries, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
Funding and market access
The country’s second-in-command also took the time to acknowledge the challenges, including commercial banks’ reluctance to fund small farmers due to a lack of collateral.
However, he stated that the government is intervening to reduce investment risks and encourage bank participation.
According to Deputy President Mashatile, government aims to transform small-scale farming into sustainable enterprises, which will promote economic growth, food security, and job creation in rural areas.
“We are actively seeking to expand agricultural market access to countries like Japan, particularly for our citrus fruits and avocados.”
The Deputy President also took the time to extend his condolences to the families of the people affected by the severe weather conditions in the Eastern Cape.
“Our hearts are with you. Government will do everything in its power to assist you. The President will be visiting the Eastern Cape tomorrow,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
EThekwini Municipality Mayor, Cyril Xaba has welcomed significant progress on the Southern Aqueduct project, a vital initiative designed to meet the growing water demand in the southern and central parts of the city.
Xaba conducted an oversight visit on Wednesday, to assess construction progress on a section of the pipeline at Mosely Park.
Xaba said he was excited with the progress he has seen, highlighting the team’s commitment to work around the clock to ensure its completion.
“This is one of the major water infrastructure projects we embarked on in 2024. Once completed, the 24-kilometre pipeline will substantially improve water supply to communities, including Shallcross, Chatsworth, Umlazi, Folweni, and Queensburgh,” Xaba said.
The R1.2 billion Southern Aqueduct upgrade will serve approximately 1.2 million residents through 33 reservoirs.
The project replaces a pipeline that is more than 70 years old and had exceeded its 50-year lifespan, and was frequently leaking, necessitating partial decommissioning.
“We are now upgrading it to meet the growing population. This includes restoring it to be two pipelines which will allow us to continue to provide water, even if we conduct maintenance work on the other pipeline,” Xaba explained.
The project upgrade involves the replacement of 975mm (millimetre) diameter concrete pipes with new steel pipes ranging from 1000mm to 1600mm in diameter.
The project is split into eight work packages, with packages 1 and 2 already at 50% complete since they started in 2024.
Work package 1 involves the construction of a new 1200mm steel watermain from Shallcross Road to the Chatsworth Reservoir, while package 2 includes the construction of 8 kilometres pipeline, ranging from 1200mm to 1400mm in diameter from Shallcross to Northdene.
Work packages 3 to 6, which commenced in April this year, cover the construction of the pipeline running from Northdene through Paradise Valley Nature Reserve and Westville, ending at Durban Heights Water Treatment Works in Reservoir Hills.
Xaba reaffirmed the municipality’s commitment to uninterrupted water provision and pledged regular site visits to assess progress.
“I want teams to meet their timelines so that my commitment to the community is honoured,” Xaba said- SAnews.gov.za
Government is embarking on a multi-pronged approach to address gang-related crime and its underlying socio-economic causes, Deputy President Paul Mashatile said.
Speaking on the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cabinet Committee’s strategy, the Deputy President emphasised that combating crime requires more than traditional policing.
He further highlighted several key points of the strategy, which include the development of a national anti-gang initiative, the enhancement of anti-gang units within the South African Police Service (SAPS), the implementation of Operation Shanela to focus on strategic law enforcement efforts, and an emphasis on community engagement and collaboration with stakeholders.
The need for a multi-disciplinary approach involving various government departments to address crime effectively was also emphasised.
“This strategy, supported by the anti-gang action plan, focuses on gangsterism through intelligence gathering, proactive policing, community engagement and stakeholder collaboration in this regard,” he said during a question-and-answer session in Parliament on Thursday.
WATCH | Question and answer session in the National Assembly
Additionally, the country’s second-in-command said the SAPS is working around the clock to investigate and finalise gang-related cases, including drug trafficking, shootings and murders.
“As a result, according to the latest statement released by SAPS, ongoing operations, which are focusing on combating and preventing crime, including gender-based violence and femicide [GBVF], have led to the arrest of more than 13 000 suspects.”
He believes that the latest statistics show a significant decrease in most crime categories compared to the previous financial year but added that more efforts are needed.
As the Chair of the JCPS, he stated that he will continue to engage with the Minister of Police, the National Police Commissioner, and the MECs of Safety in all provinces.
