Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
Professor of the Department of Public Administration and Political Technologies of the State University of Management Vladimir Volokh took part in the visiting meeting of the Public Council under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, which took place at the Moscow University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia named after V. Ya. Kikot – the largest methodological and scientific center, the flagship of departmental education.
The Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Police General Vladimir Kolokoltsev took part in the visiting meeting of the Public Council under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and answered questions from graduates of departmental universities. The head of the department expressed confidence that the young generation of police officers, having received good theoretical knowledge, will cope with all challenges with dignity: “I am convinced that your integrity, efforts and achievements will contribute to the stability of the state and increase the level of trust of the population.”
During the event, graduates of police universities had the opportunity to directly communicate with members of the Public Council under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia – representatives of civil society, people who constructively cooperate with the department, actively participate in joint scientific and practical projects and campaigns, and openly and impartially assess the quality of the work of the law enforcement system.
Of particular interest were topics such as combating cybercrime, the role of media and social networks in shaping public opinion about the police, migration, the introduction of positive foreign experience into the activities of internal affairs agencies, etc.
At the end of the meeting, the Chairman of the Council, Anatoly Kucherena, presented the graduates of departmental educational organizations with a symbolic “Parting Word” from members of the Public Council under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, building on her years-long effort to reform Washington, U.S. Representative Angie Craig joined her colleagues in introducing theEnd Corruption Nowlegislative agenda. Through this anti-corruption campaign, Rep. Craig and her colleagues aim to confront political corruption and clean up government by introducing six bills that will put power back in the hands of the American people. These bills will prevent the President, Executive Branch officials, and Members of Congress from personally benefiting from their offices.
As part of theEnd Corruption Nowagenda, Rep. Craig reintroduced herRestoring Integrity to Democracy Resolutionto ban Members of the House from serving on corporate boards while also serving in office.
Joining Rep. Craig in launching the campaign are Reps. Joe Neguse (CO-02), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Pat Ryan (NY-18), Emilia Sykes (OH-13) and Hillary Scholten (MI-02).
“Elected officials are elected to serve their constituents, not their own self-interests,” said Rep. Craig (MN-02). “It’s past time we pass legislation to clean up Washington and ensure our tax dollars are being spent as they should – on improving the lives of everyday Americans. That’s why I’m proud to be partnering with my colleagues on this anti-corruption campaign to make common-sense reforms that will restore integrity, transparency and efficiency to our government.”
Since she came to Congress, Rep. Craig has led the charge to fight corruption and restore integrity to Washington, DC.
In April, she reintroduced her Halt Unchecked Member Benefits with Lobbying Elimination (HUMBLE) Act— a broader package of reforms that would ban Members of Congress from owning or trading individual stocks, prohibit the use of taxpayer funds for first-class airline tickets, prevent Members from serving on corporate boards while they are in Congress, eliminate access to Members-only perks for former Members and end automatic pay raises for Members of Congress.
In January of 2024, Rep. Craig led a bipartisan coalitionof 26 Members pushing Speaker Johnson and House leaders to bring a Congressional stock trading ban to a vote. Then, again in July of last year, ahead of the Senate markup of the legislation to ban Congressional stock trading, she led her colleaguesin urging Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Schumer and Congressional leaders to bring the bill to the House Floor for a vote.
You can view Rep. Craig’s remarks from todays’ press conference here.
You can read the full text of theRestoring Integrity to Democracy Resolutionhere.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig announced that she has secured $1,836,883 in federal grant funding for Scott, Carver and Dakota County’s Community Action Partnership (CAP) Agency to support Head Start programming.
“Minnesota’s Head Start programs set our kids up for success, and it’s imperative that they remain fully funded,” said Rep. Craig. “I’m proud to have secured this critical federal funding to support students and families in Minnesota’s Second Congressional District and ensure that generations of Minnesotans can achieve their full potential.”
Rep. Craig has been a fierce advocate of Minnesota’s Head Start programs, continuously speaking out about any potential cuts to Head Start programming.
This week, she sent a letterto Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. demanding answers about the Administration’s decision to close five regional Head Start offices – including the regional office that serves Minnesota.
Last week, she held a press conference at the CAP Agency in Rosemount, MN in response to reports that the Administration planned to reduce funding for Head Start in the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) federal budget. And earlier last month, she sent a letterto President Donald Trump and HHS Secretary Kennedy blasting the Administration’s proposal to eliminate critical Head Start programs that promote early childhood development and ease the burden of child care on working families.
Last year, in Minnesota alone, over 12,000 students attended 33 Head Start and Early Head Start Centers.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig (MN-02) and Mike Levin (CA-49) reintroduced legislation to require that carbon monoxide detectors be installed in every hotel and motel room and short-term rental across the country.
Rep. Craig originally introduced theSafe Stay Actin 2020 after hearing the story of Minnesotan Leslie Lienemann. While travelling for a hockey tournament, Leslie and her son were hospitalized with serious illnesses due to near-fatal carbon monoxide levels being left undetected in their hotel room.
“We have the tools to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and save lives – and we should be using them,” said Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02). “I first introduced this legislation to require carbon monoxide detectors be installed in every hotel and motel room after hearing tragic stories like the Lienemanns’. It’s time to get this common-sense bill signed into law before another American family has to suffer from the impacts of carbon monoxide poisoning.”
“Every year, too many families fall victim to the silent killer of carbon monoxide,” said Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49). “That includes John Heathco, the son of my constituents, Chuck and Jill Heathco, who lost his life to a preventable carbon monoxide leak while on vacation. Their story is a powerful reminder that we have the tools to prevent these tragedies, but we must use them. We must turn this tragedy into legislation to prevent incidents like John’s from happening again.”
The Minnesota legislature passed similar legislation to require carbon monoxide in hotels, motels and lodges, which went into effect on August 1, 2024.
The bill is endorsed by the National Hockey League, Consumer Federation of America, the National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Association, the Jenkins Foundation, the Lienemann Family and the John Wesley Heathco Legacy Foundation.
“My son and I suffer life-long physical and emotional effects of carbon monoxide poisoning because there was no carbon monoxide alarm in our hotel room. Carbon monoxide is undetectable without a CO alarm. Even as our poisoning symptoms worsened, nothing warned us to escape the dangerous level of poison gas. Luckily, we went to the emergency room before our exposure became fatal. Other families lose their loved ones needlessly,” said Leslie Lienemann. “We urge Congress to take the only effective action to prevent CO injury and death by requiring hotels to install CO detectors. Thank you, Rep. Craig, for protecting families as they travel. No family should suffer death or injury from carbon monoxide for lack of a CO alarm.”
“No other family should have to endure the pain we have experienced by losing Johnny,” said Jill Heathco, the mother of John Heathco. “He died from something that could have been prevented, and our family’s mission going forward is to do everything we can so no other traveler loses their life to carbon monoxide poisoning. This legislation is a critical step in that mission because it will require hotels to do the bare minimum to protect their guests and staff from this deadly gas by installing CO detectors. We appreciate that Representative Craig and Representative Levin have introduced this bill, and we urge all members of Congress to support it because it’s needed, it’s commonsense, and it will save lives.”
You can read the full text of theStay Safe Acthere.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)
WASHINGTON, DC –Today, as part of her continued efforts to fight corruption and reform Washington, U.S. Representative Angie Craig reintroduced herNO STOCK Resolution.Rep. Craig’s legislation would require every sitting member of the U.S. House of Representatives to immediately sell their individual stocks and refrain from future stock ownership while in office. Rep. Craig first introduced this legislation in 2022.
“Lawmakers should be focused on serving their constituents, not their own self-interests,” said Rep. Craig. “There’s no denying that just by nature of their jobs, Members of Congress have access to information that everyday Americans do not. That’s why I’m proud to be reintroducing this common-sense legislation to prevent Members of Congress from playing the stock market and profiting from their positions while they’re in office.”
Since she came to Congress, Rep. Craig has led the charge to fight corruption and restore integrity to Washington, DC.
This week, Rep. Craig joined her colleagues in introducing the End Corruption Nowlegislative agenda,which aims to confront political corruption and clean up government by introducing six bills that will put power back in the hands of the American people. These bills will prevent the President, Executive Branch officials, and Members of Congress from personally benefiting from their offices.
As part of theEnd Corruption Nowagenda, Rep. Craig reintroduced her Restoring Integrity to Democracy Resolutionto ban Members of the House from serving on corporate boards while also serving in office.
Earlier this Congress, she reintroduced her Halt Unchecked Member Benefits with Lobbying Elimination (HUMBLE) Act— a broader package of reforms that would ban Members of Congress from owning or trading individual stocks, prohibit the use of taxpayer funds for first-class airline tickets, prevent Members from serving on corporate boards while they are in Congress, eliminate access to Members-only perks for former Members and eliminate automatic pay raises for Members of Congress.
