Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Occupational safety and health courses open for applications
The courses cover a wide range of topics, including:
The courses will be conducted in Cantonese at the LD’s Occupational Safety and Health Centre, G/F, Kwun Tong Community Health Centre Building, 60 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong. Enrolment is free.
Members of the public can apply via the online platform www.oshsreg.gov.hk/enIssued at HKT 11:00
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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government gazetted today (June 13) the proposed road works for the expansion of the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter to provide two open spaces at the existing breakwater connecting Shum Wan Road and at a proposed breakwater in Tai Shue Wan respectively, and a pedestrian walkway to link Ocean Drive and the open space at the proposed breakwater in Tai Shue Wan.
Details of the proposal are set out in the Annex. The plans and scheme of the works are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:
Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong
Southern Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Ocean Court,
3 Aberdeen Praya Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong
District Lands Office, Hong Kong West and South,
20/F, Southorn Centre,
130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
The gazette notice, scheme, plan and location plan are available at www.tlb.gov.hk/eng/publications/transport/gazette/gazette.html.
Any person who wishes to object to the works or the use, or both, is required to address to the Secretary for Transport and Logistics an objection in writing, which can be submitted via the following means:
A notice of objection should describe the objector’s interest and the manner in which he or she alleges that he or she will be affected by the works or the use. Objectors are requested to provide contact details to facilitate communication. A notice of objection should be delivered to the Secretary for Transport and Logistics not later than August 12, 2025.
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
CAMP CASEY, South Korea — U.S. Army bases in the Korean Theater of Operations hosted their annual Korean Augmentation To the U.S. Army (KATUSA) Friendship Week celebration, June 9-12. KATUSA Friendship Week recognizes and honors the enduring bonds of friendship and camaraderie U.S. and South Korean Soldiers have shared through their joint military service since 1950.
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
OKINAWA, Japan — U.S. Space Force Maj. Ben Pearce and Capt. Hannah Garcia-Park, both with Mission Delta-11 (Space Ranges, Aggressors, Tactics and Exercises), conducted tactical level space operations for the first time in history June 9, 2025, at III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF), Okinawa, Japan.
EDITORIAL: By Martyn Bradbury, editor of The Daily Blog
The madness has begun.
We should have suspected something when the cloud strike shut down occurred.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs to continue war so that he is never held to account.
This madness is the last straw.
NZ must immediately expel the Israeli Ambassador for this unprovoked attack on Iran.
As moral and ethical people, we must turn away from Israel’s new war crime, they have started a war, we must as righteous people condemn Israel and their enabler America.
This is the beginning of madness.
We cannot be party to it.
Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh, reporting from Amman, Jordan, said the Israeli army radio was reporting that in addition to the air strikes, Israel’s external intelligence service Mossad had carried out some sabotage activities and attacks inside Iran.
“There are also several reports and leaks in the Israeli media talking not only about the assassination of the top chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard but rather a very large number of senior military commanders in addition to prominent academics and nuclear scientists,” she said.
“This is a very large-scale attack, not just on military installations, but also on the people who could potentially be making decisions about what Iran can do next, how Iran can respond to this attack that continues as we speak.”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
June 12, 2025
[embedded content]
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday took to the Senate floor to strongly condemn the violent removal by federal officers of U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) as he tried to ask questions and exercise Congressional oversight at a public press conference with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Murphy stressed that this incident is a direct threat to the ability of democratically elected lawmakers to represent their constituents: “This feels like a defining moment for the country, but also for this body…This is not simply an assault on Senator Padilla. This is not an assault on Democratic senators. This is an assault on the rule of law. This is an assault on our democracy. And ultimately, we are robbing the ability of every single senator to do our job if we are now going to be threatened with violence when we simply try to stand up for our constituents.”
Murphy slammed DHS’s blatant lies about why they violently removed a U.S. Senator: “We already have a statement from the Department of Homeland Security that has accused Senator Padilla of being ‘disrespectful,’ as if that is a rationalization for violence. Watch the video. Even if you believe that he was disrespectful, and given the times that is certainly in the eye of the beholder, that never justifies what we saw on that video, throwing anyone, never mind an elected representative of the people, to the ground to be handcuffed. They say that he didn’t identify who he was, and yet watch the video. He clearly states ‘I am Senator Alex Padilla.”
Murphy pleaded with his Republican colleagues to stand up for democratic values and put country over party: “They’re going to spin this, but I’m begging my Republican colleagues, don’t let them do it. Protect our ability as servants of the people. Speak up for the people that we represent. Make sure that we do not normalize this kind of violence. Simply because the White House doesn’t agree with people who dissent.”
Murphy concluded: “If this is how a United States senator can be treated, then none of us ultimately are immune. If this is how a United States senator can be treated, none of our constituents are safe. This is a test for the country, but this is a test for the United States Senate as well.”
A full transcript of Murphy’s comments is available below.
MURPHY: “Mr. President, this feels like a defining moment for the country, but also for this body. I understand that it may take a few moments for our Republican colleagues to watch the full video, to gather some additional facts, to come to a conclusion, but we need our Republican colleagues to be on the floor right now with us.
“Because this is not simply an assault on Senator Padilla. This is not an assault on Democratic senators. This is an assault on the rule of law. This is an assault on our democracy. And ultimately, we are robbing the ability of every single senator to do our job if we are now going to be threatened with violence when we simply try to stand up for our constituents.
“Now, we all have town halls, and we are all often met with constituents who oppose us, sometimes very vocally, but speaking for myself, I don’t ask law enforcement to throw my constituents to the ground and violently handcuff them because they have a different opinion from me. You know why I don’t do that? Because we don’t do that in a democracy. We don’t do that against ordinary citizens, and we certainly don’t allow the administration and the law enforcement that works for the administration to do that to a United States senator.
“We will enter a banana republic if we don’t find a way, Republicans and Democrats, to come together around this essential question of protecting our ability, our right as senators, to speak up for our constituents. Now, I understand that my Republican colleagues are going to need some time to gather the facts, but we already have a statement from the Department of Homeland Security that has accused Senator Padilla of being ‘disrespectful,’ as if that is a rationalization for violence.
“Watch the video. Even if you believe that he was disrespectful, and given the times that is certainly in the eye of the beholder, that never justifies what we saw on that video, throwing anyone, never mind an elected representative of the people, to the ground to be handcuffed. They say that he didn’t identify who he was, and yet watch the video. He clearly states, ‘I am Senator Alex Padilla.’
“They’re going to spin this, but I’m begging my Republican colleagues, don’t let them do it. Protect our ability as servants of the people. Speak up for the people that we represent. Make sure that we do not normalize this kind of violence. Simply because the White House doesn’t agree with people who dissent. If this is how a United States senator can be treated, then none of us ultimately are immune. If this is how a United States senator can be treated, none of our constituents are safe. This is a test for the country, but this is a test for the United States Senate as well.
“I yield the floor.”
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Keersten Fitzgerald, Lecturer in General Practice, University of Sydney
We often use the word vagina to describe everything “down there”, but that’s not actually anatomically correct.
The vagina is the stretchy, muscular tube that connects the external genitalia, or vulva, to the cervix, which is the entrance to the uterus (womb).
Because it’s barely visible from the outside, many vagina owners wonder how long theirs is, or should be.
Worried teenagers going through puberty regularly asked “Dolly Doctor” – the medical advice column Melissa wrote for over 20 years in Dolly magazine – whether their vaginas were too small or short.
Often they were asking because inserting a tampon was difficult or painful.
The vagina is an incredibly adaptable part of the body and its length can change – across your lifetime, within the month, and with hormonal changes and sexual arousal.
Before puberty, the vagina usually measures between 5.5 and 8cm in length.
During puberty (usually between 8–13 years old), not only does the length of the vagina increase, but hormones also change the vaginal lining.
In the time of life between puberty and menopause, oestrogen levels rise and cause the lining of the vagina to thicken and soften. This is what makes the vagina moist and responsive to stimuli, such as when aroused.
By adulthood, the vagina is typically between 6.5cm and 12.5cm. This varies greatly from person to person and continues to change at different times during our lives.
When someone has their period, generally the cervix sits in a lower position, meaning the vaginal canal is shorter. Then, after menstruation, the cervix lifts upwards again and reaches its highest point during ovulation.
The length of the vagina also changes during different reproductive stages. For example, in pregnancy the cervix sits higher up, meaning the vagina is longer.
On the other hand, menopause, along with many other impacts such as vaginal dryness, can shorten the vaginal canal.
A pelvic organ prolapse can also make the vagina shorter. This is when the pelvic floor becomes weakened and organs such as the womb or bladder bulge into the vagina.
Read more:
What is pelvic organ prolapse and how is it treated?
There are also some very rare conditions that can affect the development of the vagina before birth, such as vaginal atresia, which can cause the vagina to not fully form.
Sex also has a large impact on vaginal length.
When someone with a vagina becomes aroused the vagina gets longer and moves the cervix further from the vaginal opening, which allows for sexual penetration.
Despite this lengthening of the vagina, contact with the cervix can still occur during sex, for example with a sex toy, finger or penis. Some people will find cervical stimulation painful or sensitive, while for others it may be pleasurable.
How sex feels can also change depending on your menstrual cycle.
Remember, when you have your period, the cervix is likely to be sitting lower, so this can increase the chance of contact with the cervix during sex, especially during certain sexual positions.
Touching the cervix during sex is very unlikely to cause any damage, although sometimes with vigorous sexual intercourse it can cause bruising. This is not usually dangerous and heals on its own.
Ongoing communication with your partner is crucial to check in and see what feels good for both of you.
It can be useful to feel the length of your vagina and the position of your cervix.
For example, if you want to use a menstrual cup during your period, some brands will have different sizes. If you have a shorter vaginal canal, then a shorter or smaller cup may achieve a better fit.
However, other factors – such as your age and how heavy your periods are – can also impact what size is right for you.
To feel the position of your cervix, first wash your hands with soap and water. This is best done around the time of your period, when the vaginal canal will be shorter.