Their goal is to enhance efforts in combating organised crime and gang-related killings, particularly in provinces like KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, where these issues are prevalent.
“Our goal is to eliminate immediate threats posed by crime and gangs in identified high crime areas, while fostering a safe and secure environment for long-term stability.”
The Deputy President emphasised a multidisciplinary approach, engaging various government departments to tackle root causes such as poverty and unemployment.
He noted that economic growth and job creation are crucial in preventing youth from turning to criminal activities.
Water issues
The Deputy President discussed the Water Task Team’s efforts to address water shortages, with a focus on 105 non-performing municipalities and enhancing municipal service management.
The team was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa last year under the leadership of the Deputy President to address water challenges in various areas in the country.
The Deputy President told the Members of Parliament that the Department of Water and Sanitation has established oversight structures and a specialised unit for priority projects and that a comprehensive water debt management plan is recommended.
“We are going to carefully look at the resolutions of the Water Indaba because it does address, particularly these issues, because some of the municipalities can’t be water authorities,” he said.
In addition, he stated that consequence management for underperforming municipal managers is being considered. “So, we are going to look at how we can, where possible, assist them to be effective in generating revenue. We have realised that poor maintenance of facilities is one of the biggest problems.
“If you visit many of our cities, you’ll find that there are problems with leakages and that non-revenue water is a significant issue. So, we’re going to work with them to try and deal with those challenges.”
HIV and AIDS
Shifting focus to HIV and AIDS, he said the withdrawal of US$8 billion in the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funding for the HIV/AIDS programme will be offset by increased government spending and engagement with other markets. This as funding by the United States Government has been withdrawn. – SAnews.gov.za
Stapleton road bridge temporarily closed for urgent repairs
The eThekwini Municipality has announced temporary closure of Stapleton Road Bridge in Pinetown, west of Durban, to facilitate urgent and accelerated repair work.
The bridge serves as a key link between Sarnia Road and the King Cetshwayo Highway (M13), providing access to Pinetown and New Germany.
In a statement, the municipality said the decision to close the bridge was made in the interest of public safety, and to enable the repair operations to proceed efficiently and without obstruction.
“Following recent assessments, it was determined that a portion of the concrete structure has been compromised and requires immediate removal and reconstruction. The Municipality’s Structures Department has completed most of the repair design work and is fully mobilised on-site.
“In addition to structural concerns, investigations revealed that the northern road embankment is being undermined, resulting in a narrowed and unstable roadway. Vibrations from heavy vehicles have worsened the condition, especially near the recently reconstructed water main,” the municipality said in a statement.
The city warned that ongoing traffic presents a significant risk to both motorists and the construction workforce. It said full closure of the bridge will allow uninterrupted work to proceed without interruption, reducing the repair timeline, while ensuring maximum safety and quality standards.
The municipality acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the closure and apologised to all affected residents, businesses, and commuters.
“The municipality assures the public that teams are working round the clock to minimise the closure period, while upholding the highest standards of safety and engineering,” the municipality said.
The bridge is expected to reopen within 21 days, or sooner if weather and site conditions remain favourable.
Motorists have been advised to use the following alternative routes into Pinetown: • Via Main Road (Underwood Road), or • Via the M7 (Edwin Swales Drive) through Bellair.
Power restoration underway after storm damage
Meanwhile, the municipality has reported significant progress in restoring power supply to areas affected by the recent strong winds, which caused widespread damage to infrastructure and interrupted power in several areas across the city.
The municipality said the Electricity Unit has been attending to a high volume of electricity faults, with many areas already reconnected.
“As teams work through these faults, common causes identified include fallen poles, trees falling on power lines, vegetation encroachments, blown roof sheets, and other foreign objects entangled in the power lines which have all contributed to the numerous outages. City teams are prioritising safety and efficiency as they work to restore power.
“Teams are working round the clock to repair faults and progressively restore power in affected areas. Many areas have already had power restored. Restoration is being done in a phased and safe manner,” the municipality said on Thursday.