In January of 2024, Rep. Craig led a bipartisan coalitionof 26 Members pushing Speaker Johnson and House leaders to bring a Congressional stock trading ban to a vote. Then, again in July of last year, ahead of the Senate markup of the legislation to ban Congressional stock trading, she led her colleaguesin urging Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Schumer and Congressional leaders to bring the bill to the House Floor for a vote.
You can read Rep. Craig’sNO STOCK Resolution here.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ22: Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme
GOPC PPP(as at end-May 2025) Patients participating in the GOPC PPP are currently required to pay the HA’s GOPC fee for each consultation (i.e. $50). Each participating patient will receive up to 10 subsidised consultations per year, including treatments for both chronic and episodic illnesses. Upon private doctor’s referral, they can also receive X-ray examinations provided by the HA, or specified laboratory tests and electrocardiography at the HA’s designated private laboratories. When the HA’s new fees (including the GOPC and Family Medicine Specialist Clinic (FMSC) services, will be unify under the name of Family Medicine Outpatient (FMOP) Services, at $150 per consultation and $5 per drug item per four-week period) come into effect on January 1, 2026, the new fees will also be applicable to GOPC PPP patients. The table below lists the consultation subsidy and quarterly drug subsidy received by each patient participating in the GOPC PPP in the past two years:
(Per subsidised consultation)(Per quarter)Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme (CDCC Pilot Scheme)
The Government launched the CDCC Pilot Scheme in November 2023, providing subsidised DM and HT screening services in the private healthcare sector to Hong Kong residents aged 45 or above with no known medical history of DM or HT, so as to achieve the chronic disease management objectives of “early prevention, early identification and early treatment”.
Co-payment Fee(One-off subsidy) $120 or less (One-off)(Per subsidised consultation)Government recommendation: $150 (Per subsidised consultation)(Per quarter)
Co-payment level???(Note 4)Note 5: Percentages may not add up to 100 per cent due to rounding. Note 6: Three FDs set co-payment fee at $0. Note 7: 370 FDs set co-payment fee at $150. Note 8: The highest co-payment fee is $800.
The Government will strengthen the dual-track, complementary and collaborative model of public and private primary healthcare by providing chronic disease screening and management through private sector FDs and the district health network to the public on a co-payment basis. At the same time, the Government will reposition the HA’s GOPCs to provide comprehensive primary healthcare services specifically for the underprivileged group. To underscore the direction of primary healthcare development, the HA will unify its GOPC and FMSC services under the new name of FMOP Services within this year. The Government will also adopt a primary healthcare service model to gradually integrate suitable patients under the GOPC PPP into the CDCC Pilot Scheme for continued care.Issued at HKT 16:15
SINGAPORE – More than 20,000 malicious IP addresses or domains linked to information stealers have been taken down in an INTERPOL-coordinated operation against cybercriminal infrastructure.
During Operation Secure (January – April 2025) law enforcement agencies from 26 countries worked to locate servers, map physical networks and execute targeted takedowns.
Ahead of the operation, INTERPOL cooperated with private-sector partners Group-IB, Kaspersky and Trend Micro to produce Cyber Activity Reports, sharing critical intelligence with cyber teams across Asia. These coordinated efforts resulted in the takedown of 79 per cent of identified suspicious IP addresses.
Participating countries reported the seizure of 41 servers and over 100 GB of data, as well as the arrest of 32 suspects linked to illegal cyber activities.
What are infostealers?
Infostealer malware is a primary tool for gaining unauthorized access to organizational networks. This type of malicious software extracts sensitive data from infected devices, often referred to as bots. The stolen information typically includes browser credentials, passwords, cookies, credit card details and cryptocurrency wallet data.
Additionally, logs harvested by infostealers are increasingly traded on the cybercriminal underground and are frequently used as a gateway for further attacks. These logs often enable initial access for ransomware deployments, data breaches, and cyber-enabled fraud schemes such as Business Email Compromise (BEC).
Following the operation, authorities notified over 216,000 victims and potential victims so they could take immediate action – such as changing passwords, freezing accounts, or removing unauthorized access.
Operational highlights
Vietnamese police arrested 18 suspects, seizing devices from their homes and workplaces. The group’s leader was found with over VND 300 million (USD 11,500) in cash, SIM cards and business registration documents, pointing to a scheme to open and sell corporate accounts.
As part of their respective enforcement efforts under Operation Secure, house raids were carried out by authorities in Sri Lanka and Nauru. These actions led to the arrest of 14 individuals – 12 in Sri Lanka and two in Nauru – as well as the identification of 40 victims.
The Hong Kong Police analysed over 1,700 pieces of intelligence provided by INTERPOL and identified 117 command-and-control servers hosted across 89 internet service providers. These servers were used by cybercriminals as central hubs to launch and manage malicious campaigns, including phishing, online fraud and social media scams.
Neal Jetton, INTERPOL’s Director of Cybercrime, said:
“INTERPOL continues to support practical, collaborative action against global cyber threats. Operation Secure has once again shown the power of intelligence sharing in disrupting malicious infrastructure and preventing large-scale harm to both individuals and businesses.”
Notes to editors
Operation Secure is a regional initiative organized under the Asia and South Pacific Joint Operations Against Cybercrime (ASPJOC) Project.
Participating countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Fiji, Hong Kong (China), India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Korea (Rep of), Laos, Macau (China), Malaysia, Maldives, Nauru, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam.
Two long-running television current affairs programs are coming to an end at the same time, driving home the fact that no matter what the format, they have a shelf life.
The Project on Channel 10 will end this month after 16 years, and after 18 years on the ABC, Q+A will not return from its current hiatus.
Each was innovative in very different ways.
Q+A was designed specifically to generate public participation. Its format of five panellists, a host and a studio audience of up to 1,000 was a daring experiment, because the audience was invited to ask questions that were not vetted in advance.
This live-to-air approach gave it an edgy atmosphere not often achieved on television. From time to time, the edginess was real.
In 2022, an audience member made a statement supporting Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and repeated Russian propaganda to the effect that Ukraine’s Azov battalion was a Nazi group that had killed an estimated 13,000 people in the Donbas region.
After a brief discussion of these allegations, the host Stan Grant asked the man to leave, saying other audience members had been talking about family members who were dying in the war, and he could not countenance the advocating of violence.
In 2017 the Sudanese-Australian writer Yassmin Abdel-Magied was involved in a fiery exchange with Senator Jacqui Lambie over sharia law.
They had been asked by an audience member if it was time to define new rules surrounding migration to avoid community conflict, to which Lambie replied: “Anyone that supports sharia law should be deported.”
Abdel-Magied questioned if Lambie even knew what that meant, before getting into a heated defence of feminism and Islam.
In 2024, an audience member listening to politicians on the panel debate family violence could not contain his frustration, calling out:
How dare you go into politics, in an environment like this, when one woman is murdered every four days, and all you […] can do is immediately talk about politics? That is just disgraceful.
His outburst went viral.
He had put his finger on what was an increasing problem with the program. It became hostage to fixed political positions among those of its panellists drawn from party politics.
As a result, it became predictable, and although the surprise element supplied by audience participation remained a strength, the panellists’ responses increasingly became echoes of their parties’ policies.
While the objective no doubt was to achieve a range of perspectives, it began to look like stage-managed political controversy.
This is not to criticise the established presenters – Tony Jones, who fronted the program for 11 years, Stan Grant and most recently Patricia Karvelas, all gifted journalists who adroitly managed the time bombs occasionally set off in their midst.
Unfortunately, especially for Grant, the program was a lightning rod for attacks on the ABC by The Australian newspaper. ABC management’s abandonment of him, after a particularly vicious attack in 2023 over his commentary during coverage of the king’s coronation, was disgraceful.
Resigning from the program, Grant said: “Since the king’s coronation, I have seen people in the media lie and distort my words. They have tried to depict me as hate filled. They have accused me of maligning Australia. Nothing could be further from the truth.”
The ABC is promising to continue with audience-participation programming along the lines of Your Say, a kind of online questionnaire which the ABC says was successfully tried during the 2025 federal election.
How such a format would translate to television is not clear.
Meanwhile at Ten, there is promise of a new current affairs program, but details are scant.
The Project will be a hard act to follow. It promised “news done differently” – and it delivered. News stories were given context and a touch of humanity by a combination of humour, accidents, slips of the tongue and the intellectual firepower of Waleed Aly.
Aly is a Sunni Muslim, and his “ISIL is weak” speech in 2015 spoke directly and passionately to the fears of the public at the peak of one of the many panics over terrorism.
Inevitably, much of the attention in the wake of the announced closure has been on the celebrated gaffes of long-time presenter Carrie Bickmore, a little rich to be reproduced in a sober article such as this, but findable here.
It may not be an auspicious time for launching a new current affairs program at Ten. Its ultimate parent company, Paramount, in the United States, is in the process of negotiating a settlement with US President Donald Trump over a trumped-up court case in which the president is suing the company for US$20 billion (A$30.7 billion).