Find a comfortable position, such as sitting, squatting or having one leg bent up on a chair. Then insert your finger into the vagina aiming up and back.
The vagina feels soft and squishy, whereas the cervix is smooth and firm, with a tiny divot in the centre – imagine a mini doughnut.
If you have to really stretch to feel the cervix, you may opt for a longer cup, whereas if you don’t need to insert your whole finger, it is probably sitting a bit lower and you may be more comfortable with a smaller size.
Keep in mind, this will just give you a rough idea of your vagina’s length and where your cervix is sitting (although it may change tomorrow).
All of our bodies are unique and there is a wide range of “normal”. Generally, having a “short” or “long” vagina doesn’t make any real difference.
For example, a 2009 study of women over the age of 40 found vaginal length doesn’t affect sexual activity or function.
The vagina is extremely elastic and can stretch and mould to accommodate a variety of needs, before returning back to its baseline.
There are some symptoms that would be worth discussing with your GP though, such as pain during sex, difficulty inserting tampons or menstrual cups, or if you are concerned about a prolapse.
Melissa Kang is affiliated in a volunteer capacity with the Australian Association for Adolescent Health and the International Association for Adolescent Health. She was the medical writer for the Dolly Doctor column in Dolly magazine between 1993 and 2016.
Keersten Fitzgerald does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. How long is a vagina? And how do I know if mine is ‘short’? – https://theconversation.com/how-long-is-a-vagina-and-how-do-i-know-if-mine-is-short-256206
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Corben, Research Fellow, Foreign Policy and Defence, University of Sydney
Ahead of a prospective meeting between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump at the G7 Summit Canada, two key developments have bumped defence issues to the top of the alliance agenda.
First, in a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles late last month, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth urged Australia to boost defence spending to 3.5% of gross domestic product (GDP).
This elicited a stern response from Albanese that “Australia should decide what we spend on Australia’s defence.”
Then, this week, news emerged the Pentagon is conducting a review of the AUKUS deal to ensure it aligns with Trump’s “America First” agenda.
Speculation is rife as to the reasons for the review. Some contend it’s a classic Trump “shakedown” to force Australia to pay more for its submarines, while others say it’s a normal move for any new US administration.
Read more:
Trump may try to strike a deal with AUKUS review, but here’s why he won’t sink it
The reality is somewhere in between. Trump may well see an opportunity to “own” the AUKUS deal negotiated by his predecessor, Joe Biden, by seeking to extract a “better deal” from Australia.
But while support for AUKUS across the US system is strong, the review also reflects long-standing and bipartisan concerns in the US over the deal. These include, among other things, Australia’s functional and fiscal capacity to take charge of its own nuclear-powered submarines once they are built.
So, why have these issues come up now, just before Albanese’s first face-to-face meeting with Trump?
To understand this, it’s important to place both issues in a wider context. We need to consider the Trump administration’s overall approach to alliances, as well as whether Australia’s defence budget matches our strategy.
Senior Pentagon figures noted months ago that defence spending was their “main concern” with Australia in an otherwise “excellent” relationship.
But such concerns are not exclusive to Australia. Rather, they speak to Trump’s broader approach to alliances worldwide – he wants US allies in Europe and Asia to share more of the burden, as well.
Trump’s team sees defence spending (calculated as a percentage of GDP) as a basic indicator of an ally’s seriousness about both their own national defence and collective security with Washington.
As Hegseth noted in testimony before Congress this week, “we can’t want [our allies’] security more than they do.”
Initially, the Trump administration’s burden-sharing grievances with NATO received the most attention. The government demanded European allies boost spending to 5% of GDP in the interests of what prominent MAGA figures have called “burden-owning”.
Several analysts interpreted these demands as indicative of what will be asked of Asian partners, including Australia.
In reality, what Washington wants from European and Indo-Pacific allies differs in small but important ways.
In Europe, the Trump administration wants allies to assume near-total responsibility for their own defence to enable the US to focus on bigger strategic priorities. These include border security at home and, importantly, Chinese military power in the Indo-Pacific.
By contrast, Trump’s early moves on defence policy in Asia have emphasised a degree of cooperation and mutual benefit.
The administration has explicitly linked its burden-sharing demands with a willingness to work with its allies – Japan, South Korea, Australia and others – in pursuit of a strategy of collective defence to deter Chinese aggression.
This reflects a long-standing recognition in Washington that America needs its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific perhaps more than anywhere else in the world. The reason: to support US forces across the vast Pacific and Indian oceans and to counter China’s growing ability to disrupt US military operations across the region.
In other words, the US must balance its demands of Indo-Pacific allies with the knowledge that it also needs their help to succeed in Asia.
This means the Albanese government can and should engage the Trump administration with confidence on defence matters – including AUKUS.
It has a lot to offer America, not just a lot to lose.
But a discussion over Australia’s defence spending is not simply a matter of alliance management. It also speaks to the genuine challenges Australia faces in matching its strategy with its resources.
Albanese is right to say Australia will set its own defence policy based on its needs rather than an arbitrary percentage of GDP determined by Washington.
But it’s also true Australia’s defence budget must match the aspirations and requirements set out in its 2024 National Defence Strategy. This is necessary for our defence posture to be credible.
This document paints a sobering picture of the increasingly fraught strategic environment Australia finds itself in. And it outlines an ambitious capability development agenda to allow Australia to do its part to maintain the balance of power in the region, alongside the United States and other partners.
But there is growing concern in the Australian policy community that our defence budget is insufficient to meet these goals.
For instance, one of the lead authors of Australia’s 2023 Defence Strategic Review, Sir Angus Houston, mused last year that in order for AUKUS submarines to be a “net addition” to the nation’s military capability, Australia would need to increase its defence spending to more than 3% of GDP through the 2030s.
Otherwise, he warned, AUKUS would “cannibalise” investments in Australia’s surface fleet, long-range strike capabilities, air and missile defence, and other capabilities.
There’s evidence the Australian government understands this, too. Marles and the minister for defence industry, Pat Conroy, have both said the government is willing to “have a conversation” about increasing spending, if required to meet Australia’s strategic needs.
This is all to say that an additional push from Trump on defence spending and burden-sharing – however unpleasantly delivered – would not be out of the ordinary. And it may, in fact, be beneficial for Australia’s own deliberations on its defence spending needs.
Thomas Corben receives funding from the Australian Department of Defence.
– ref. Trump may push Albanese on defence spending, but Australia has leverage it can use, too – https://theconversation.com/trump-may-push-albanese-on-defence-spending-but-australia-has-leverage-it-can-use-too-258811
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, today released the legislative text for the Homeland Security portion of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committees’ title of the reconciliation bill. This text meets the border security funding request from President Trump and his administration.
“Senate Republicans had a terrific briefing today from White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller in support of President Trump’s border security request.
“As Budget Chairman, I will do my best to ensure that the President’s border security plan is fully funded because I believe it has been fully justified. I respectfully disagree with Chairman Paul’s proposal to cut the Trump plan by more than 50 percent.
“The President promised to secure our border. His plan fulfills that promise. The Senate must do our part.”
View the full text HERE.
View the one-pager HERE.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) are introducing new legislation in a continuation of their efforts to hold El Salvador accountable for its human rights abuses and its collusion with the Trump Administration to imprison people from the United States without due process. The senators’ legislation would apply sanctions on Salvadoran officials and others who have engaged in international human rights violations or worked to deprive individuals residing in the United States of their rights under the U.S. Constitution. The legislation would additionally explicitly sanction President Bukele and Vice President Ulloa, as well as El Salvador’s Ministers of Foreign Relations, Defense, and Justice and Public Security, among others. In addition to its actions alongside the Trump Administration to imprison people from the United States, Bukele and his government have continued to jail and persecute innocent Salvadoran citizens, including journalists and human rights advocates such as Ruth López.
The text of the legislation is available here.
“Under President Bukele, tens of thousands of Salvadorans and even U.S. residents remain jammed in megaprisons without due process. President Bukele may think he has a friend in President Trump, but he should know that Americans will not tolerate his efforts to undermine the rule of law and democratic institutions—whether in El Salvador or here in the United States,” said Kaine. “That’s why I’m introducing this legislation with my colleagues to sanction foreign nationals complicit in Bukele’s behavior and the Trump Administration’s illegal actions to deny due process to people living in the United States.”
“President Bukele and the Government of El Salvador are colluding with the Trump Administration, taking American taxpayer dollars to imprison people as part of a scheme to violate their constitutional rights. We must hold Bukele and his cronies accountable for these wrongful actions as well as for the gross violations of human rights they are committing in El Salvador. This legislation would do just that by placing sanctions on Bukele and those in his government who are responsible for these abuses. We must send a clear signal that these injustices are unacceptable and must end,” said Van Hollen.
“President Bukele and his regime are continuing to commit abhorrent human rights atrocities and eradicate due process,” said Padilla. “We must hold Bukele and all responsible parties accountable for the suspension of constitutional rights and continued collusion with the Trump Administration to imprison people from the United States without due process. Imposing economic sanctions and visa restrictions on Bukele and his corrupt government is a necessary step to push El Salvador to finally uphold international human rights law and respect fundamental civil liberties.”
The senators’ legislation is supported by the Latin America Working Group, the Washington Office on Latin America, Human Rights Watch, and Immigration Hub.
“Senators Van Hollen, Kaine, and Padilla’s bill to impose sanctions on the regime of President Nayib Bukele is timely and importantly puts a spotlight on the gross violation of human rights that have occurred under President Bukele’s state of exception. Since March 2022, 85,000 people have been detained, constitutional guarantees have been suspended, and over 350 people have died while under state custody. Systemic torture and persecution are state policies. Significantly, the bill also addresses the pervasive corruption that has occurred since President Bukele took office and prevents the IMF and other international financial institutions not to lend support. Not one penny of our tax dollars should support this regime until there is an end to the human rights violations, and the rule of law, judicial independence, and government transparency are restored. All Members of Congress should get behind this bill,” said Vicki Gass, Executive Director, Latin America Working Group.