Residents are encouraged to report outages via the city’s digital fault reporting platforms, including:
For the latest developments on reported area outages, visit the Electricity Unit’s online area outage tracker page https://webfaults.durban.gov.za/WebsiteFaultsEllip…/Outage This list is automatically updated as faults are logged and assigned to various fault teams until restoration. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Director of mobile phone shops given suspended sentence for £150,000 Covid loan fraud
Zahid Afzal, of Pembrokeshire, fraudulently claimed extra Covid Bounce Back loans for his phone sales and merchandise companies.
Zahid Afzal claimed £150,000 in Covid loans – most of which he moved to personal accounts.
He had already received Bounce Back loans for his two companies when he applied for three more.
He was handed a two-year suspended sentence, and 300 hours of unpaid work, at Swansea Crown Court on 12 June 2025.
The director of two companies which run mobile phone shops across the UK has been handed a two-year suspended sentence, after he fraudulently claimed £150,000 in Covid Bounce Back loans.
Zahid Afzal, the director of Phone Bits Ltd and Phones Onn Ltd, had already received Covid loans for both companies legitimately – totalling £52,500 – when he applied for three more.
The 37-year-old, from Haverfordwest, falsely claimed the applications were the first he had made and exaggerated the turnover of each company.
He received the three additional loans of £50,000 each – one for Phone Bits Ltd and two for Phones Onn Ltd – between May and November 2020.
Afzal was sentenced for three counts of fraud by false representation at Swansea Crown Court on 12 June 2025.
The Insolvency Service is seeking to recover the fraudulently obtained funds under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Insolvency Service Chief Investigator David Snasdell said:
It is clear from our investigations that Zahid Afzal felt he could continue to apply time and time again for loans he was not entitled to.
Not satisfied with the substantial funds he had legitimately received, he went on to lie on applications and exaggerate his companies’ turnovers.
His sentencing should serve as a reminder to those contemplating fraudulently pocketing taxpayers’ money to think again.
Afzal’s companies ran mobile phone shops or kiosks in Carmarthen, Shropshire, Andover and North Devon.
The Insolvency Service investigation did not find any wrongdoing with the use of his initial loans for Phones Onn Ltd (£20,000) and Phone Bits (£32,500), which he was entitled to and were used entirely for business purposes.
But he moved the majority of the £150,000 he received from his second round of loans to personal accounts despite stating they were for business purposes.
The Bounce Back loan scheme helped small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000, at a low interest rate, guaranteed by the Government.
The loans were made on the condition that they were not to be used for personal purposes, but could be used, for example, to purchase a company asset such as a vehicle, if it would provide an economic benefit to the business.
The money lent to a company had to be paid back, over six or 10 years, with payments starting 12 months after the company received the loan.
Further information:
Zahid Afzal: DOB 09/03/1988 of Albert Street, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.
Phone Bits Ltd Company number 10136495, registered in Andover.
Phones Onn Ltd Company number 11771257, registered in London.
Zahid Afzal was charged on three counts in relation to sections 1 and 2 of the Fraud Act 2006.
The Insolvency Service can investigate complaints about corporate abuse by live companies. This may include serious misconduct, fraud, scams or dishonest practice in the way the company operates. Further information on our live investigations can be found here
The Lord Provost pays tribute to Sir Geoff Palmer, following the announcement on Friday of his death.
Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Robert Aldridge said:
I was deeply saddened to learn of Sir Geoff Palmer’s passing. A tireless advocate for equality and a pioneering academic, Sir Geoff was a true inspiration and will leave a lasting impression on Edinburgh.
In 2022 I was honoured to present Sir Geoff with the Edinburgh Award in recognition of his academic achievements and his passionate defence of human rights and justice in the city and beyond. His handprints remain immortalised alongside those of other Edinburgh Award recipients and will give passers-by pause to reflect on the huge impact he had here.
In chairing the Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review Sir Geoff made a vital contribution to recognising and profiling the Capital’s links with Slavery and Colonialism in the public realm.
I know Sir Geoff’s legacy in academia and activism will live on for years to come, inspiring future generations. He will be dearly missed – my thoughts are with his friends, family and all those who knew him.
Residents are being urged find out more about how to stay water safe this summer as part of the Royal Life Saving Society UK’s (RLSS UK) Drowning Prevention Week.