He says an interview done by another Paramount company, CBS News, with the Democrats’ former presidential nominee Kamala Harris during the election campaign was “deceptively edited”.
This is said to have no prospect of succeeding in court, but Paramount wishes to merge with Skydance Media and fears the Trump administration would block it if the company doesn’t come across. The Wall Street Journal is reporting it is proposing to settle for $15 million.
Senior editorial staff at CBS have already resigned in protest at Paramount’s cowardice, so what price editorial independence at Ten?
Denis Muller 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.
In Beni, North Kivu Province, MONUSCO celebrated World Environment Day on Thursday, June 5, by organizing an awareness campaign and planting trees at a local school. “It’s a very important day” said Adam Obatoki Salami, acting head of the UN mission’s sub-office.
Celebrated every year on June 5 since 1973, World Environment Day is the largest global platform for environmental public awareness, observed by millions of people around the world.
According to Adam Obatoki Salami, this year’s celebration was an opportunity to raise awareness about the harmful impact and dangers of plastic materials that pollute the environment. The theme chosen for this year is: “Beat Plastic Pollution.”.
“It’s a call for everyone to take responsibility so that we can collectively protect our environment and fight against the dangers of plastic pollution. Our message to the people of Beni is, first, that MONUSCO is committed to combating plastic pollution, working toward a better environment, and raising awareness so people consider environmental issues in their daily lives. We’ve planned several awareness activities throughout the city for this day.” noted Adam Obatoki.
Among these activities were tree planting events at MONUSCO’s Mavivi base and at Matembo Primary School, along with public awareness meetings on environmental protection.
Moïse Adirodu, Head of Administration and Finance at the environmental coordination office in Beni, believes MONUSCO is fulfilling its role in full cooperation with local authorities:
“MONUSCO plays an active role in environmental management. It implements waste management strategies and makes efforts to reduce its carbon footprint in its decision-making processes, in line with the objectives of the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit. Through its actions in the city of Beni, MONUSCO has become a key partner for our environmental coordination. I’d like to recall that when the mayor of Beni launched the community cleanup initiatives—commonly known as Salongo—MONUSCO was leading from the front. We truly appreciate this kind of partnership” he said.
According to the United Nations, more than 400 million tons of plastic are produced every year, half of which is designed for single use. Less than 10% of this plastic is recycled. An estimated 11 million tons of plastic end up in lakes, rivers, and oceans annually—and Beni’s rivers are no exception.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mission de l’Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO).
About twenty staff members from the military and civil judicial administration of Beni and Butembo, as well as Congolese police officers, attended two simultaneous training sessions from May 26 to June 5, 2025, at MONUSCO’s headquarters in Beni. The first focused on ballistic expertise applied to criminal trials, while the second centered on cybercrime and digital investigation techniques.
Over the ten days, the trainees—including public prosecutors, judicial police officers, and police agents—followed a comprehensive training program combining theoretical presentations, practical workshops, case studies, and experience sharing. The sessions were led by experts in ballistics and judicial investigation from MONUSCO’s Justice Support Section.
According to the participants, the training helped deepen their technical and legal skills in response to firearm-related crime. Among them was Commissioner Dieumerci Lomoyo Bongwalo of the Congolese National Police, who said he learned many important concepts related to criminality.
He praised the quality of the training, stating that it would enhance his professional skills and help the Congolese justice system better respond to challenges, particularly those arising from the development of new technologies.
“We learned a lot about techniques, methods, etc. We explored the different types of ballistics: internal ballistics, external ballistics, and terminal ballistics. All of this was new to us. We also learned how things work with firearms and different types of ammunition. This added real value to our profession. From now on, we’ll be able to conduct ballistic investigations and write reports for the appropriate authorities. We’re going to improve the way we work because we’ve gained new knowledge” he stated.
Like the other participants, Commissioner Dieumerci Lomoyo Bongwalo expressed hope that MONUSCO would organize more training sessions of this kind to help judicial administration agents deepen their understanding of criminality and investigative procedures.
“This will really help us. These are lifelong skills. We won’t lose them. It’s a real asset” the officer emphasized.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mission de l’Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO).
The Taiwan Government has extended its heartfelt gratitude to the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard for their prompt and professional response in rescuing crew members from the Singapore-flagged merchant vessel MV Wan Hai 503, which caught fire off the Kerala coast.
In a statement posted on X, the Taiwan representative office in India said, “The Taiwan Government is grateful for the swift rescue operation provided by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard to Wan Hai 503. We wish the missing crew members return safe and the injured recover soon.”
The Indian Coast Guard continues to lead firefighting efforts on the container ship, which suffered an onboard explosion and blaze while en route from Colombo to Nhava Sheva. As of 5:00 PM on Tuesday, visible flames had reduced, though thick smoke continued to emanate from the vessel, according to the Coast Guard.
Out of the 22 crew members aboard, 18 have been rescued, while four remain missing. The rescued crew includes several individuals who sustained injuries in the incident.
The incident occurred approximately 44 nautical miles off the coast of Azhikkal in Kerala. Following the explosion, the crew abandoned the ship due to escalating fire. The merchant vessel was carrying containerised cargo and had an international crew comprising eight Chinese, six Taiwanese, five Myanmarese, and three Indonesian nationals.
The Chinese Embassy in India also expressed appreciation for the timely assistance provided by Indian authorities. Embassy spokesperson Yu Jing wrote on X, “Our gratitude goes to the Indian Navy and the Mumbai Coast Guard for their prompt and professional rescue. We wish further search operations successful and the injured crew members a speedy recovery.”
The Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy continue coordinated efforts to control the fire and locate the missing crew members. Search and rescue operations are ongoing.
India has witnessed an unprecedented scale of infrastructure development over the past decade, driven by the success of a holistic and integrated approach under major national initiatives like PRAGATI, PM GatiShakti, the National Logistics Policy, Bharatmala, Sagarmala, and UDAN, according to an official report released on Wednesday.
The report encapsulates the rapid transformation that has taken place in the country’s transport infrastructure across the highways, railways, maritime and civil aviation sectors of the economy on the back of massive investments made by the Central government in the last 10 years.
The report highlights that PM GatiShakti unified planning across 44 ministries and 36 states/UTs on a GIS-based platform. Launched in 2021, the PM GatiShakti national master plan is a comprehensive initiative to improve multimodal infrastructure connectivity across India’s economic zones. Rs 100 lakh crore is being efficiently utilised through this integrated platform. Anchored on seven key sectors — railways, roads, ports, waterways, airports, mass transport, and logistics infrastructure — it promotes synchronised development across ministries and state governments.
The length of India’s national highways network increased by 60 per cent from 91,287 km to 1,46,204 km during the last decade, with the pace of highway construction accelerating to 34 km/day from 11.6 km/day in 2014. There is an increase of 6.4 times in the Centre’s investment in road infrastructure between 2013-14 and 2024-25. The road transport and highway budget has shot up by 570 per cent from 2014 to 2023-24.
The budget for Indian Railways has increased by more than nine times since 2014. The higher investment is reflected in the introduction of new Vande Bharat semi-high-speed trains covering 24 states/UTs along with 333 districts. A total of 68 Vande Bharat Trains are currently operational in the country, while another 400 world-class Vande Bharat trains are planned to be manufactured.
More than 31,000 km of new tracks have been laid since 2014, and over 45,000 km of tracks have been renewed since 2014. The pace of electrification of the track network has jumped from 5,188 route km between 2004-14 to more than 45,000 route km being electrified in 2014-25. Electrification has enabled annual savings of Rs 2,960 crore for railways (up to February 2025), ensuring greater financial efficiency, the report states.
It further highlights that the country’s port capacity has doubled to 2,762 MMTPA in the last 10 years, with the overall turnaround time for ships improving from 93 to 49 hours. As many as 277 projects have been completed under Sagarmala in the big push to port infrastructure.
The report also lists major projects that have been completed in the ports sector, including the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport. Inaugurated on May 2, 2025, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this Rs 8,800 crore project is India’s first dedicated container transshipment port. Strategically located near international shipping routes, it can host the world’s largest cargo ships. The port significantly reduces India’s reliance on foreign ports and enhances economic activity in Kerala.
The New Dry Dock (NDD) at Cochin Shipyard Limited has been constructed at a cost of Rs 1,800 crore, with a length of 310 meters and a depth of 13 meters. It is capable of handling aircraft carriers of up to 70,000 tons. Besides, an international Ship Repair Facility has been set up in Cochin.
India’s Inland waterways cargo has risen by 710 per cent (from 18 MMT to 146 MMT) in the last 10 years. Approval has also been given for Rs 5,370 crore investment to augment the capacity of National Waterway-1 (Haldia to Varanasi), this major inland navigation initiative enhances cargo movement on the Ganga River, the report points out.