“Targeted individual sanctions for gross human rights violations are a critical diplomatic tool the U.S. can use to push for change and hold authoritarian actors accountable; as El Salvador’s political and human rights crisis deepens, strong international action like this becomes essential,” said Ana María Méndez-Dardón, Director for Central America at the Washington Office on Latin America.
“We are heartened to see Senators confronting the human rights abuses of government officials in El Salvador. This bill an important reminder that uncritical US government support to President Bukele will not last forever and a recognition that nobody should be deported to Salvadoran prisons,” said Juan Pappier, Deputy Director of the Americas division, Human Rights Watch.
Additional Background:
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
Padilla Joins Lawmakers, DACA Recipients, Advocates to Call for Permanent Protections Ahead of DACA’s 13th Anniversary Amid Growing Hostility Against Immigrant Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and mass deportation assaults intensify in Los Angeles and across the country, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, marked the upcoming 13th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy by urging Congress to take immediate action to deliver permanent protections for millions of families, parents, and individuals who are increasingly at risk amid President Trump’s mass deportation agenda. Padilla joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Representatives Sylvia R. Garcia (D-Texas-29) and Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.-03), along with DACA recipients, Dreamers, advocates, and dozens of immigrant youth and leaders from the Home is Here campaign, to call attention to the blaring threats to the future of DACA and push for the passage of the Dream Act.
From abductions without warrants, deportations without due process, and the end to other temporary programs, the 13th anniversary of DACA is an important reminder that any effort to limit or end DACA will have painful, far-reaching consequences for the national economy and communities in every corner of the United States. California has over 160,000 DACA recipients who have been contributing to the country for years, and if the policy ended, it could cost the nation nearly $650 billion while potentially cutting over 400,000 workers.
“Time and time again, we’ve seen the same playbook from Donald Trump. When things go wrong, he scapegoats immigrants. To distract the country from his failed agenda, Trump’s rolling out illegal deportations, ignoring due process, and launching ICE raids in my hometown of Los Angeles,” said Senator Padilla. “This week, as we should be celebrating the 13th Anniversary of DACA, I understand the fear of hundreds of thousands of Dreamers because they feel even more at risk. In addition to being our neighbors and loved ones, Dreamers are our teachers and caregivers, nurses and doctors, small business owners and construction workers paying taxes just like the rest of us. We must pass the Dream Act to provide permanent protections for Dreamers who contribute so much to our country and economy, finally giving them the peace of mind they deserve.”
“In 2010, I sent a letter, joined by the late Senator Richard Lugar, a Republican from Indiana, asking then-President Obama to stop the deportation of Dreamers. And thirteen years ago this week, President Obama responded—he announced the DACA program. More than 835,000 Dreamers have since come forward and received DACA, which has allowed them to contribute more fully to their country as teachers, nurses, doctors, engineers, and small business owners. Now in their 13th year of waiting, we, the lawmakers, must honor Dreamers’ patience, act on our promises, and finally provide them a pathway to citizenship. I will continue to fight for them—and I urge my Republican colleagues to join me,” said Senator Durbin.
“I am someone who takes immense pride in being raised in the United States and have always felt American in every way but on paper. And while I have every reason to feel filled with hate after being discriminated against because of my identity, or seeing the ways hard working people like my parents have had to work twice as hard than the average person just to make ends meet, I still love this country deeply. As we approach the 13th anniversary of DACA, this moment is a reminder that immigrants are integral to this country. This is our home, and we urge Congress to do what we know is possible and popular among the vast majority of Americans: deliver a pathway to citizenship now,” said Adrien, a DACA recipient and College student studying computer engineering.
“For 13 years, I’ve held up my end of the bargain – to work, go to school, pay my taxes, and stay out of trouble. But for those same 13 years, politicians have dangled my future for political points, all while failing to pass a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers like me. Because of this inaction, we’ve been attacked by the President, the courts, elected officials, and states like Texas, who are trying to take away our work permits, in-state tuition, and more. At this very moment, we’re waiting for a judge to modify his decision that would affect thousands of Dreamers like me. And that isn’t just a moral failure – it’s an economic disaster waiting to happen. The courts can’t decide our future forever. Congress must finally deliver what they’ve promised for years – a pathway to citizenship, stability, and dignity,” said Mariana, a DACA recipient.
“For 13 years, DACA has been an extraordinary success for the entire country, clearly demonstrating why the process for undocumented immigrants to obtain legal status must remain our long-term, central goal. Nearly 1 million people can live, work, and contribute openly to the only country they’ve ever called home because of DACA. It’s well past time for Congress to pass a permanent legislative solution that provides certainty to DACA recipients, Dreamers, their families, and the country that relies on them,” said Todd Schulte, President of FWD.us.
“On DACA’s 13th anniversary, it is important to celebrate the wonderful things that DACA has done for our communities across the country and throughout the years. But, we always knew that it was not enough. We need Congress to pass a pathway to citizenship for all DACA recipients, immigrant youth, and our entire communities. With our communities under attack in unprecedented ways, we are beyond the point of urgency. We need words to become action,” said Diana Pliego, Senior Campaigns Strategist at NILC.
“As we mark the 13th anniversary of DACA, Make the Road Nevada stands with thousands of DACA recipients—and with the undocumented youth still left out—who call this country home. DACA has proven the power and promise of offering protections to immigrant communities. But it’s not enough. Year after year, we’ve seen how vulnerable the program remains, and why we need permanent protections now more than ever. Congress must act to finally deliver stability and security to our neighbors, coworkers, friends, and loved ones—because no one’s future should depend on a temporary policy,” said Leo Murrieta, Executive Director with Make the Road Nevada.
“As someone who was a DACA recipient, I know firsthand how critical this program has been in opening paths to economic mobility not just for recipients but also for our families and local communities. With DACA, recipients have been able to advance their careers as teachers, lawyers, nurses, mental health practitioners, business owners, and other valued employees. As we reflect on the thirteenth anniversary of DACA, while witnessing the militarized chaos sown in Los Angeles, we are also present to the fact that we need a more permanent solution and a pathway to citizenship for the many who call this country home and contribute to its spirit, economy, and culture. Our community has waited far too long for a working immigration system that keeps families together and treats every person regardless of their status with dignity and respect. Congress must act diligently and swiftly to work toward a solution like the Dream and Promise Act that protects the state and the people they represent,” said Iliana Perez, Executive Director of Immigrants Rising.
“DACA was never meant to be the finish line—it was a promise, a lifeline, and a call to action. As families across the country live in renewed fear of enforcement raids, we recommit to the fight for permanent protections. Dreamers are not only essential to our communities—they represent the very best of America’s promise. It’s time for Congress to meet this moment with courage and pass lasting solutions that honor their contributions and humanity,” said María Teresa Kumar, President and Co-Founder of Voto Latino.
Senator Padilla is a leading voice in Congress for immigration reform. He delivered remarks on the Senate floor earlier this week ahead of DACA’s 13th anniversary, pushing for permanent protections for Dreamers rather than the indiscriminate ICE raids stoking fear in Los Angeles communities. To commemorate the 12th anniversary of DACA, Padilla joined immigration advocates, DACA recipients, and other lawmakers to urge Congress to pass a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and call on former President Biden to protect Dreamers and long-term undocumented communities through executive action. He previously joined his Senate colleagues and directly impacted immigrant youth leaders for a press conference calling on Republicans in Congress to work with Democrats to pass permanent protections for DACA recipients after the 5th Circuit’s 2022 ruling left these recipients in limbo.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, the Office of U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, released the following statement after Padilla was forcibly removed from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s press conference while performing Congressional oversight in Los Angeles:
“Senator Padilla is currently in Los Angeles exercising his duty to perform Congressional oversight of the federal government’s operations in Los Angeles and across California. He was in the federal building to receive a briefing with General Guillot and was listening to Secretary Noem’s press conference. He tried to ask the Secretary a question, and was forcibly removed by federal agents, forced to the ground and handcuffed. He is not currently detained, and we are working to get additional information.”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
VIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) questions U.S. Forest Chief Tom Schultz at an Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on June 11, 2025.
WASHINGTON — At an Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget request, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) pressed U.S. Forest Chief Tom Schultz on visiting the Pecos Watershed in Northern New Mexico, DOGE procedures causing trash to pile up on public lands, and Trump’s budget eliminating funding for the New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute at New Mexico Highlands University.
Heinrich’s questioning follows a letter he sent yesterday, in his capacity as the Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins on the harmful impacts of the “Department of Government Efficiency’s” (DOGE) actions on the United States Forest Service (USFS). Heinrich’s letter stressed that operational failures that are now occurring at the USFS, such as accumulating garbage at recreational sites and a lack of firefighting equipment ahead of fire season, are due to new layers of red tape required by DOGE.
On Forest Chief Schultz visiting the Pecos Watershed in Northern New Mexico:
Heinrich began, “The Santa Fe National Forest manages the vast majority of the headwaters of the Pecos watershed, which is one of the most important watersheds in the state of New Mexico. And for decades, this is a community that has really worked very hard with very few resources to try to recover from historic pollution and protect that resource from future pollution. This is a river that supports traditional farming, recreation, fishing, fisheries and many other uses that are economically critical to that that community. But we still have legacy pollution from a pretty disastrous mines spill some 30 years ago.”
Heinrich continued, asking, “I know I communicated with you recently, I sent you a letter, inviting you to visit this community and meet with my constituents. Is that something that you can commit to doing?”
Schultz responded, “Senator, thank you for the question. So, my staff is looking at that request, and we’re trying to figure out if we can make that work. So that’s something we’re actively working on right now.”
Heinrich underscored the importance of visiting the Pecos Watershed, “I hope you can make that a priority. I think it’s really helpful to get that community perspective. . . And so, I would very much welcome you to join us in New Mexico for that and I will make any logistics that you need help with a priority.”
On the DOGE contract approvals process causing trash to pile up on public lands:
Heinrich stated, “I’m all for making government more efficient, but one of the things I’m concerned about is that there are some things that DOGE seems to be making less efficient. And one of those has been contract approvals and that seems to be having real consequences in the [Forest] Service: trash piling up at recreation sites, bathroom challenges, equipment not getting replaced in a timely way.”