The annual RLSS UK campaign is all about educating families, carers, teachers of children aged between five and 15 years old about water safety. Sunderland City Council is backing the campaign which runs from Saturday 14 to Saturday 21 June, to help raise awareness of the importance of staying safe and water safety.
The RLSS UK provides free water safety advice for families and schools in a bid to give every child the opportunity to learn about water safety.
Councillor Beth Jones, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Tourism at Sunderland City Council said: “We are very lucky to have beautiful beaches in Sunderland where people can enjoy the water.
“We want all our residents and visitors to be able to get the most out of these fantastic spaces, as safely as possible. This is why we are continuing to support Drowning Prevention Week, in the hope that everyone will take the time to look at some of the really helpful advice on offer from organisations like the RLSS and the RNLI on how to keep you and your loved ones safe in water this summer.”
“I would also encourage anyone planning on swimming in the sea in Sunderland this summer to visit a beach which has RNLI lifeguards on duty and to always to swim between the red and yellow flags.”
The RNLI will be providing their lifeguard service to Roker, Seaburn and Cat and Dog beaches everyday from 10am to 6pm, until Sunday 7 September.
The RLSS UK hopes that by raising awareness, the campaign will see a reduction in the number of people losing their lives to accidental drowning every year. An average of 312 people in the UK and Ireland sadly lose their lives this way each year. Many more have non-fatal experiences, sometimes life-changing injuries, following a water related incident.
Matt Croxall, Interim Charity Director at RLSS UK, said: “We want people to make the most of enjoying the water outdoors this summer as the weather warms up, which why we believe in the importance of everyone having the opportunity to learn key lifesaving knowledge, including the Water Safety Code, to keep them and their families safe and able to enjoy the water safely.
“Help us to support our Drowning Prevention Week campaign by sharing lifesaving knowledge with family and loved ones this summer, as this could help to save lives and prevent tragedies.”
There are four parts to the Water Safety Code that the Royal Life Saving Society UK is encouraging parents to discuss with their children. Stop and think, stay together, call 999, and float. These are:
Stop and Think: Look for the dangers. Always read local signs and advice
Stay Together: When around the water always go with friends and family and swim at a lifeguarded venue
Call 999: in an emergency phone 999 and ask for the Fire and Rescue Service when inland and the coastguard if at the coast. Don’t enter the water to rescue
Float: If you do fall in or become tired – stay calm, float on your back and call for help. Throw something that floats to someone who has fallen in
Home » Latest News » Free family event set to get more kids giving sport a go
Children have the chance to try their hand at a whole range of sports at a free summer event being held by Canterbury City Council and Kent Police alongside a range of other organisations.
Taking place at Canterbury Rugby Club on Saturday 12 July, families will get to have a go at rugby, football, judo, taekwondo, boxing, wrestling, cricket, wheelchair rugby, combat archery and more.
The Give it a Go! event aims to encourage active lifestyles and greater wellbeing through sport and is open to all abilities and ages between four and 18 years old.
There will be organisations from the emergency services, food and drink options, as well as health and wellbeing and community safety stalls to take any questions.
A dedicated quiet zone will also be available for children with special educational needs and disabilities on the ground floor of the Kent MS Centre.
No pre-booking is required – simply come along to the rugby club between 10am and 4pm.
You also don’t need to be a Canterbury district resident to attend the event.
A free bus service will run every 30 minutes starting at 9.30am from Canterbury bus station to the rugby club, and the last bus leaving the rugby club will be 4.30pm.
Cllr Connie Nolan, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, said: “Giving young people the opportunity to try new things, stay active and gain skills is so important.
“I’m really pleased we’ve been able to get together with other local organisations to do just that.
“If your kids have ever been curious to try a new sport or you’re simply looking for a fun day out for the whole family this summer, please do come along and give it a go!”
The event is being organised by The Purple Partnership which is a partnership of local sports providers and businesses, led by the council and Kent Police, with the aim of:
providing life skills to young people
introducing young people to sports they may not have had the opportunity to try
introducing young people to professional work environments
delivering events and activities that are friendly and accessible to all young people
CHILDREN and young people in Leicester who receive benefits-related free school meals are being invited to sign up for a programme of free summer activities before the deadline on Friday 27 June.
Starting on Monday 14 July, the sessions will include activities such as art, sport and outdoor fun – and each child taking part will receive a healthy meal as part of the session.