The report also highlights that new routes and new airports have been added to the civil aviation landscape of the country. The number of airports operational in India has gone from 74 in 2014 to 160 in 2025. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the revival and development of unserved and underserved airports at a total cost of Rs 4,500 crore. In addition, the Expenditure Finance Committee also approved an amount of Rs 1,000 crore for the development of 50 more airports, heliports and water aerodromes under the UDAN scheme. This flagship scheme, launched in June 2016 to create affordable, yet economically viable and profitable air travel on regional routes, has been a big success with over 1.51 crore passengers having flown on these regional flights, the report added.
As Rafa Nadal gets used life after tennis, he has let go of his racquets to spend time on the Adriatic waves, steering his Team Rafa into electric powerboat racing’s E1 World Championship in Dubrovnik.
Days after the retired 14-times Roland Garros champion was immortalised at the French Open with a permanent footprint on centre court’s famed red clay, the Spaniard’s racing team tops a tightly contested series heading into the Croatian round, following a dramatic victory last time out in Doha.
Team Rafa currently leads the standings following success in Doha, as the electric boat racing series begins its European leg on June 13-14 along Croatia’s coast.
The tennis great’s boat is piloted by Spanish professional jet ski racer Cristina Lazarrage and Frenchman Tom Chiappe.
The E1 World Championship is the first all-electric raceboat series sanctioned by powerboating’s global governing body, the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), and is designed to accelerate innovation in sustainable marine technology and coastal conservation.
Teams featuring both male and female pilots compete in electric-powered RaceBird boats, racing through urban water circuits in iconic global cities.
Celebrity owners include LeBron James, Tom Brady, Virat Kohli and Didier Drogba as well as 22-times Grand Slam champion Nadal.
The championship continues to Lake Maggiore and Monaco before concluding in Miami, where “Champions of the Water” will be crowned on Nov. 8.
Surplus money from bus lane and LEZ fines is to be used to fund several city centre projects including a major one to green the area.
Aberdeen City Council’s Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee agreed the moves at a meeting today.
Aberdeen City Council co-leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “We are working to make the city centre an even better place for people to spend time. Improvements to street lighting, and to the city centre environment help achieve that.”
Net Zero, Environment, and Transport vice-convenor Miranda Radley added: “The budget allocated today will allow the Council, working with partners, to brighten the city centre, improve pedestrian access and encourage more people to enjoy the space we have in the city centre.”
The Council’s Finance and Resources Committee approved in March the funding surplus for bus lane enforcement of £2,635,268 and LEZ £669,000 and that the projects would be agreed by the Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee.
The report to committee said discussions have been ongoing with partners such as Aberdeen Inspired to identify impactful projects that could be progressed and be aligned to the delivery of the wider City Centre Masterplan, using the bus lane enforcement money. These include:
£200,000 for lighting improvements;
£300,000 for Guild Street improvement which to enhance the pedestrian environment around Guild Street in particular, and to improve journeys and wayfinding between Union Square and Union Street. This could also include exploring additional bus stops on Guild Street.
In March 2025, Council agreed to spend £200,000 to support the re-establishment of a bicycle rental scheme in Aberdeen to be funded from the LEZ surplus. Discussions have been ongoing with partners and the Council’s Environmental Manager to consider projects that could be progressed at this time. These include:
Our Union Street Greening/People Project: £61,000. This would be in Union Street West (Union Terrace to Dee Street) with areas of new planting (the plants would be selected on the basis of their air quality and climate change benefits) and seating. The project would involve working with H.M.P. Grampian and the Our Union Street “volunteer army” to construct, plant and maintain the structures;
City Centre Greening, Growing and Buzzing: £60,000. This project would include a range of initiatives such as: reinstating urban bees into the city centre, additional floral enhancement via provision of year-round hanging baskets and investigation of additional green bus shelters. This project would be undertaken in partnership between Aberdeen Inspired.
An additional £71,000 was also allocated by Committee today under the ‘Greening the City Centre’ theme.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “We are grateful to Aberdeen City Council for its continued engagement and support on ways to improve the city centre to attract more footfall and help boost the economy.
“We look forward to working with the council on any and all initiatives to help regenerate the heart of the Granite City.”
Bob Keillor, of Our Union Street, said: “This is excellent news and we look forward to working with Aberdeen City Council colleagues to bring much needed colour and greenery to a section of Union Street. Our army of volunteers “The Street Union” will be delighted too as they have seen the difference that their cleanup efforts are making every week.”
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
LOS ANGELES, June 11 (Xinhua) — Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced on Tuesday evening that the second-largest U.S. city will impose a curfew in the city center from 8 p.m. local time (03:00 GMT Wednesday) to 6 a.m. Wednesday (13:00 GMT).
The curfew, as K. Bass noted, will cover an area of about 1 square mile.
Local authorities imposed a limited curfew in response to looting and vandalism that occurred in the city centre on Monday evening following largely peaceful daytime protests, she said.
The curfew does not apply to area residents, homeless people, members of the media, and public safety or emergency personnel, according to a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department.
Bass announced the curfew as protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids entered their fifth day. Local media reported that demonstrators had taken to the 101 Freeway, blocking traffic in both directions, shortly before the curfew was ordered. –0–
ECB wage tracker updated with wage agreements signed up to mid-May 2025
Forward-looking information confirms negotiated wage growth set to ease over course of year, consistent with data published following April 2025 Governing Council meeting
The European Central Bank (ECB) wage tracker, which only covers active collective bargaining agreements, indicates negotiated wage growth with smoothed one-off payments of 4.7% in 2024 (based on an average coverage of 48.8% of employees in participating countries), and 3.1% in 2025 (based on an average coverage of 47.4%). The ECB wage tracker with unsmoothed one-off payments indicates an average negotiated wage growth level of 4.9% in 2024 and 2.9% in 2025. The downward trend of the forward-looking wage tracker for the remainder of 2025 partly reflects the mechanical impact of large one-off payments (that were paid in 2024 but drop out in 2025) and the front-loaded nature of wage increases in some sectors in 2024. The wage tracker excluding one-off payments indicates growth of 4.2% in 2024 and 3.8% in 2025. See Chart 1 and Table 1 for further details.
The ECB wage tracker may be subject to revisions, and the forward-looking part should not be interpreted as a forecast, as it only captures the information that is available for the active collective bargaining agreements. It should also be noted that the ECB wage tracker does not track the indicator of negotiated wage growth precisely and therefore deviations are to be expected over time.
For a more comprehensive assessment of wage developments in the euro area, please refer to the June 2025 Eurosystem staff macroeconomic projections for the euro area, which indicate a yearly growth rate of compensation per employee in the euro area of 3.2% in 2025, with a quarterly profile of 3.5% in the first quarter, 3.4% in the second quarter, 3.1% in Q3 in the third quarter, and of 2.8% in the fourth quarter.
The ECB publishes four wage tracker indicators for the aggregate of seven participating euro area countries on the ECB Data Portal.
Chart 1
ECB wage tracker: forward-looking signals for negotiated wages and revisions to previous data release
Sources: ECB calculations based on data on collective bargaining agreements signed up to mid-May 2025 provided by the Deutsche Bundesbank, the Bank of Greece, the Banco de España, the Banque de France, the Banca d’Italia, the Oesterreichische Nationalbank, the Dutch employers’ association AWVN and Eurostat. The indicator of negotiated wage growth is calculated using data from the Deutsche Bundesbank, the Ministerio de Empleo y Seguridad Social, the Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, Statistik Austria, the Istituto Nazionale di Statistica (ISTAT), the Banque de France and Haver Analytics.
Notes: Dashed lines denote forward-looking information up to December 2025.
What do the four different indicators show?
The headline ECB wage tracker shows negotiated wage growth that includes collectively agreed one-off payments, such as those related to inflation compensation, bonuses or back-dated pay, which are smoothed over 12 months.
The ECB wage tracker excluding one-off payments reflects the extent of structural (or permanent) negotiated wage increases.
The ECB wage tracker with unsmoothed one-off payments is constructed using a methodology that, both in terms of data sources and statistical methodology, is conceptually similar to, but not necessarily the same as, that used for the ECB indicator of negotiated wage growth.
The share of employees covered is the percentage of employees across the participating countries that are directly covered by ECB wage tracker data. This indicator provides information on the representativeness of the underlying (negotiated) wage growth signals obtained from the set of wage tracker indicators for the aggregate of the participating countries. Employee coverage differs across countries and within each country over time (further details are provided in Table 2).