Heinrich highlighted his efforts to keep our public lands safe and accessible, asking, “I sent you and Secretary Rollins a letter on this yesterday. But can you give me a sense, why is it taking so long to get simple things like a contract extension for custodial services authorized?”
Schultz responded, “So what I will tell you is initially, when we first started looking at some of the existing contracts that we had for prior obligations, there was a process we had to get in place — and I think we’ve worked through all of the existing obligations. There should not be anything that’s hung up there. When it comes to new obligations, we, as the Forest Service, instituted our own policies and procedures in addition to review from the Department and from the Efficiency folks. So, we have put a process in place to make sure that it’s thorough and responsive when it comes to certain things like toilets and cleaning up toilets, which has been a huge issue that I’ve weighed in on in numerous cases.”
“We have figured out that process and some of that is on the Forest Service, for the process that we put in place it is going to slow somethings down, but it’s something that we have addressed. And there should not be toilets that are not being cleaned at this point in time. So, if you’re hearing about that, please let me know, because we’ve really jumped on this issue,” Schultz continued.
Schultz then turned to contracting in general, stating, “I think there is a review in place for contracts, grants, and agreements. It’s not just contracts; it’s all three of those. And that’s something we are looking at, how we make that process more efficient, but there is a very thorough review. You’re absolutely right, and is it different than it has been historically? Yes, it is, because there’s more attention to detail in those contracts, but we’re looking to make that process more effective and more timely than it has been over the last month. But it is something that — we have a new process we just instituted about a month ago, and we’re working on making that better.”
Heinrich responded, “I understand the need for analysis and review. I just want to make sure that we’re not, you know, adding layers of bureaucracy in the name of efficiency.”
On Trump’s FY26 budget eliminating funding for the Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes (SWERI) and the Forest Service decreasing FY25 funding, which includes the New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute at New Mexico Highlands University:
Heinrich highlighted that, “The Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes — in New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona — these are institutes that offer unique opportunities for dedicated research in forest science and watershed health. They represent the future of science for our forest management. Yet, this plan cuts the institutes’ budget by more than 50% and that’s just not a number that they could swallow in a single year.”
“Why did you decide to reduce the funding for the institutes this year, and what is your plan for them in FY26?” Heinrich asked.
Schultz responded, “Okay, so I think first of all, the FY25 budget is what your question is. I think on the first one, so we did cut $3 million in FY25. So, for this budget, they currently have $23 million on hand in prior appropriation dollars. So, that was part of the consideration. So, we’re trying to align the FY25 budget as we move toward the FY26 president’s budget. So, we’re moving in that direction. So, the ‘why’ is: We’re trying to align this year’s FY25 budget with where we’re going in FY26. In FY26, it does not include resources to provide funding for SWERI. So, there are resources this year, they are reduced, but next year — in the FY26 budget — there are none. That’s correct. And that’s tied to R&D’s overall look. And the reason that R&D is treated differently in the FY26 budget: There’s going to be a greater reliance on the states and the universities. So, a lot of the land grant universities — and I’m a — was a member of the advisory board.”
Heinrich asked, “That institute is at Highlands University?”
Schultz responded, “Yes, sir, I understand. Yes, sir. My point is, though, that the funding in the future is going to have to come more from those universities themselves and other grant opportunities. The Forest Service is going to be shifting its funding away from R&D in general in the budget.”
Heinrich pressed Schultz on the Forest Service eliminating funding for the Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes by emphasizing, “I think that’s a mistake. And I think these institutes have really provided the Forest Service an enormous amount of science at a time when management has needed to change because conditions have been changing. And so, I hope that as we approach the appropriations process that we consider this President’s budget as it should be considered: Advisory.”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
Washington, D.C.–At a U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) emphasized that allowing the 2017 Trump tax cuts to expire would result in widespread job losses, reduced capital investment and a more-than $4 trillion tax hike on American families and businesses. Secretary Bessent warned the consequences would be “cataclysmic for the economy if this is not extended and working Americans would bear the brunt.”
Secretary Bessent also explained that making the tax cuts permanent will spur increased business investment, job growth and wage increases. He and Chairman Crapo also discussed the bill’s impact on the economy, predicting that, in conjunction with the Trump economic agenda, the legislation will propel economic growth.
Click here to watch Senator Crapo’s opening statement and here or above to watch Crapo question Bessent.
On the impact of allowing the Trump tax cuts to expire:
Crapo: Nobody can deny that our top focus is to extend the TCJA. Could you tell us for just a minute what would happen if Congress does not extend the 2017 tax code?
Bessent: Senator, I believe it would be what is known in economics as a “sudden stop.” It would be cataclysmic for the economy if this is not extended, and, as always, working Americans would bear the brunt. There would be job losses, economic losses in markets, a substantial increase in our budget deficit due to a decrease in tax revenues. It is unthinkable what would happen.
On the importance of pro-growth tax reform:
Crapo: Can you talk about the importance of the pro-growth tax provisions, the economic impact and some of the existing and new provisions will have on workers?
Bessent: Making [TCJA] permanent will be an economic impetus to the U.S. economy as households and businesses have greater certainty. I’ve met with numerous business leaders, and while they are confident that the bill will pass, without 100 percent surety, they are holding back on their capital expenditure plans. . . . In terms of households, TCJA led to strong non-inflationary growth, as opposed to what we saw during the Biden years of substantial inflation. The President’s proposals will benefit working Americans and the bottom 50 percent of wage earners. So it is a unique combination that it will provide substantial business stimulus and it will provide substantial relief to the affordability crisis that has been generated over the past four years.
Rebutting criticism that the “One Big Beautiful Bill” is a tax cut for billionaires:
Crapo: Critics have called this bill a tax cut for billionaires, even when the data show that middle income families benefited the most from the Trump tax cuts and have the most to lose if they expire. Can you tell us what the benefits of this legislation are for working families who are still recovering from the cost of record inflation under the previous Administration?
Bessent: They will see substantial increases in their household income and, more importantly, they will see real wage growth as they did under TCJA, pre-COVID—when hourly workers did better than supervisory workers. The bottom 50 percent of working Americans had household net worth increases that were substantially in excess of the top 10 percent and 1 percent household increases.
Source: New Zealand Police
Attributable to Assistant Commissioner Deployment Tusha Penny
Police can today confirm preliminary findings of an audit into the application of recruitment standards for police officers.
The audit followed the discovery in April that discretion had been applied to some applicants who failed the Physical Appraisal Test (PAT) but were accepted into training at the Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC).
We looked at 1022 recruits from 14 wings which started training between January 2024 and April 2025.
There were eight individuals who did not meet all the requirements of the PAT and were allowed to begin training at the RNZPC. A further nine passed individual components of the PAT on different dates, in breach of the policy, and were progressed. The policy requires all components be passed during one testing session.
All subsequently passed the Physical Competency Test (PCT) which is required before a recruit can graduate.
In the interests of transparency and to assess the full extent to which discretion was being used, the audit was expanded to include all other pre-employment testing over the same time period.
This included the psychometric test, the English literacy testing and typing.
Police must be proficient in English. Literacy testing is only required of applicants who do not have level 2 NCEA English or higher or comparable international qualifications.
Of the 1022 recruits, 267 were required to do the test and 128 did not pass.
All applicants passed psychometric testing before beginning at RNZPC but 36 that initially failed were allowed to re-sit without a six-month stand down period between tests.
This stand down period is considered good practice by the provider Police uses to administer this test.
One person did not pass the typing test, which requires a typing speed of 25 words a minute.
All recruits who were given discretion and have since graduated did pass all mandatory tests required to graduate.
In response to the findings, the Commissioner has made it clear that the use of discretion falls short of his expectations and standards.
He has instructed there is to be no further use of discretion to allow people to enter RNZPC without first meeting all mandatory recruitment standards.
There will be no exemptions and no circumstances where discretion is applied.
The findings also raised concerns about inconsistencies and confusion around the criteria and application of discretion in some cases.
While discretion has long been used in exceptional cases, the audit makes it apparent it has increasingly been accepted as common practise over recent years.
Any suggestion a tolerance had developed for accepting lower standards than those set for recruitment is of concern to the Commissioner.
The Police recruitment process is designed to be thorough and robust and there are good reasons for the standards required.
The literacy assessment is designed to be relevant to the work required of police staff.
The ability to communicate well under pressure is critical for an officer’s own safety and those of their colleagues, as well as the public.
Police is committed to serving our communities by having the best possible people in our organisation.
We have an incredible organisation of men and women from diverse backgrounds and experiences, who work hard in, and for their communities.
NZ Police officers are proud of the standards that are required to join.
We have many staff who have English as a second language.
These people add immense value to our organisation and to the communities they work in.
That is why ESOL support is available at RNZPC for recruits who need it, as well as other learning support for recruits.
However, all recruits must meet the required standard before they begin training with us.
Policing is a very rewarding career.
The findings from this audit will support our ongoing work to recruit and train world-class police officers.
There is guidance and support on preparing for the pre-entry tests on www.newcops.govt.nz for people who want to join.
That includes physical training plans to prepare for the PAT and guidance on how to upskill in areas required to meet the requirements.
The report on the preliminary findings is attached.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government announced today (June 13) that the Chief Executive has appointed the Chairman and members to the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board (HKMPDB). The appointments will be effective from July 1, 2025, for a term of three years.
The Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address that the existing Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board (HKMPB) will be reconstituted into the HKMPDB. To be chaired by a non-official member and with other members largely from the maritime sector, this high-level advisory body will assist the Government in formulating policies and long-term development strategies. The HKMPDB will be underpinned by dedicated staff and provided with additional funding to enhance its research capabilities, strengthen its Mainland and overseas promotional work and step up manpower training, with a view to supporting the Government in policy implementation more effectively and promoting the sustainable development of Hong Kong’s maritime industry.