Funding for the scheme has come from the Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) – a government scheme that aims to help children from low-income families keep active and eat well during the summer break.
In Leicester, the programme – which is aimed at children aged from 4 to 16 – is being delivered by more than 40 providers at sites around the city.
Youngsters (aged 6-11) could sign up for fun with Leicester’s museums’ service, with activities taking place throughout the summer at the Abbey Pumping Station, while basketball-loving 8-16-year-olds could head for the Mattioli Arena for a programme organised by the Leicester Riders Foundation.
Older children (aged 14-16) could opt for a pass that would allow them to work out in the gym, go for a swim or book a court at the city council’s leisure centres, or choose a boxing pass that would give them access to early evening sessions at the GNR8 Academy at New College.
Those choosing a pass instead of signing up for a programmed activity will receive a food voucher instead of a meal each time they use their pass – up to a maximum of 16 food vouchers over the holiday period.
Eligible families can sign up to four weeks of free provision over the summer holiday. Most programmes run for four hours each day for four days, although some providers are offering flexible programmes that run for more hours over fewer days, or fewer hours over more days.
Places, however, are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis to those who live in the city of Leicester, receive benefits-related free school meals, and are in the age range for that programme.
“The long summer holiday can be a struggle for many families,” said assistant city mayor Cllr Elaine Pantling.
“This scheme, which is funded by the government, aims to ensure that children who normally have a free school meal can have fun in the summer break, and a healthy meal while they’re taking part, without having to worry about the cost.
“There’s a wide range of activities on offer at sites around the city, but places are limited so please register as soon as you can – and certainly before the deadline on Friday 27 June – if you’d like your child to take part in the programme.”
Families with children who receive benefits-related free schools and who meet the eligibility criteria can register for a place on the Holiday Activities & Food programme at families.leicester.gov.uk/haf
Children who don’t receive benefits-related free school meals may also be able to register on the programme, in exchange for a fee. Families should contact the provider directly for more information. The full programme and providers’ contact details can be found at families.leicester.gov.uk/haf
The HAF programme is funded by the Department for Education.
Families are invited to a free children and young people’s festival at the newly reopened Derby Market Hall.
As part of the Derby Promise, an initiative led by Derby City Council alongside its city partners, the first Dream Fest will take place on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 July.
The exciting two-day festival will bring the city together in a vibrant celebration of storytelling, Shakespeare and dreams. Children and young people will be able to access careers experiences, build their skills and explore the future of work, leaving them confident and ambitious about their place in Derby’s future.
Councillor Paul Hezelgrave, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills, said:
Dream Fest will be a brilliant opportunity for our young people to get creative, gain confidence, and really shine. Exploring Shakespeare in the classroom brings its own joy, but being able to bring that to life and really have fun with it is something else.
Young people and families alike are coming together and sharing a really special day, celebrating our talented youngsters.
Friday 11 July will be a day for school pupils, as children from early years through to post-16 attend a ‘Takeover Day’ at Derby Market Hall. More than 500 pupils will have the chance to perform an extract from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and showcase their talents. This will be accompanied by a series of practical workshops and creative careers talks with our city’s cultural partners.
The festival will continue on Saturday 12 July, when it will be open to the public. Families and the wider community can enjoy a packed day of exciting performances from young people from across the city, plus walkabout performances, breakdancers, theatre and music performances, workshops, hands-on arts activities and much more.
This vibrant public programme is free to all, as Dream Fest encourages everyone to enjoy our new Market Hall and experience an exciting programme of cultural opportunities. No booking is necessary, just come along and join the fun!
Culture Derby, in collaboration with the Council, is spearheading this programme as part of a mission to provide more free and high-quality cultural opportunities for children, young people and families.
Alix Manning-Jones, Director of Culture Derby, said:
Dream Fest will be a magical, creative, high-energy step into another world, experiencing the joy and escapism of theatre. It’s all about inspiring the next generation of dreamers and creators — from early years right through to post-16 — through the power of performance, imagination and community.
Dream Fest is being produced in partnership with Wrongsemble Theatre Company and has benefited from several local businesses who have sponsored the event, highlighting the importance of the city coming together to support our young people’s creativity.