Table 1
ECB wage tracker summary
(percentages)
ECB wage tracker
Coverage
Headline indicator
Excluding one-off payments
With unsmoothed one-off payments
Share of employees (%)
2013-2023
2.0
1.9
2.0
49.1
2024
4.7
4.2
4.9
48.8
2025
3.1
3.8
2.9
47.4
2024 Q1
4.1
3.7
5.2
49.0
2024 Q2
4.4
3.9
3.4
49.0
2024 Q3
5.1
4.5
6.8
48.7
2024 Q4
5.4
4.7
4.3
48.4
2025 Q1
4.6
4.5
2.5
49.6
Apr-25
4.1
4.5
4.2
49.6
May-25
3.8
4.2
4.0
49.5
Jun-25
3.9
4.1
3.9
47.1
Jul-25
2.7
3.7
1.0
46.5
Aug-25
2.1
3.5
2.1
46.4
Sep-25
2.0
3.4
3.1
46.2
2025 Q4
1.7
3.1
2.9
44.7
Sources: ECB calculations based on data provided by the Deutsche Bundesbank, the Bank of Greece, the Banco de España, the Banque de France, the Banca d’Italia, the Oesterreichische Nationalbank, the Dutch employers’ association AWVN and Eurostat.
Notes: ECB wage tracker indicators reflect yearly growth in negotiated wages as a percentage. Coverage is defined as the share of employees in the participating countries as a percentage. Rows with values in italics and bold refer to the forward-looking aspect of the respective indicators.
Table 2
Employee coverage by country
(share of employees in each country, percentages)
Germany
Greece
Spain
France
Italy
Netherlands
Austria
Euro area
2013-2023
41.7
10.0
61.1
51.8
48.7
64.2
56.7
49.1
2024 Q1
43.4
16.0
57.1
48.5
48.2
62.7
78.6
49.0
2024 Q2
43.7
15.9
56.5
48.5
48.1
62.5
77.8
49.0
2024 Q3
43.9
15.8
54.9
48.4
47.9
62.2
77.8
48.7
2024 Q4
43.5
15.7
53.7
48.5
47.8
62.0
77.8
48.4
2025 Q1
44.0
19.3
53.4
53.7
47.8
61.3
76.2
49.6
2025 Q2
44.8
16.1
52.4
53.3
43.5
60.5
73.1
48.7
2025 Q3
43.9
8.6
51.1
52.9
35.6
58.3
71.4
46.4
2025 Q4
43.2
8.2
50.7
48.5
35.5
54.7
66.5
44.7
Sources: ECB, the Deutsche Bundesbank, the Bank of Greece, the Banco de España, the Banque de France, the Banca d’Italia, the Oesterreichische Nationalbank, the Dutch employers’ association AWVN and Eurostat. Notes: The euro area aggregate comprises the seven participating wage tracker countries. The coverage shows the relative strength of wage signals for each country and the euro area. The historical average is calculated from January 2016 to December 2023 for Greece and from February 2020 to December 2023 for Austria. For the other countries, it is calculated from January 2013 to December 2023. Rows with values in italics and bold refer to the forward-looking aspect of the respective indicators.
For media queries, please contactBenoit Deeg, tel.: +491721683704
Notes:
The ECB wage tracker is the result of a Eurosystem partnership currently comprising the European Central Bank and seven euro area national central banks: the Deutsche Bundesbank, the Bank of Greece, the Banco de España, the Banque de France, the Banca d’Italia, De Nederlandsche Bank, and the Oesterreichische Nationalbank. It is based on a highly granular database of active collective bargaining agreements for Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Austria. The wage tracker is one of many sources that can help assess wage pressures in the euro area.
The wage tracker methodology uses a double aggregation approach. First, it aggregates the highly granular information on collective bargaining agreements and constructs the wage tracker indicators at the country-level using information on the employee coverage for each country. Second, it uses this information to construct the aggregate for the euro area using time-varying weights based on the total compensation of employees among the participating countries.
Given that the forward-looking nature of the tracker is dependent on the underlying collective bargaining agreements database, the wage signals should always be considered conditional on the information available at any given point in time and thus subject to revisions.
The results in this press release do not represent the views of the ECB’s decision-making bodies.
Euro’s share across various indicators of international currency use largely unchanged at around 19%
Emerging challenges include initiatives promoting global use of cryptocurrencies
Upholding rule of law essential for maintaining, and potentially increasing, global trust in the euro
The international role of the euro remained broadly stable in 2024 and the euro held on to its position as the second most important currency globally. The share of the euro across various indicators of international currency use has been largely unchanged since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, standing at around 19%. These are some of the main findings in the annual review of the international role of the euro, published today by the European Central Bank (ECB).
This stability was noteworthy in a year that saw the ECB begin lowering policy rates, following further declines in inflation and amid continuing geopolitical tensions. The share of the euro in global official holdings of foreign exchange reserves held steady at 20% in 2024, broadly unchanged since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The global appeal of the euro is underpinned by sound policies in the euro area and strong, rules-based institutions. “Upholding the rule of law remains essential for maintaining, and potentially increasing, global trust in the euro,” said President Christine Lagarde.
Although current data indicate no significant changes in the international use of the euro, it is important to remain vigilant. Central banks continued to accumulate gold at a record pace and some countries have been actively exploring alternatives to traditional cross-border payment systems. There is evidence of a link between geopolitical alignments and shifts in invoicing currency patterns in global trade, particularly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. New challenges to the international role of the euro have also emerged, including initiatives that promote the global use of cryptocurrencies.
This changing landscape underscores the importance for European policymakers of creating the necessary conditions to strengthen the global role of the euro, such as advancing the Savings and Investment Union to fully leverage European financial markets. Eliminating barriers within the European Union would enhance the depth and liquidity of euro funding markets. Moreover, accelerating progress on a digital euro is key for supporting a competitive and resilient European payment system. “The digital euro would contribute to Europe’s economic security and strengthen the international role of the euro,” said Executive Board member Piero Cipollone. The global appeal of the euro is also supported by the ECB’s initiatives to offer solutions for settling wholesale financial transactions recorded on distributed ledger technology platforms in central bank money and to improve cross-border payments between the euro area and other jurisdictions. In addition, the ECB’s euro liquidity lines to non-euro area central banks foster the use of the euro in global financial and commercial transactions.
For media queries, please contactAlessandro Speciale, tel.: +49 172 1670791.
Chart 1
The international role of the euro remained broadly stable in 2024
Composite index of the international role of the euro
(percentages; at current and constant Q4 2024 exchange rates; four-quarter moving averages)
Sources: Bank for International Settlements, International Monetary Fund (IMF), CLS Bank International, Ilzetzki, Reinhart and Rogoff (2019) and ECB staff calculations. Notes: Arithmetic average of the shares of the euro at constant (current) exchange rates in stocks of international bonds, loans by banks outside the euro area to borrowers outside the euro area, deposits with banks outside the euro area from creditors outside the euro area, global foreign exchange settlements, global foreign exchange reserves and global exchange rate regimes. Estimates of the share of the euro in global exchange rate regimes from 2010 onwards are based on IMF data; pre-2010 shares are estimated using data from Ilzetzki, E., Reinhart, C. and Rogoff, K., “Exchange Arrangements Entering the Twenty-First Century: Which Anchor will Hold?”, The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Vol. 134, Issue 2, May 2019, pp. 599-646. The latest observation is for the fourth quarter of 2024.
At Samsung Chennai plant, the workday recently took on a cheerful new twist. Amidst buzzing production lines and changing shifts, laughter and cheers echoed around the newly inaugurated Multi-Sports Arena. The occasion?
The much-anticipated Gully Premier League—a cricket tournament designed not just to bring sports into the factory but to spark joy, nostalgia, and togetherness among workers.
More than just a game, this initiative is part of Samsung’s larger mission to build a Great Place to Work, celebrating the spirit of collaboration and play across all shifts and teams.
Cricket, but Make it Gully Style
Forget stadiums and white kits. Here, cricket is played the gully way—with deft flicks and swinging deliveries, hand-made scoreboards, enthusiastic commentary from colleagues, and rules that changed with the wind and umpire’s sense of humour. The format was simple and inclusive:
Each shift could nominate one team of six players
Larger departments could nominate more teams
All shift employees were encouraged to participate
The response was electrifying—48 teams, 72 league matches, and 288 employees who left their work shoes at the door and stepped into sneakers and spirit.
“I haven’t played cricket since school. But the moment I picked up the bat, it all came rushing back,” said Karthik from Washing Machine Line. “The crowd, the cheers, the chaos—it felt like home.”
Making Room for Everyone
What made this league even more special was the focus on the sense of togetherness. Alongside the main matches, there are dedicated categories being planned for all lines—ensuring everyone felt welcomed on the pitch.
Gopi, from Refrigerator Line, said, “It wasn’t just about who hit the most runs or took the best catch. It was about seeing a usually quiet colleague take on captaincy, or someone from admin stepping in as a last-minute substitute and bowling the match-winning over.”
New Grounds, New Bonds
The Gully League also marked the inauguration of the new Multi-Sports Arena, a vibrant space that now stands as a symbol of wellness, fun, and shared purpose. From laughter-filled team huddles to last-ball thrillers, the Arena quickly became the new favourite hangout for employees.