The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan said, “Consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong’s status as an international maritime centre is the top priority of the Government as well as the strategic objective of our country, hence particularly important for Hong Kong’s economic development. The establishment of the HKMPDB is a key step in this institutional reform. It is hoped that the new Board will adopt an innovative and change-embracing spirit in supporting the Government to lead the maritime and port industry to further leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages and enhance the industry’s global competitiveness in the midst of geopolitical challenges. Under the leadership of Dr Moses Cheng, I am confident that Board members will make valuable contributions to the work of the HKMPDB with their respective expertise and experience, and continue to advance side by side with the industry.”
Moreover, four committees will be formed under the HKMPDB to focus on specific areas of work, namely the Port Development Committee, the Maritime Services Development Committee, the Promotion and External Relations Committee and the Manpower Development Committee. The four committees will be formed by broad inclusion of industry stakeholders, including ad personam and institutional members. The appointments will be announced later this month.
Ms Chan also expressed gratitude to the outgoing HKMPB members for their valuable contribution in the past, remarking that the substantive progress made in various areas of maritime and port development is a testimony to their dedicated effort.
The terms of reference of the HKMPDB are at the Annex. The membership of the HKMPDB is as follows:
Chairman
————
Dr Moses Cheng Mo-chi
Members
————
Mr Angad Banga
Ms Sabrina Chao Sih-ming
Mr Bjorn Hojgaard
Mr Wellington Koo Tse-hau
Mr Timothy Lee Kwok-lam
Mr Edward Liu Yang
Dr Billy Mak Sui-choi
Mr Alan Tung Lieh-sing
Mr Frankie Yick Chi-ming
Ex-officio Members
————
Secretary for Transport and Logistics or representative
Commissioner for Maritime and Port Development
Director of Marine
Director-General of Investment Promotion
Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 13, 2025.
As Antarctic sea ice shrinks, iconic emperor penguins are in more peril than we thought
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dana M Bergstrom, Honorary Senior Fellow in Ecology, University of Wollongong When winter comes to Antarctica, seals and Adélie penguins leave the freezing shores and head for the edge of the forming sea ice. But emperor penguins stay put. The existence of emperor penguins seems all but
Bougainville legal dept looking towards sorcery violence policy
RNZ Pacific The Department of Justice and Legal Services in Bougainville is aiming to craft a government policy to deal with violence related to sorcery accusations. The Post-Courier reports that a forum, which wrapped up on Wednesday, aimed to dissect the roots of sorcery/witchcraft beliefs and the severe violence stemming from accusations. An initial forum
NZ has a vast sea territory but lags behind other nations in protecting the ocean
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Conrad Pilditch, Professor of Marine Sciences, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images For the past fortnight, the city of Nice in France has been the global epicentre of ocean science and politics. Last week’s One Ocean Science Congress ended with a unanimous call for action
US Army’s image of power and flag-waving rings false to Gen Z weary of gun violence − and long-term recruitment numbers show it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacob Ware, Adjunct Professor of Domestic Terrorism, Georgetown University A recruit participates in the Army’s future soldier prep course at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C., on Sept. 25, 2024. AP Photo/Chris Carlson The U.S. Army will celebrate its 250th birthday on Saturday, June 14, 2025, with a
It took more than a century, but women are taking charge of Australia’s economy – here’s why it matters
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Duygu Yengin, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Adelaide For the first time in its 124-year history, Treasury will be led by a woman. Jenny Wilkinson’s appointment is historic in its own right. Even more remarkable is the fact she joins Michele Bullock at the Reserve Bank
With Trump undoing years of progress, can the US salvage its Pacific Islands strategy?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Tidwell, Director, Center for Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Studies, Georgetown University Donald Trump signs a proclamation expanding fishing rights in the Pacific Islands, April 17. Getty Images Since 2018, the United States has worked, albeit often haltingly, to regain its footing with Pacific Island countries.
Workers need better tools and tech to boost productivity. Why aren’t companies stepping up to invest?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Head, Canberra School of Government, University of Canberra As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers turn their attention to improving productivity growth across the economy, it will be interesting to see what the business community brings to a planned summit in August. Labour
AI overviews have transformed Google search. Here’s how they work – and how to opt out
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By T.J. Thomson, Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication & Digital Media, RMIT University cosma/Shutterstock People turn to the internet to run billions of search queries each year. These range from keeping tabs on world events and celebrities to learning new words and getting DIY help. One of the
‘Like an underwater bushfire’: SA’s marine algal bloom is still killing almost everything in its path
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Barrera, PhD Candidate, School of Public Health, University of Adelaide Paul Macdonald of Edithburgh Diving South Australian beaches have been awash with foamy, discoloured water and dead marine life for months. The problem hasn’t gone away; it has spread. Devastating scenes of death and destruction mobilised
Sunday Too Far Away at 50: how a story about Aussie shearers launched a local film industry
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Walsh, Associate Professor, Screen and Media, Flinders University Released 50 years ago, Sunday Too Far Away deals episodically with a group of shearers led by Foley (Jack Thompson), and the events leading up to the national shearers’ strike of 1956. The shearers are a ragtag group
Khartoum before the war: the public spaces that held the city together
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ibrahim Z. Bahreldin, Associate Professor of Urban & Environmental Design, University of Khartoum What makes a public space truly public? In Khartoum, before the current conflict engulfed Sudan, the answer was not always a park, a plaza or a promenade. The city’s streets, tea stalls (sitat al-shai),
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Senator Tammy Tyrrell on wild days in Tasmania
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Tasmanian politics has been thrown into chaos after a Labor motion of no confidence forced Premier Jeremy Rockliff to either resign or call for a new election. The premier opted for the latter, with Tasmanians to vote on July 19,
Chris Hedges: The last days of Gaza
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – The genocide is almost complete. When it is concluded it will have exposed the moral bankruptcy of Western civilisation, writes Chris Hedges. ANALYSIS: By Chris Hedges This is the end. The final blood-soaked chapter of the genocide. It will be over soon. Weeks. At most. Two
Grattan on Friday: the galahs are chattering about ‘productivity’, but can Labor really get it moving?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Former prime minister Paul Keating famously used to say the resident galah in any pet shop was talking about micro-economic policy. These days, if you encounter a pet shop with a galah, she’ll be chattering about productivity. Productivity is currently
Greenpeace activists aboard Rainbow Warrior disrupt Pacific industrial fishing operation
By Emma Page Greenpeace activists on board the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior disrupted an industrial longlining fishing operation in the South Pacific, seizing almost 20 km of fishing gear and freeing nine sharks — including an endangered mako — near Australia and New Zealand. Crew retrieved the entire longline and more than 210 baited hooks
View from The Hill: Is the US playing cat and mouse ahead of expected Albanese-Trump talks?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra For the first time in memory, an Australian prime minister is approaching a prospective meeting with a US president with a distinct feeling of wariness. Of course Anthony Albanese would deny it. But it’s undeniable the government is relieved that
Caitlin Johnstone: Staring down the barrel of war with Iran once again
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone Well it looks like the US is on the precipice of war with Iran again. US officials are telling the press that they anticipate a potential impending Israeli attack on Iran while the family members of US military personnel are being assisted
Global outrage over Gaza has reinforced a ‘siege mentality’ in Israel – what are the implications for peace?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eyal Mayroz, Senior Lecturer in Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Sydney After more than 20 months of devastating violence in Gaza, the right-wing Israeli government’s pursuit of two irreconcilable objectives — “destroying” Hamas and releasing Israeli hostages — has left the coastal strip in ruins. At
The weight loss drug Mounjaro has been approved to treat sleep apnoea. How does it work?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yaqoot Fatima, Professor of Sleep Health, University of the Sunshine Coast coldsnowstorm/Getty Images Last week, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved the weight-loss drug Mounjaro to treat sleep apnoea, a condition in which breathing stops and starts repeatedly during sleep. The TGA has indicated Mounjaro can be
Not all insecure work has to be a ‘bad job’: research shows job design can make a big difference
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rose-Marie Stambe, Adjunct Research Fellow, social and economic marginalisation, The University of Queensland Matej Kastelic/Shutterstock Inflation has steadied and interest rates are finally coming down. But for many Australians, especially those in low-paid, insecure or precarious work, the cost-of-living crisis feels far from over. The federal government
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China has fully established a voluntary blood donation system and introduced a range of measures to ensure a safe blood supply, according to the National Health Commission (NHC).
China has expanded its blood screening programs and improved testing technologies, effectively blocking the transmission of major infectious diseases through transfusion, Gao Guangming, an official with the NHC, said at a press conference on Thursday.
China’s overall blood safety level now ranks among the highest in the world, Gao said.
The country has strengthened its nationwide emergency response system for blood supply, enabling targeted cross-regional allocation to ensure adequate blood supply in key areas and during critical periods, he said.
To boost public awareness of voluntary blood donation, the NHC partnered with China Railway Group to display promotional videos and posters on 260,000 screens across more than 3,000 railway stations and over 4,200 high-speed trains nationwide, Gao said.
He added that Party and government organs, universities and colleges, enterprises and public institutions are encouraged to lead by example in blood donations, and help foster a culture of giving in society.
The country has a blood donation rate of 11.4 per 1,000 people, the NHC revealed at the press conference.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Chinese and American students pose for a photo at Shijiazhuang Zoo in Shijiazhuang, north China’s Hebei Province, April 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
The true China, with its multiple facets and dimensions, is being discovered by more and more people around the world, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.
It is very much a result of China’s steadfast opening-up, entry facilitation policies, high-quality development, and rapid progress in promoting new quality productive forces and innovation-driven development, spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular news briefing.
He made the remarks when asked to comment on the views of foreign commentators who have said that Chinese technology, gaming and culture have taken the world by storm, which makes the country “cooler” and burnishes its image overseas.
“From China travel to China shopping, and from DeepSeek to wildly popular collectible toys, films and TV series, more and more people around the world are learning about China and becoming familiar with our country,” Lin said, noting that many have discovered that there is so much they share with the Chinese people, and that there are so many ways they can connect emotionally with the Chinese people — just like people elsewhere — by breaking the “information cocoon.”
“This fully shows that the pursuit of good things and a better life knows no borders or ethnicity. It is something that no one can stop,” he added.