Graham Lambert, Managing Director of VINCI UK Developments who are among the sponsors, said:
We’re delighted to be supporting Derby Dream Fest and hope the festival inspires, excites and brings fun and enjoyment to the young people of Derby.
Steve Carlier, president of fellow sponsors Rolls-Royce Submarines, said:
At Rolls-Royce, we see Derby as our home, and sponsoring events like this helps to show our appreciation for the support, passion and pride we see every day from the people of Derby. Inspiring the next generation is something we take seriously.
The Derby Promise aims to bring together businesses, educational and cultural organisations alongside the City Council to raise aspirations and expand opportunities relating to the world of work and the economic regeneration of Derby.
Activities focus on opportunities to develop skills relevant to businesses in Derby and across the East Midlands, and to provide careers information, advice and guidance in order to support people as they navigate their way into exciting destinations. We believe in starting early, so these opportunities are open to early years through to post-16, including young adults already in work.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Scam alert related to bank
BankThe HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the scams concerned, should contact the relevant bank with the information provided in the corresponding press release, and report the matter to the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012. Issued at HKT 17:45
In South Africa, most long-term care for older people happens at home through the efforts of family members, largely female kin, not through government services.
With South Africa’s population growing older, combined with reduced funding for community care, higher levels of disability in old age, and widespread poverty and unemployment, family care has become more important than ever and more challenging. But government and policy makers don’t know how it happens, and we can’t just assume it happens.
The Family Caregiving Programme is the first major programme dedicated to understanding family care of older persons in southern Africa. As part of the research team for this programme we are looking at how family care works and how it can be better supported. The five-year programme aims to improve our understanding of how family care is experienced in South Africa, Malawi, Namibia and Botswana.
For the latest research report, we worked with 103 caregivers and 96 older persons in 100 family units across seven locations in three South African provinces: the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal. We worked in two rural areas, one peri-urban area and four urban areas including two townships.
Three quarters of the sample of older persons required constant care or supervision.
We found that all the care needs were being met – but at a significant cost for caregivers, older persons and society.
Care needs go beyond physiological and cognitive issues and are shaped by the physical and social environment. The environment can make care more challenging and create more dependency. Lack of access to water, sanitation and electricity adds to care work.
For care needs to be met, older persons need supported caregivers, access to care services and basic services.
The gaps
South Africa’s long term care policy encourages “ageing in place”, meaning older people should live in their homes, supported by community-based services. But the reality is that support is limited.
Of the 5.5 million older people in South Africa, around 4 million receive the Older Person’s Grant, and at least 1.5 million need help with daily activities. Very few receive home-based care or subsidised meals. Even fewer receive assistive devices and materials such as wheelchairs or incontinence products.
It’s a common assumption that if an older person lives with family, they’re being cared for. But this isn’t always true. Sometimes the available family member isn’t able – physically, emotionally, or financially – to provide proper care. Mental health support is also largely missing. Many older people experience loneliness and depression, but help is hard to find. In our study, one in five older persons experienced feelings of loneliness, anxiety and despair.
Many older people don’t have running water, proper toilets, wheelchairs, or incontinence products. If basic services are missing, the older person needs more help. Older black people in rural areas and in under-resourced townships are most affected.
Older people also need help accessing healthcare. High levels of diabetes, hypertension and arthritis in many cases lead to disability in later life. But getting help to access care isn’t always available.
Mary Mwebu (we have used pseudonyms), who lives in the rural Eastern Cape and has TB of the spine and mobility challenges, has no running water in her home. She also has no accessible and affordable transport, so she hasn’t been to the clinic in 10 years and struggles to manage her pain.
Care needs of older persons include basic provision of food. Our findings show that older persons and their households spend way below what is needed for a healthy diet.
The older person’s grant, at R2,315 (US$130) a month in 2025 and similar to the cost of incontinence products for the month, is often the main income in the household and is used to cover the costs for everyone, especially in a context where 64% of people living with an older person are unemployed.
Food is the biggest cost, often up to two thirds of income. It is the first thing to cut when there’s not enough money.
Money is particularly tight in black low-income households. In many cases expenditure exceeds income, and older people are left vulnerable. If any unexpected costs like medical needs or hygiene products arise, the older person will often have to sacrifice food.