“For me, the best part was the crowd. People from all shifts came to watch, cheer, and even bring snacks,” said Sivabalan from the Smart Facility Group (SFG). One team even had cheer slogans printed for fun. We all forgot the Chennai heat and just had a blast.”
Bringing Samsung Values to Life
Events like the Gully Premier League aren’t just recreational—they reflect Samsung’s core values: People, Excellence, Change, Integrity, and Co-Prosperity. They encourage employees to lead with energy, grow through collaboration, and build bonds beyond the workstation.
“It’s easy to say we’re one team. But on the field, you feel it,” said Srinath from R&D team. “We high-fived, strategized, laughed—and went back to work feeling lighter.”
And the Game Goes On
With 24 teams moving into the knockout stage, anticipation is building up for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the much-awaited grand finale. And while one team will eventually lift the trophy, everyone walks away with memories, smiles, and a stronger sense of belonging.
So, here’s to the gully spirit that brings us closer—and many more innings of fun, teamwork, and friendly banter at Samsung!
Inspectors visited the school in April and, in their report published recently, describe Perry Hall as a ‘happy and welcoming school’ where ‘pupils feel safe and flourish in its supportive atmosphere.’
Staff ‘take the time to get to know pupils and their families well’, meaning that, from Early Years onwards, ‘pupils thrive in this nurturing environment’.
Staff have ‘high expectations of pupils’ behaviour and academic success’. Pupils ‘achieve well across a range of subjects’ and are ‘respectful to staff, visitors and each other’.
The school has developed a ‘broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum’ which pupils learn well while an effective reading programme with ‘high quality phonics teaching’ means ‘pupils quickly develop the skills that they need to become fluent, confident and independent readers’.
Children follow clear routines, ‘listen carefully to one another and treat each other with kindness’, which gives them ‘an exceptionally strong foundation to behave positively and collaborate together’. As a result, children are ‘very well prepared’ for the next stage of their education.
Staff identify the needs of pupils with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) effectively, and pupils are able to successfully progress through the curriculum and to ‘achieve well because staff make useful adaptations to the curriculum where necessary’.
The provision for pupils’ personal development is ‘effective and underpinned by the school’s values’, while a wide range of before and after school clubs ‘cater for many interests’. Pupils also benefit from a range of educational visits to enhance their learning and older pupils are ‘keen to take on roles of responsibility that allow them to make a positive contribution to their school’.
Leaders ‘understand the strengths and weaknesses of the school’ and are ambitious in developing their school and supporting pupils in achieving well. The school prioritises staff well being and fosters a supportive environment, which staff members appreciate. Meanwhile, governors provide ‘appropriate challenge and support for school leaders’.
Inspectors concluded that the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management at Perry Hall Primary is Good, and that its Early Years provision is Outstanding.
Andrew Brocklehurst, Chair of Trustees at Perry Hall Multi-Academy Trust, said: “I am absolutely delighted to celebrate the fantastic achievement of Perry Hall Primary School. The dedication, talent, and teamwork shown by our incredible staff and wonderful children make us all extremely proud.
“I know everyone will join me in sending heartfelt congratulations to the entire school community – staff, children, and parents alike. Thank you to each and every one of you for your part in this success. Together, we are creating something truly special and making a lasting, positive difference in our community.”
Headteacher Lee Fellows added: “This wonderful outcome is a true reflection of the passion, perseverance, and teamwork of everyone involved. Every part of our school community – children, staff, parents, governors, and the Trust – has played a vital role in reaching this milestone.
“The commitment to Perry Hall shines through in every aspect of this achievement, and I want to extend a sincere thank you to all who have contributed. It’s a proud moment for us all and a clear sign of what we can accomplish together.”
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, added: “I would like to congratulate Lee Fellows and all the team at Perry Hall on this excellent inspection report, which demonstrates high quality provision across the school and particularly within Early Years, which inspectors found to be Outstanding.”
Data shows that 97% of schools in Wolverhampton are currently rated either Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, the highest ever.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (3rd District of Ohio)
WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) co-led a House Resolution with Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) calling for urgent, coordinated federal action to address the nation’s worsening housing crisis by preserving and expanding access to affordable housing.
The Resolution outlines the urgent need to address the housing crisis nationally and calls for a comprehensive approach to addressing it, including: expanding and preserving affordable housing units; strengthening Federal rental assistance programs; promoting equitable zoning and infrastructure alignment; and partnering across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to protect tenants and spur innovation.
“Housing is a human right, full stop,” said Congresswoman Joyce Beatty. “The nation’s ongoing affordable housing shortage hits low-income and minority communities the hardest, making it virtually impossible for millions of families to stay healthy, pursue higher education, maintain steady employment, or achieve financial stability. This resolution recognizes the urgency of addressing the housing crisis in America and affirms a commitment to advancing federal legislation to support rental assistance and housing development so that every American family has a safe, affordable place to call home.”
“In Northeast Ohio and across America, our housing crisis is pricing families out of stability. It’s harder than ever to find a place to live, pay the bills, keep our families safe and secure, and build wealth. Housing isn’t just having a roof over your head— it is the foundation for safety, security, and opportunity. This crisis is hitting families in every corner of the country, and it’s widening the wealth and racial gaps we’ve been trying to close for generations. I am proud to introduce this resolution with Congresswoman Beatty because it is time that we put the House of Representatives on record on this important issue. The housing crisis is impacting every congressional district, and we need a coordinated federal response,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.
The United States faces an estimated shortage of over 7 million affordable homes for extremely low-income renters and over 12 million spend more than 50 percent of their income on rent, often sacrificing food, health care, or transportation as a result.
Since 2020, rents have increased by more than 35%, while median incomes have not kept pace, fueling record-high homelessness and housing instability. Black households are substantially less likely to own a home than white households – 44% homeownership rate for Blacks versus 72% for whites – and the Black homeownership rate remains lower than in the year 2000.
Text of the resolution is available HERE.
This resolution is endorsed by: the National Affordable Housing Management Association, the Fair Housing Center for Rights and Research, Northwest Neighborhoods, Providence House, University Settlement, and Loretta’s Helping Hands.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)
NJ 6th District Congressman calls on Trump’s Interior Secretary to disclose staffing plans, lifeguard coverage by June 30
Sandy Hook, New Jersey — With New Jersey’s beach season now in full swing, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) is sounding the alarm over dangerous staffing shortages at Sandy Hook in the Gateway National Recreation Area. In a letter sent today to Trump’s Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Pallone demanded answers on why the National Park Service is failing to hire the lifeguards, maintenance staff, and other essential personnel needed to safely operate the beaches and facilities at Sandy Hook this summer.
“For months, the Department of Interior has been blocking information regarding the consequences of new staffing policies from reaching Congress. This unprecedented situation extends to the staff of National Park Service units, who you have forbidden from communicating with Congressional offices without express permission from DOI headquarters – approval which never arrives. I am gravely concerned about the ramifications of the Trump Administration’s policies on Sandy Hook’s future as a place for safe recreation in a clean, natural environment,” Pallone wrote.
Pallone’s letter cites multiple troubling factors behind the current staffing crisis:
Trump’s January 20 executive order freezing all federal hiring;
Cuts to National Park Service permanent and probationary staff ordered by Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency”;
Deferred resignation offers made to remaining permanent staff.
Worse, the Interior Department has blocked basic information about staffing levels from reaching Congress — preventing oversight of whether the beaches and public facilities at Sandy Hook can be safely visited.
“The government should protect the ability of parks such as Sandy Hook to serve Americans and contribute to the tourism economy, not create potentially dangerous and filthy conditions in the parks by failing to hire the necessary lifeguards and maintenance staff to clean bathrooms during the busiest season of the year. It is shameful to deprive American taxpayers of their right to the services their hard-earned dollars are paying for, in this case, the services provided by the National Park Service that preserves and steward natural resources for families to enjoy,” Pallone continued.
In his letter, Pallone demanded Interior provide a full accounting of current staffing levels, beach openings, lifeguard coverage, and facility maintenance at Sandy Hook no later than June 30 before the Independence Day holiday – and called for immediate action to fill any staffing gaps.
A copy of the full letter is linked here and available below:
Dear Secretary Burgum,
I write to express my urgent concern and to demand answers regarding the historically low staffing at the Sandy Hook Unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area (NRA) at the start of the summer beach season. For months, the Department of Interior (DOI) has been blocking information regarding the consequences of new staffing policies from reaching Congress. This unprecedented situation extends to the staff of National Park Service (NPS) units, who you have forbidden from communicating with Congressional offices without express permission from DOI headquarters – approval which never arrives.