“It is all the more a result of the fact that China has and will always be a source of stability and certainty in a turbulent and changing world, enabling global development through Chinese modernization,” Lin said.
China will open up wider to the world, expand the scope of innovation, and deepen cooperation to share more opportunities and benefits with the rest of the world, and give people all over the world more opportunities to see and experience an ever-cooler China, said Lin.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The 2025 Undergraduate Exhibition of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University (AADTHU) opened at the university’s art museum in Beijing on June 7. The exhibition will run until June 19.
Guests attend the opening of the 2025 AADTHU undergraduate exhibition at the Tsinghua University Art Museum in Beijing, June 7, 2025. [Photo courtesy of AADTHU]
Guo Yong, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Tsinghua University Committee, addressed more than 200 guests gathered at the Tsinghua University Art Museum. He said the graduation exhibition is not only a summary of the students’ academic journey but also a new starting point for engaging with society.
Guo noted that the 2025 cohort of undergraduates are a very special group, as these students entered the academy at a time when art creation and art education still largely followed classical models. During their studies, however, they have experienced the full arrival of the AI era.
“I want to remind you that the passion, character and feelings of the creator — the moments of inspiration intertwined with pain and joy — are the soul of art and rights that creators must never yield.”
He then urged graduating students to draw inspiration from real life, remain keenly perceptive of society and respond thoughtfully to its complexities. He called on them to carry forward a strong sense of national sentiment and responsibility, and to bring the aesthetic literacy and cultural conviction cultivated at AADTHU into the wider world.
“With a humanistic heart, you should reflect the spirit of the times and let the spark of art ignite your journey of creation,” he said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A sculpture of Yuan Longping, the renowned Chinese scientist known as the “father of hybrid rice,” was unveiled on Thursday at the Georgofili Academy in Florence, Italy. The work was created and donated by Wu Weishan, director of the National Art Museum of China.
The donation marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Italy, highlighting the two countries’ cooperation in science and art.
“Everyone in agricultural science knows Yuan Longping,” said Massimo Vincenzini, president of the Georgofili Academy. “He was an outstanding scientist who made a profound impact in the global fight against hunger.”
Chinese Consul General in Florence Yin Qi said the event symbolized cross-cultural dialogue, coinciding with the first International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations.
In a video message, sculptor Wu Weishan expressed hope that the artwork would inspire deeper exchanges between civilizations.
Born in 1930, Yuan succeeded in cultivating the world’s first high-yield hybrid rice strain in 1973, which was later grown on a large scale in China and other countries to substantially raise output. He passed away at the age of 91.
The sculpture will be permanently housed at the Georgofili Academy, one of the world’s oldest agricultural research institutions, founded in 1753.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Aviation authorities have found one of the two black boxes of the Air India flight that crashed in the western Indian state of Gujarat, killing 241 on board, local newspaper Hindustan Times said.
The London-bound flight crashed on Thursday afternoon shortly after takeoff from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, about 17 km south of Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat.
“Of the two black boxes, the one in the rear of the aircraft has been located and safely guarded. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation will collect the equipment to analyse the recordings. The second black box, in the aircraft’s front portion, is yet to be found,” the newspaper quoting a source said.
Black boxes are electronic data recorders in the aircraft. The bright orange or yellow rectangular boxes are designed to withstand high-speed crashes, explosions, fire and water pressure.
Experts said the answer to what went wrong for Air India Flight 171 may lie in these small machines. It contains flight and cockpit recordings, and flight data, which can help investigators to understand the reason behind the plane crash. However, it takes days to analyse the data.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian, apart from two pilots and 10 cabin crew members on board when it crashed at the premises of a medical college.
Air India on Friday confirmed the crash killed 241 passengers on board, and the only survivor in the incident is being treated in a hospital.
The Indian government’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has initiated a formal investigation into the crash.
Boeing President and Chief Executive Officer Kelly Ortberg said he has spoken with Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran following the crash and expressed readiness to support the investigation by Indian authorities.
The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft bearing number AI171 went down after takeoff at an altitude of 825 feet and crashed on the premises of B J Medical College, causing severe damage to the buildings.
According to the Federation of All India Medical Associations Doctors Association, one person was killed, while at least five medical students and four relatives of resident doctors were reported missing, and 50 others were injured at the premises of B J Medical College.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The 39th International Travel Expo opened on Thursday, with about 500 exhibitors from over 60 countries and regions showcasing their latest tour routes and services.
The four-day exhibition features over 110 events, including promotional programs, symposiums and lectures. To attract younger enthusiasts and young parents, it dedicated new sections to Gen Z and family traveling.
As Hong Kong hones its appeal as a world-class tourist destination, tourist arrivals in the first five months rose 12 percent year on year to around 20 million, said Rosanna Law, secretary for culture, sports and tourism of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, while addressing the opening ceremony. The annual forecast stood at 49 million visits, representing a 10-percent uptick from the previous year, she noted.
The event will be open to the public from the third day after exclusive entry for tourism industry insiders ends. Total attendance to this year’s event is estimated at around 70,000.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
In early summer, the eastern foot of Helan Mountain in northwest China comes alive as wine grapes reach full bloom. At one grape planting base, drip irrigation tubes with evenly spaced holes dangle along the vines, controlled simply using a smartphone app.
“This integrated drip irrigation system allows for precise water and fertilizer management,” said Liu Huibin, deputy manager of the management department at GreatWall Terroir’s grape planting base. “Sensors transmit key data such as soil temperature and humidity, weather conditions and irrigation flow to an intelligent control platform to support vineyard operations.”
According to Liu, compared with traditional flood irrigation, which consumed 700 to 800 cubic meters of water per mu (about 0.07 hectares) annually, the new system requires only 220 to 260 cubic meters. This enhancement not only conserves water but also improves fertilizer efficiency, benefiting vine growth and stabilizing grape quality.
“Smart irrigation also saves labor. Flood-irrigating 300 mu used to require at least five workers. Now, with drip irrigation across over 7,000 mu, only five workers are needed. It’s both efficient and convenient,” Liu added.
Situated near 38 degrees north latitude in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the eastern foot of Helan Mountain is recognized as a “golden zone” for grape cultivation. Its abundant sunshine, well-aerated soil, significant day-night temperature differences and access to Yellow River irrigation make it ideal for high-end wine production.
By the end of 2024, the region had more than 600,000 mu of wine grape plantations and an annual wine output of 140 million bottles. These wines were successfully exported to more than 40 countries and regions.
In recent years, Ningxia has embraced technology to transform its wine industry. The region has established more than 30 scientific research platforms and made breakthroughs in virus-free seedling propagation, soil-fertilizer-water management, ecological planting and modern winemaking techniques. Digitalization is also driving the industry towards greater intelligence, integration and high-end development.
Huangkou Winery, a well-known local wine producer, has adopted a digital fermentation control system that monitors key indicators such as temperature, density, dissolved oxygen and liquid level in fermentation tanks.
“With the mobile app, we can monitor and adjust fermentation conditions in real time, avoiding inaccuracies and delays caused by manual checks and ensuring stable wine quality,” said Li Dan, a lab technician at the winery.
The winery has also utilized Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to monitor vineyard conditions in real time, deployed drones and remote sensing for rapid inspections and eco-friendly pest control, and used blockchain for transparent product traceability. This allows consumers to access detailed production information by scanning QR codes, according to Zhang Xueyan, the winery’s director.
Zhang added that the winery has secured over 20 technological patents and R&D breakthroughs through collaborations with universities. Innovations include fermentation tanks with longer legs and conical discharge ports, as well as novel oxygen-permeable polymer barrels, which have significantly improved production efficiency and product quality.
In January last year, the wine industry technology collaborative innovation center was established at the eastern foot of Helan Mountain. As China’s first open and shared platform for the wine industry, it aims to improve the innovation system and promote intelligent management across vineyards and wineries.
“We will continue to prioritize innovation and integrate resources to build a digital platform covering the entire wine industry chain, creating smart vineyards and boosting the global competitiveness of Ningxia’s premium wines,” said Li Jun, director of the management committee of the wine industry park on the eastern foot of Helan Mountain.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Europa League champion Tottenham Hotspur has named Thomas Frank as its new first-team coach on a contract through 2028.
“In Thomas we are appointing one of the most progressive and innovative head coaches within the game. He has a proven track record in player and squad development and we look forward to him leading the team as we prepare for the season ahead,” read a statement on the Tottenham website.
The Dane signed a three-year deal to replace Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked last week despite guiding Spurs to their first major title in 17 years. The club cited a disastrous Premier League campaign – finishing 17th with 22 defeats in 38 matches – as the primary reason for the change.
Frank departs Brentford after seven years at the helm, during which he guided the southwest London side to promotion and firmly established it in the Premier League. The team was known for its attractive style of play, scoring 66 goals last season and narrowly missing out on European qualification.
He will be joined by coaching staff Justine Cochrane, Chris Haslam, and Joe Newton, with Andreas Georgson arriving from Manchester United.
Brentford Director of Football Phil Giles thanked Frank for his impact on the club, saying “he understood what we were trying to build and his wisdom, coaching ability and emotional intelligence have helped transform the club.”
“We will never forget Thomas, but now it is time to thank him and take the next steps in our journey with a new leader who we believe can be just as successful and influential,” added Giles.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) opened Thursday in Changsha, capital of central China’s Hunan Province, drawing a record-breaking of over 30,000 participants from 53 African countries, 11 international organizations and 27 Chinese provincial-level regions, highlighting the dynamic two-way economic ties.
Under the theme “China and Africa: Together Toward Modernization,” the biennial event, running through June 15, aims to further harness the shared development potential as a concrete follow-up to the 10 partnership actions announced at the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
From African flavors to tourism offerings, from digital payment solutions to agricultural machinery and clean energy technologies, the expo is expected to further advance the China-Africa partnership in their shared pursuit of modernization.
People visit the fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo at Changsha International Convention and Exhibition Center in Changsha, central China’s Hunan Province, June 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Qiong)
BEYOND TRADITIONAL TRADE
At this year’s expo, more than 800 African products, ranging from Kenyan black tea to Congolese framed artwork, are scheduled to either debut or expand their presence in the Chinese market, a stable and promising destination supported by favorable policies and platforms.