Others will obtain loans and so many fall into debt. Borrowing from loan sharks is a way to buy food but high interest rates put people in a worse position the following month.
Limiting spending, eating less, and limited help from family members are the only other ways to meet their needs.
Why care is depleting
The average older person household has five people in it. Large households have many care needs, not just elder care. We found that women – especially daughters and female relatives – are the main caregivers.
But the findings show that due to HIV/Aids and migration, older people can’t always rely on their children. In such instances care is also provided by nieces, neighbours, and adult granddaughters.
Looking after an older person often requires caregivers to relocate. Our findings showed that one in five caregivers had to move, often with young children or leaving spouses behind.
Sometimes older persons need to move to get care. This happened in one in 10 older persons in our sample. Many are reluctant to move from their homes and the process can take years.
The findings show that family caregiving is not an endless supply of “free” labour. It is physically, emotionally and financially costly, especially for black low-income women.
Some answers
The report proposes three key recommendations.
Firstly, family caregivers and careworkers should be adequately compensated for their work.
Secondly, we call for expanding home-based care services to ease the load and give caregivers breaks and mental health support.
And thirdly, care-related items, such as wheelchairs, incontinence products and healthy food, should be made more easily available.
Supporting family caregivers means supporting the wellbeing of millions of older South Africans. It’s time the country took elder and family care seriously and backed it with real investment and action.
Elena Moore receives funding from Wellcome Trust and IDRC-CRDI for the work on elder care in Southern Africa.
Vayda Megannon and Zeenat Samodien 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.
Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) – the organization tasked with overseeing Nigerian content plans developed by operators -, has joined the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025 conference to discuss strategies for enhancing capacity building and local participation across the oil and gas sector.
As Nigeria strives to boost oil production to two million barrels per day while scaling-up gas capacity, the NCDMB plays an instrumental part in ensuring local content plans established by operators align with national goals spearheaded by the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGID) Act. During AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025, Ogbe will outline how operators can strengthen local content in the industry, particularly as major projects prepare for development.
AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visithttp://www.AECWeek.comfor more information about this exciting event.
Recent initiatives reflect the commitment by the NCDMB to enhance local capacity in Nigerian oil and gas. In May 2025, the organization graduated 20 trainees in critical engineering competencies as part of a 12-month capacity building initiative for oil and gas industry operations. Trainees received international certification. In February 2025, the organization donated a fully-equipped Information and Communication Technology center for the Community Secondary School in Brass Local Government Area. These programs signal the NCDMB’s commitment to skills development – from primary and secondary education all the way through to tertiary education.
In addition to training initiatives, the organization is strengthening its partnerships with international and regional companies to bolster local content. In April 2025, the NCDMB and Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company agreed to explore opportunities for collaboration to advance national objectives in local content development and energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, in March 2025, the NCDMB reaffirmed its partnership with the African Petroleum Producers Organization to establish African centers of excellence in local content development. The move aligns with ambitions by both organizations to scale-up capacity building in the oil and gas sector.
Established in 2010 under the NOGID Act, the NCDMB has emerged as a driving force behind developing local capacity across the country’s oil and gas industry. The organization works closely with a variety of stakeholders – from upstream operators to downstream players to educational, financial and technology institutions – to drive local content strategies. Under a mandate to boost Nigerian local capacity to 70% by 2027, the company has developed 150 information and communication technology centers in second schools across the country, while upgraded select technical colleges, revamped primary schools and trained over 16,000 individuals. Looking ahead, the NCDMB aims to enhance training and local content even further, ensuring the Nigerian oil and gas industry becomes a catalyst for inclusive growth in the country. At AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025, Ogbe will share insights into this strategy, highlighting ongoing initiatives and future local content plans.
“The NCDMB is not only playing an instrumental part in unlocking greater local value in Nigeria, but setting a strong benchmark for other resource-rich countries seeking to enhance local participation in the oil and gas industry. By prioritizing workforce training and skills development, working closely with operators and overseeing their respective content plans, the organization is ensuring Nigeria unlocks greater value from its oil and gas market,” stated Tomás Gerbasio, Vice President of Commercial and Strategic Engagement at the African Energy Chamber.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