I am gravely concerned about the ramifications of the Trump Administration’s policies on Sandy Hook’s future as a place for safe recreation in a clean, natural environment. These include President Trump’s misguided January 20thExecutive Order freezing all hiring of Federal employees, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency cuts to NPS permanent and probationary staff, and the deferred resignation offers made to permanent staff.[1] From the limited public information available, it’s clear the cumulative impact of these policies have left Gateway NRA with a skeleton crew to run the fourth-most visited NPS unit in the country. If the Trump Administration is so proud of these unlawful and chaotic changes, you should not be so secretive about their outcome.
This vacuum of information has created confusion and concern in our community. My constituents and the two million other Americans that visit Sandy Hook for a respite from the summer heat and from their busy lives deserve to know whether the park is ready to accept visitors for safe recreation.[2] The high levels of visitation that Sandy Hook experiences in the summer months are why the park needs to be fully staffed with year-round and seasonal employees.
Historically, despite warnings not to swim, there have been drowning incidents at Sandy Hook when the beaches are not open and fully staffed with lifeguards. We cannot let this situation repeat itself this summer, though I am concerned your disregard for the vital health and safety roles that NPS staff play may result in tragedy at Sandy Hook.
American families from across New Jersey, New York, and surrounding states flock to Sandy Hook’s beautiful beaches and recreational areas every summer to enjoy fishing, swimming, camping, and biking, among other activities.3 These visitors rely on Sandy Hook for their summer vacations, and their visits generate significant contributions to New Jersey’s economy.[5]
To rectify this outrageous lack of information on whether the Gateway National Recreation Area is prepared for basic operations at Sandy Hook this summer, please provide written responses to the questions below by Monday, June 30, 2025:
1. How many total staff currently work at Gateway NRA compared to this time last year?
2. How many total staff have been assigned to work at the Sandy Hook unit compared to this time last year?
3. How many seasonal employees have been hired at Sandy Hook for the summer season compared to this time last year?
4. How many permanent and seasonal positions are currently unfilled?
5. Which Sandy Hook beaches will be open during the 2025 summer season? What are the dates and hours of each beach’s public access?
6. Which Sandy Hook beaches will have lifeguards this summer? What are the dates and hours that each beach will have a lifeguard? How many total lifeguards will work this year compared to last year?
7. Will there be staff to maintain facilities, including restrooms, at the Sandy Hook unit throughout the summer season?
8. How many staff will be there to collect admission at the entrance to the park compared to this time last year?
For decades, I have proudly advocated to keep the beaches and facilities at the Sandy Hook Unit safe, clean, and accessible for all Americans and ensure it continues to be a place of safe harbor for the wildlife which bring delight to visitors. The National Park Service must hire qualified staff in a timely manner and clearly communicate the Sandy Hook’s ability to host the American public. Instead of working against Congress, I hope we can work together to ensure Sandy Hook, Gateway NRA, and the entire National Park Service continue to thrive for generations to come.
Please contact my office immediately with an update on this important issue and formally reply by the date requested.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) joined 198 of his colleagues in signing a bipartisan letter to Trump’s U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer urging the Department to reverse its decision to shut down Job Corps centers across the country. The letter calls on the Trump administration to preserve this critical program that helps young people build skills and secure stable employment.
“Trump’s economic legacy is already marked by layoffs, chaos, and rising prices. Now he’s pulling the ladder up on the next generation at the very moment our economy needs more skilled workers. That’s why I’ve joined this bipartisan effort to fight back and save Job Corps. I’ll keep working to protect investments that help people get ahead,” Pallone said of the letter.
The bipartisan letter emphasizes that nearly 20,000 young people nationwide rely on Job Corps to build vocational skills in fields like manufacturing, shipbuilding, and business services. With more than 120 centers nationwide, Job Corps provides one of the only targeted workforce development pipelines for Americans aged 16 to 24 who are neither in school nor employed – helping them access apprenticeships, higher education, and careers that fuel the country’s economic growth.
The lawmakers warn that shutting down these centers would undermine both local communities and national workforce needs, particularly as industries seek skilled labor to meet growing demand.
A copy of the letter to Trump’s Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer ishere.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)
16 Million Will Become Uninsured Because of Republican Legislation, Including Refusal to Extend Health Care Tax Credits
House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA), and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) released a statement following a new analysis from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) showing 16 million people will lose coverage from the Republican reconciliation plan, including their failure to extend premium tax credits that Americans use to buy affordable health insurance.
“The Republican health agenda is all about making it harder to get health care,”the leaders said.“Every step of the way, this abomination of a bill creates barriers and mazes designed to demoralize and discourage Americans as they try to get affordable health care. The results of this cruel system are clear: millions will lose coverage, health care costs will go up for all Americans, and tens of thousands will die.
“Everybody will be affected by the disastrous Republican bill. Despite Republican propaganda, Americans need to know that the bill’s thicket of red tape and increased out-of-pocket costs in Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act will fall especially hard on working families, including those with children, caregivers, Americans with disabilities, and those with chronic illnesses. Republicans continue to repeat lies about the devastating harms of this bill, because without those lies the only conclusion that can be reached is that this bill is morally bankrupt.
“Republicans must be held responsible for the consequences of not extending health care tax credits that middle class Americans use to buy health insurance on their own. Their bill extends hundreds of tax policies that expire at the end of the year. The omission of this policy will cause millions of Americans to lose their health insurance and will raise premiums on 24 million Americans. The Republican failure to stop this premium spike is a policy choice, and it needs to be recognized as such. Between this choice and other harmful policies in their legislation, Republicans are effectively dismantling the Affordable Care Act. Americans do not want to go back to the days where health care was reserved for the healthy and the wealthy, where insurance companies had free rein to discriminate against sicker or older Americans.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)
Warns that Republicans’ reconciliation bill, AI loopholes are undermining fight against scams
WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, warned today that New Jersey residents remain vulnerable to scams perpetrated through robocalls and robotexts despite progress in passing tough federal protections against robocalls.
At an Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing, Pallone called for stronger laws to combat the evolving tactics scammers now use, including artificial intelligence (AI) and spoofing. He also slammed Republican efforts to defund key consumer protection agencies that enforce robocall and robotext laws.
“New Jerseyans know all too well how relentless and dangerous these robocalls and robotexts have become,” Pallone said. “They target seniors, small businesses, and families across our state – trying to steal personal information and hard-earned money. I’ve led this fight in Congress for years, and it’s clear we need to do more in the face of AI.”
Pallone authored the landmark TRACED Act, signed into law in 2019, which strengthened the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) authority to crack down on illegal robocalls. It also required phone carriers to implement call authentication technology and expanded enforcement tools.
But despite that progress, scammers are adapting fast. Americans received more than 52 billion robocalls in 2024—nearly 200 calls per adult—and robotext scams are rapidly increasing, targeting consumers with fraudulent links and fake messages.
“In New Jersey, seniors are particularly at risk from these scams – phony Medicare calls, texts claiming to be from grandchildren in distress, or fake law enforcement threats. It’s infuriating, and we have to stay ahead of the scammers,” Pallone said.
Pallone is pushing to update the TRACED Act to cover robotexts, impose additional penalties against robocalls and texts that use AI to trick consumers, and ensure consumers can access robocall-blocking technology at no extra cost. But he warned that Republican efforts to slash funding for the FCC and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) threaten to roll back enforcement – right as AI-powered scams surge.
He also criticized House Republicans for supporting a 10-year moratorium on state enforcement of state AI laws, which would block adoption of innovative efforts by New Jersey and other states to combat illegal robocalls and robotexts.
“We can’t allow Big Tech loopholes and budget cuts by Republicans and the Trump Administration to undermine the fight against scams. New Jerseyans deserve real protection and I’m going to keep leading this fight,” Pallone said.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)
Legislation Would Take Politics Out of Medicine and Hold Reckless Leaders Accountable
Today, Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) introduced the Family Vaccine Protection Act to remove politics from the life-saving immunization schedule, hold Trump Administration officials accountable, and protect children and expectant mothers from vaccine-preventable diseases.
“Secretary Kennedy is governing by conspiracy theory and putting the health of our children at risk,” said Pallone. “After just a few months in office, he’s already broken the promise he made during his Senate confirmation hearing to not interfere with the lifesaving childhood vaccine schedule. He’s simultaneously presided over the largest measles outbreak in decades while actively undermining vaccination efforts for COVID-19, measles, polio, and the flu—especially for pregnant women and the tiniest infants, two of the highest risk populations. Enough is enough—it’s time to take politics out of medicine and ensure all families have access to affordable life-saving vaccines. Dr. Schrier and I are introducing this legislation to keep Secretary Kennedy’s conspiracy theories out of the doctor’s office and to protect moms and their kids.”