The strength of the partnership is reflected in trade data. In 2024, two-way trade reached a record of 295.6 billion U.S. dollars, marking a 4.8 percent year-on-year increase. This solidified China’s position as Africa’s largest trading partner for the 16th consecutive year. Meanwhile, imports from Africa reached 116.8 billion dollars, up 6.9 percent year-on-year.
Beyond traditional trade, the expo also showcases progress in value-added production between China and African countries. One example is Rwanda’s chili sauce, which has become a symbol of integrated value chain development.
Seeking larger-scale and sustainable cooperation, Rwanda’s Gashora Farm partnered in 2024 with Hunan Modern Agriculture International Development Co. Ltd to launch the Rwanda-Hunan Chili Pepper Industry Demonstration Project, which covers 100 hectares (1 square km). The initiative spans the full value chain, from seedling cultivation to export.
In the first season after signing of the agreement, 200 tonnes of dried chili were shipped to China. “The Chinese market offers more than just orders. It brings stability and investment,” said Dieudonne Twahirwa, managing director of Gashora Farm. “It gives us partners. This partnership is transforming our business and the lives of farmers.”
From Kenyan dried anchovies and Madagascan lamb products to rubber from Cote d’Ivoire, cooperation of various forms is expanding across Africa, supporting African countries’ industrialization efforts. This trend has already yielded notable success, including Ethiopia’s Eastern Industrial Zone and the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone.
This photo taken on June 12, 2025 shows guests talking prior to the opening ceremony of the fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha, central China’s Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)
“The continent’s development priorities are shifting from raw material exports to value-added production,” said Humphrey Moshi, a professor of economics and director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. “The China-Africa relationship is evolving beyond traditional trade, toward deeper industrial collaboration and shared value creation.”
“It is no longer just about importing, but co-building industrialization,” said Senegalese Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock Mabouba Diagne. “China is a strategic partner that can drive the structural transformation of our agriculture … CAETE serves as a matchmaking platform, enabling such win-win collaborations.”
EMPOWERING AFRICAN PRIORITIES
This year’s expo features exhibition zones dedicated to clean energy, modern agricultural machinery, along with 30 events to be held in such areas as industrial collaboration and youth entrepreneurship. The expanded agenda underscores a dynamic partnership aligned with Africa’s priorities, including agricultural modernization, industrialization, and sustainable growth.
“This expo is even more innovative,” said Okonkwo Chinweuba Innocent, Belt and Road Africa Economic Promotion Initiative Center in Nigeria. “It better connects supply and demand between China and Africa … cooperation is expanding into new areas like digital economy, green development and finance,” he told Xinhua.
As cooperation deepens in these fast-growing sectors, Chinese solutions are empowering Africa’s industrialization and modernization, key priorities for the continent.
An exhibitor introduces a sightseeing vehicle to a visitor at Changsha International Convention and Exhibition Center in Changsha, central China’s Hunan Province, June 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
For instance, in e-commerce, Chinese expertise contributes to local transformation. To tackle persistent logistical challenges, Kilimall, an e-commerce platform founded by Chinese entrepreneurs in Africa, has introduced the “African overseas warehouse” model to reduce delivery time and facilitate cross-border trade. During the expo, the company is showcasing services designed to help entrepreneurs gain access to both Chinese and African markets.
Private-sector participation is also gaining momentum. “I would like to see more Chinese companies set up in Kenya to manufacture solar products,” said Arnold Dodo Kageha, a 28-year-old Kenyan entrepreneur who has profited from distributing Chinese clean energy products such as portable power stations.
“CAETE has become more than just a trade fair,” said Moshi. “It is now a venue through which Africa and China can align their aspirations and work together. It fits squarely within the broader goals of South-South cooperation.”
Source: New Zealand Police
Police are responding to a crash on Stanley Road South, Te Aroha.
The two-vehicle crash was reported at around 1:40pm.
Initial indications are that there are serious injuries.
The road is closed and diversions are in place at McCabe Road and Waihou Road.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan
06.12.25
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries, today chaired a hearing on the threat of foreign illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing to Alaska’s fishermen and coastal communities. The hearing focused on strategies to combat foreign IUU fishing, many of which are found in Sen. Sullivan’s Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvest (FISH) Act. These strategies include blacklisting offending vessels from U.S. ports and waters, bolstering the U.S. Coast Guard’s enforcement capabilities and partnerships, and advancing international and bilateral negotiations to achieve enforceable agreements and treaties. On April 30, 2025, the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously passed Sen. Sullivan’s FISH Act, co-led by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I).
The hearing featured testimony from a panel of expert witnesses, including Gabriel Prout, president of the Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers.
[embedded content]
“There was a senior Russian official who publicly declared, ‘We know we’re at war with American fishermen.’…What more should we be doing with regard to the unfair competition with Chinese and Russian fleets?” Sen. Sullivan asked. “We’ve talked about their IUU practices, their slave labor practices. Another thing that happens is their governments heavily subsidize their fleet…What are the other things we can be doing and how has the ban on Russian seafood into the U.S. market, including the Chinese communist loophole that we also shut down, helped your industry and other fishermen throughout the country?”
“The effect of IUU and the importation of it into our markets has been nothing short of devastating,” said Mr. Prout. “When Russia floods the market with illegal, under-priced crab, or any other seafood commodity for that matter, it puts downward pressure on our prices and destabilizes the processors. Processors within Alaska especially rely on numerous revenue sources of different seafood commodities…They use that method to stay afloat, diversifying their portfolio a little bit. If they take a major loss on crab or salmon, it really destabilizes their efforts and it threatens their whole operation. Additionally, fishermen then are potentially looking at a loss of a place to deliver, because the processors are unable to compete with the importation of IUU products, just because of the price difference that is associated with it.
“As far as the impact of your efforts, it’s had a tremendous impact—banning the importation of Russian crab. One of the most notable products in Alaska, of course, is the Alaskan red king crab. This past season, myself and my family, and all the rest of the fishermen who participated in that, experienced record prices at the dock for their catch. I can confidently say that I believe that wouldn’t have taken effect had there still been a large importation of Russian product coming into the domestic market. So your efforts to stem the flow of that IUU [seafood] have been very obvious to my family and many of the fishermen within Alaska.”
Other hearing witnesses included Gregory Poling, director and senior fellow of the Southeast Asia Program and the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS); Nathan Rickard, partner at Picard Kentz & Rowe; and Whitley Saumweber, director of the Stephenson Ocean Security Project at CSIS.
Below is a full transcript of Senator Sullivan’s opening statement at the hearing.
Today’s hearing will focus on international conflict, criminal activity, and, yes, even slave labor associated with the ocean. We’re particularly focused on the fight for fisheries resources, geopolitical flashpoints where conflict is likely to arise, and the role of both state and non-state actors involved in conflict with criminal activity in the fishing sector. And, of course, we want sustainable, lasting fisheries.
Additionally, we’ll discuss measures being taken to address the growing challenges and criminal activity surrounding these resources and conflicts, and what more can be done. Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, also known as IUU fishing, poses a significant threat to global marine ecosystems, economies, sustainable fisheries, and food security.
It is estimated that IUU fishing accounts for up to 20 percent of the global catch, which translates to global losses between $10 billion and $50 billion annually for fishing fleets that actually fish legally, like ours in America. The scale of IUU fishing varies by region, with some areas experiencing more severe impacts due to lax enforcement, corruption, and high demand for seafood. Of course, the Chinese Communist Party in China plays a significant role in this problem in the global fishing industry, and is the worst offender of IUU fishing, by far. No surprise.
The Chinese government has provided billions of dollars in subsidies to its distant water fishing fleets, “gray fleets,” as we sometimes call them, enabling their fishing sector to grow exponentially. According to Global Fishing Watch, China operates approximately 57,000 fishing vessels—57,000—which accounts for 44 percent of the world’s total fishing activity.
Operating in tandem with the Chinese military to protect its fishing fleet, the Chinese fishing boats benefit from the protection of the Chinese Coast Guard and Navy, ensuring their ability to pilfer resources around the globe. If you care about the environment and healthy ecosystems, this should be a top concern of yours. China is ravaging our oceans.
The scale of China’s fishing activities raises concerns about the sustainability of global fish stocks around the world, and the geopolitical tensions that can arise from maritime disputes.
China is a concern, but Russia is as well. Close to Alaska, Russian and other vessels conduct IUU fishing near our exclusive economic zone, our EEZ. Although Russia banned imports of U.S. seafood into Russia over ten years ago, Russia has been able to bring their seafood into the U.S., sometimes using loopholes through China as recently as late 2023.
IUU fishing is not an issue just for the United States. U.S. fisheries are the most sustainable fisheries in the world, but sustainably sourced, legally caught, high quality seafood can’t compete with illegally sourced seafood that is being plundered from our oceans.
I might add, due to some great reporting—and I’m going to reference it here in this hearing—from Politico magazine, [and] the New Yorker, China also uses slave labor on many of its fishing vessels. Pretty hard to compete against slave labor if you’re an American fisherman. IUU fishing not only distorts the true cost of seafood sold in markets, but it is often linked overseas with transnational crime, forced and slave labor, and even human and drug trafficking.
The key to preventing IUU fishing is to lead international efforts to address the issue at its sources globally. Through the years, Congress and the executive branch, Democrats and Republicans, have worked together with global partners and have focused on IUU fishing. I’m proud to see my colleague and friend, Senator Whitehouse, here. He and I recently introduced our Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvest, also known as the FISH Act, a bipartisan bill that just recently in this committee passed unanimously. It puts IUU fishing vessels on a blacklist, raises costs for IUU vessel owners and importers, and supports increased Coast Guard enforcement and work with our partners. It builds on previous bipartisan legislation that this committee has championed, particularly Senator Wicker’s Maritime Safe Act.
In April, President Trump signed an executive order entitled, “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.” My office, my team and I were proud to work closely with the Trump administration on this important executive order. This order aims at strengthening measures to combat IUU fishing, including preventing IUU seafood from entering the U.S. market, and supporting international efforts to address the issue at its source. We look forward to working with the administration on these efforts.
But it’s not all bad news. This is, after all, the subcommittee in charge of the Coast Guard. I believe we are going to be embarking on a golden age for our Coast Guard. In the budget reconciliation bill right now, there is $24.6 billion focused on the Coast Guard of the United States. That will likely be the biggest investment in the Coast Guard in the history of the United States of America. There are a lot of good things happening with regard to our Coast Guard.
The U.S. has a vital role to play, a leading role to play, in combating IUU fishing through regulatory measures, international cooperation, consumer awareness, and passing the FISH Act. By preventing IUU seafood from entering our market, the U.S. can help protect legitimate fishermen, some of whom we’ll hear from today, and promote sustainable fishing practices worldwide.
Below is a full transcript of Mr. Prout’s opening statement at the hearing.
Thank you for the opportunity to appear today to discuss the devastating impact of IUU—illegal, unreported and unregulated—crab fishing, and unfair Russian and Chinese trade practices on American crab fishermen and coastal communities. I’d like to first start by acknowledging and thanking Senator Sullivan, as well as Senator Cantwell, for their long-standing support of independent crab harvesters like myself. Thank you. My name is Gabriel Prout and I am the President of Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers. I represent the majority of quota and vessel owners harvesting king, snow, and bairdi crab in the Bering Sea. I’m also a third-generation commercial fisherman and a vessel owner from Kodiak, Alaska, a seafood powerhouse where hundreds of millions of pounds of product cross the docks each year.
For nearly 20 years, I’ve worked in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska with two of my brothers, continuing a livelihood passed down from our father and grandfather. In recent years, the collapse of snow crab and red king crab stocks hit us hard. Boats sat tied up, crews were out of work, and families like mine faced deep uncertainty. This fishery isn’t just our livelihood, it is our identity. Crab stocks now appear to be rebounding, but we still need action to protect small fishing families, like mine, especially from the harms of IUU fishing.
For over 20 years, Russian IUU crab has undercut the economic foundation of our industry. A 2021 U.S. International Trade Commission report found that, in 2019, over 20 percent of U.S. imports of snow and king crab from the Russian far east came from IUU sources. Fortunately, U.S. imports of Russian crab have largely ceased thanks to the embargo that began under President Biden, continued under President Trump, and was strengthened by Senator Sullivan’s work to close the China trans-shipment loophole.
Still, Russia’s IUU crab continues entering global markets through other channels, suppressing prices and creating unfair competition for U.S. harvesters who follow the law. Russia’s actions extend far beyond IUU. The following are just a few key points.
It has heavily subsidized its seafood industry to deliberately undercut U.S. competitors; flooded international markets with underpriced seafood following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine to help fund its war; and contributed to an estimated $1.8 billion in losses for the Alaska seafood industry during 2022 and 2023.
There are also national security concerns. Russian crab is being funneled into the global market through North Korean smuggling networks, where it’s reprocessed and relabeled in China. This collaboration between two sanctioned regimes undermines trade restrictions and raises serious concerns about enforcement and global seafood supply chain integrity.
Based on years of experience witnessing the impact of Russian IUU on Alaskan crabbers, I respectfully urge the following actions.
One, expand the seafood import monitoring program and ensure it focuses on species at highest risk for IUU fishing; [and] mandate country-of-origin labeling, also known as “cool labeling” that also applies to cooked crab products.
Two, expand economic sanctions and trade restrictions, which would extend and strengthen sanctions on Russian-origin seafood and ensure enforcement on the ban of Russian seafood entering through third countries, especially China.
Expand intelligence sharing agreements with allies. This is under point three. Increase international cooperation and enforcement, increase support for international bodies working to combat IUU fishing, and push for stronger enforcement of port state measure agreements, especially with countries still importing Russian crab around the world.
Four, provide economic relief to affected communities, establish emergency relief similar to the Seafood Trade Relief Program, and create low-interest loans to help crabbers and fishing fleets modernize gear and remain competitive throughout the world; prioritize support for small, independent, family-owned fishing operations like those that I represent.
And five, strengthen U.S. enforcement against IUU fishing. Congress should pass Senate Bill 688, the FISH Act, and provide full funding and direction for the U.S. Coast Guard and NOAA to expand patrols, inspections, and enforcements targeting IUU threats.
For over two decades, Russian IUU crab has undermined American fishermen who follow the rules, invest in sustainability, and support our coastal communities. This isn’t just about statistics. It’s about lost livelihoods, struggling towns and an industry fighting for survival.
Congress has the opportunity to protect American harvesters and ensure global seafood is harvested legally and sustainably. Thank you for your attention to this critical issue affecting thousands of American fishing families. I look forward to your questions and working with the Committee on effective solutions.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan
06.12.25
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Representative Nick Begich (all R-Alaska), introduced the Chugach Alaska Land Exchange and Oil Spill Recovery Act to direct a land exchange between the federal government and Chugach Alaska Corporation (Chugach). This exchange would resolve conflicts that exist between the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) Trustee Council’s Habitat Protection Program (the “Program”) goals for federal habitat conservation of surface lands impacted by EVOS and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) promises to Chugach for economic development of subsurface rights under these same lands.
The land exchange directed by this legislation would require Chugach to trade 231,000 acres of subsurface estate (under surface fee and conservation easements on surface land owned by the federal government) for 65,403 acres of fee simple land owned by the federal government. Most of the lands that would be exchanged were identified in the Chugach Region Land Study and Report to Congress from December 2022. Congress directed the study in Section 1113 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act (Public Law 116-9; 133 Stat. 614) which Murkowski authored.
“The effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on Native people in the Chugach region are still felt –environmentally, socially and economically. We must continue to take steps to move forward with recovery and that includes fulfilling the promises of ANCSA to Chugach, the Alaska Native Regional Corporation,” Senator Murkowski said. “I am proud to reintroduce this legislation, which is a “win-win” for Chugach and the federal government’s EVOS program goals.”
“In the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez spill, Chugach Alaska Corporation not only had to deal with the devastating environmental consequences for the region, but also misguided federal restrictions on their ability to develop resources on their lands,” said Senator Sullivan.“Senator Murkowski, Congressman Begich and I are reintroducing legislation to amend ANCSA—as has been done many times throughout history—and facilitate a commonsense land exchange already studied extensively by BLM and the Forest Service. Our legislation will help address the evolving needs of Prince William Sound communities and create economic opportunities and cultural benefits for thousands of Alaska Native shareholders in the Chugach region, as intended under ANCSA.”
“This land exchange corrects a decades-old misstep that has kept Chugach shareholders from fully benefiting from their own land and resources. With this legislation, we’re protecting our resources while restoring the rights of Alaska Native landowners,” said Congressman Begich. “I am proud to lead this legislation in the House and look forward to working with the delegation to continue restoring Alaska’s right to self-determination and ensuring responsible stewardship of our state’s resources.”
“We are deeply grateful to Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Dan Sullivan, and Representative Nick Begich for their unwavering leadership and advocacy on behalf of Chugach and our people and communities,” said Sheri Buretta, Chairman of the Chugach Board. “Their decision to reintroduce this legislation underscores the significance of this exchange resolving long-standing split-estate conflicts in the region — not only for our corporation, but for the broader public interest, the State of Alaska, and the federal government. Chugach stands ready to work in close partnership with Congress, federal agencies, and all stakeholders to help advance this process. Our commitment to cooperation is rooted in a shared vision of responsible stewardship, economic opportunity, and enduring respect for our connection to these lands that have sustained our people for millennia.”?
BACKGROUND:
On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez oil spill discharged approximately 11 million gallons of crude oil (enough to fill 17 Olympic-sized swimming pools) into Prince William Sound and adjoining waters in Alaska. It was one of the most environmentally damaging disasters in world history.
The Chugach Region experienced great social and economic harm from the oil spill. Government recovery efforts, though well-intentioned, also had negative impacts and did not always include the voices of the Alaska Native people who have stewarded these lands for millennia. Thirty-five years later, the people and the environment are still recovering.
Through Section 1113 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act of 2019 (sponsored by Murkowski; Public Law 116-9), Congress directed the Secretary of the Interior, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture and in consultation with Chugach Alaska Corporation, to conduct a study and provide a report to Congress assessing the social and economic impacts of the EVOS Trustee Council’s Program on Chugach, Chugach lands, and on the Chugach Region. The study was also required to identify sufficient acres of accessible and economically viable federal land that could be exchanged with Chugach.
Under the Program, the Trustee Council used funds acquired from the companies responsible for EVOS to purchase fee title to 134,121 acres of surface estate lands, and purchased conservation easements on an additional 66,073 acres of surface estate lands, from four of the five Village Corporations in the Chugach Region that had been conveyed to them under ANCSA. Chugach was not a party to any of these acquisitions but owns the subsurface, or mineral estate, for all of the lands in which interests were acquired by the federal government from the Village Corporations under the Program.
Some surface lands and conservation easements on surface lands acquired by the federal government under the Program went into the state and federal park systems, but most went into the Chugach National Forest, managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
The EVOS Program lands (fee surface estate lands and conservation easement lands) are subject to restrictions on any surface development that is inconsistent with maintaining their wilderness characteristics. Therefore, Chugach is effectively prohibited from taking any steps to develop its subsurface interests and needs alternative lands to realize the meaningful economic benefits promised in ANCSA.
Source: Peoples Bank of China
Announcement on Open Market Operations No.111 [2025]
(Open Market Operations Office, June 13, 2025)
The People’s Bank of China conducted reverse repo operations in the amount of RMB202.5 billion through quantity bidding at a fixed interest rate on June 13, 2025.
Details of the Reverse Repo Operations
|
Maturity |
Rate |
Bidding Volume |
Winning Bid Volume |
|
7 days |
1.40% |
RMB202.5 billion |
RMB202.5 billion |
Date of last update Nov. 29 2018
2025年06月13日