“Our current Secretary of Health and Human Services continues to undermine science and peddle conspiracy theories. This nation’s physicians and public health system have relied upon the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) for 61 years to evaluate scientific evidence, ask questions, and ultimately make a determination about whether to recommend a vaccine and for whom. This bill ensures that physicians and other scientific experts are the ones who evaluate those studies and make those decisions, as has always been the case. Recent efforts to undermine the ACIP by pressuring physicians like Dr. Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos to parrot RFK, Jr. talking points have unfortunately made this bill necessary,” said Congresswoman Schrier, M.D. “I will continue to stand up for scientific integrity and fight RFK Jr. ‘s peddling of conspiracy theories.”
The Family Vaccine Protection Act comes on the heels of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. ’s unilateral withdrawal of COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant women. This reckless decision—circumventing science-based approval—begins a slippery slope toward a sicker America where Kennedy alone decides what’s best for American children.
For months, RFK, Jr. ’s HHS and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have ignored science-based recommendations by the independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). In April, ACIP voted unanimously to expand its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine recommendation and to provide a meningococcal vaccine to healthy teens and college-aged kids—but Kennedy ignored these recommendations. These actions are setting a dangerous precedent and jeopardizing access through critical programs like the Vaccines for Children program.
Secretary Kennedy is actively backtracking on his own promise in November 2024 that he wouldn’t “take away anybody’s vaccines” and contradicting his own Food and Drug Administration’s framework. His brazen undermining of ACIP’s independence and persistent spreading of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories threatens decades of public health progress—and will put the lives of pregnant women and unvaccinated infants at risk.
The Family Vaccine Protection Act protects access to affordable vaccines by:
Codifying current practices of a rigorous, science-based system for recommending vaccines:
This bill sets a timeline for new vaccine consideration by ACIP and requires that both the CDC Director and HHS Secretary adopt such recommendations if supported by a preponderance of scientific evidence.
Strengthening the independence of the Advisory Committee:
This bill writes the role of ACIP into statute and specifies its structure, its membership selection processes, meeting frequency, and expertise requirements—protecting it from dissolution or undue interference by the HHS Secretary.
Keeping politics out of medicine by ensuring the Secretary cannot unilaterally make or withdraw vaccine recommendations contrary to the advice of scientific experts:
This bill requires the HHS Secretary to adopt the official vaccine decision as set by ACIP—and if the Secretary chooses to depart from an ACIP recommendation, it requires the Secretary to publish the basis for the agency action, including an explanation as to how the action is supported by the best available, peer-reviewed scientific evidence.
Establishing guardrails to ensure vaccines remain accessible to all:
This bill protects the role of ACIP in making immunization recommendations for the Vaccines for Children Program as well as for the purposes of cost-free coverage of vaccines by health insurance plans—ensuring continued widespread access to life-saving vaccines.
The Family Vaccine Protection Act has received the support of the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Public Health Association, American College of Physicians, Infectious Disease Society of America, and Vaccinate Your Family.
Read the full bill text HEREand a section-by-section summary HERE.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A calligraphy exhibition by Chao Daishuang, a research fellow at the National Museum of China and director of the Institute of Ancient Chinese Calligraphy, opened June 6 in Beijing, highlighting his decades of research and artistic achievement.
Chao Daishuang speaks at the opening ceremony of his calligraphy exhibition in Beijing, China, June 6, 2025. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn]
At the opening ceremony, Chao spoke of the profound reverence inspired by ancient calligraphic works, noting that they embody the intellectual spirit and philosophical depth of China’s traditional scholars.
Koh Hock Kiat, founding dean of the Confucius Institute at Nanyang Technological University, also attended the event. He called calligraphy “the soul of Chinese culture,” saying its integration with classical poetry and wisdom can exert a subtle yet profound influence on children’s upbringing.
After the ceremony, Chao spoke with attendees, stressing that mastery of the Chinese language is essential for understanding the classical texts featured in the artwork.
A section of Chao Daishuang’s calligraphy on display at the exhibition in Beijing, China, June 6, 2025. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn]
Chao said appreciating calligraphy requires an understanding of its cultural roots. He urged young cultural workers to develop a solid literary grounding, saying, “Only those deeply versed in classics can create truly meaningful calligraphy.” He emphasized that authentic cultural exchanges must be built on genuine traditional foundations.
On the topic of cultural diplomacy, Chao said its effects are often gradual. “A lecture or an overseas exchange may not yield immediate results,” he said. “But such efforts lay foundations for the future — persistent engagement will naturally bear fruit over time.”
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced Tuesday evening that the second largest city in the United States has imposed a curfew in the downtown area from local time 8:00 p.m. (0300 GMT Wednesday) to 6:00 a.m. (1300 GMT) Wednesday.
The curfew would cover about 1 square mile, Bass said.
She said that the local authorities imposed the limited curfew in response to looting and vandalism that occurred downtown Monday night, following largely peaceful daytime protests.
The curfew exempts residents of the designated area, homeless individuals, credentialed media and public safety or emergency officials, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Bass announced the curfew as protests against raids by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement stretched into the fifth day, with local media reporting demonstrators surged onto the 101 Freeway, blocking traffic in both directions, shortly before the order was issued.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The current U.S. administration will cut its military budget for Ukraine next year, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a hearing in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
“It is a reduction in this (upcoming defense) budget,” Hegseth told lawmakers, “This administration takes a very different view of that conflict.”
“We believe that a negotiated peaceful settlement is in the best interest of both parties and our nation’s interests, especially with all the competing interests around the globe,” he said.
The United States has provided Ukraine more than 66 billion U.S. dollars in aid since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine broke out in February 2022, according to U.S. media reports.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Vinicius Junior scored in the first half as five-time world champion Brazil secured a spot at next year’s FIFA World Cup with a 1-0 home win over Paraguay in its qualifier on Tuesday.
The result marked new manager Carlo Ancelotti’s first victory since taking charge late last month and leaves Brazil third in the South American standings with 25 points, one ahead of fifth-placed Paraguay, with two matches remaining.
“We’re very happy to have qualified for the World Cup, which was our objective,” Vinicius told TV Globo after the match.
“Tonight wasn’t one of our best games but the most important thing in these qualifiers is to get over the line and do what’s needed to reach the World Cup. Now it’s time to celebrate.”
The host took the lead on the stroke of halftime when Vinicius slid home from inside the six-yard box after Matheus Cunha’s cross from the right side of the penalty area.
Brazil dominated for large periods at Sao Paulo’s Corinthians Arena but struggled to break down Paraguay’s disciplined defensive block.
The visitor offered little in attack and its best chance of the first half was a speculative effort by Junior Alonso from 15 yards.
Brazil went close to doubling its lead just before the hour through Bruno Guimaraes, whose deft chip was headed off the line by Juan Caceres.
Dynamo Moscow right-back Caceres then put Brazil’s defense under pressure with a long throw to the goalmouth, where the ball fell to Alonso, whose powerful header flew just over the bar.
But there were few other scoring chances as both teams appeared to prioritize defense over offensive ambition.
The home side had 73% of possession but only four shots on target while Paraguay forced just one save from Brazil goalkeeper Alisson.
Brazil will meet Chile and Bolivia in its final two qualifiers in September while Paraguay, which needs only one more point to qualify, faces Ecuador and Peru.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China’s Wang Zifei and Hu Kai extended their winning streaks in the women’s 10m air rifle and men’s 10m air pistol events respectively, each capturing their third individual gold medal of the season at the ISSF World Cup in Munich.
At 18, world record holder Wang delivered a stunning qualification performance, breaking both the junior and overall qualification world records with a score of 637.9 to advance to the final.
In the final, Wang stayed composed and consistent, delivering a series of high 10s. A decisive 10.9 shot near the end gave her a slim lead, allowing her to narrowly defeat South Korea’s Kwon Eun-ji by 0.1 point with a final score of 252.7. India’s Elavenil Valarivan claimed the bronze medal. Fellow Chinese shooter Han Jiayu secured sixth place.
The win marked Wang’s third straight World Cup gold in the women’s 10m air rifle, keeping her unbeaten record in the event this season after victories in Buenos Aires and Lima. She currently holds all four individual women’s 10m air rifle records over senior and junior categories in this discipline.
In the men’s 10m air pistol, 23-year-old Hu led qualification with 588 points, but faced stiff competition in the final from Kazakhstan’s Valeriy Rakhimzhan and Christian Reitz of Germany. Hu had a slow start in the final but regained momentum with a series of high-scoring shots, including several over 10.5, to move into medal contention.
With two shots remaining, Hu responded with a 10.5 and a 10.4 to edge ahead. The Kazakh shooter, who had led most of the contest, closed with a 9.9 and had to settle for silver with 241.9. Reitz took bronze.
The victory marked Hu’s third straight gold of the season in the event, keeping his unbeaten record in 2025. Another Chinese shooter, Olympic champion Xie Yu, finished fifth.
With two gold medals on the first competition day, China leads the medal table in Munich, followed by Kazakhstan and South Korea.
The ISSF World Cup will continue on Wednesday with the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions final and the women’s 25m pistol final.