Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
June 22, 2025
WASHINGTON—Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Sunday released the following statement on President Trump’s illegal ordering of strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran without congressional authorization:
“Donald Trump, a weak and dangerously reckless president, has put the United States on a path to a war in the Middle East that the country does not want, the law does not allow, and our security does not demand.
“Our president knows nothing about history. And history tells us that the United States’ hubris about the efficacy of military action in the Middle East is almost universally wrong. Trump has been goaded into these strikes by the perpetual cheerleaders of war in the Middle East – the people who know how to start conflicts there but never know how to end them, and the people who profit – politically and financially – from endless war.
“I’ve been briefed on the intelligence – there is no evidence Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States. That makes this attack illegal. Only Congress can declare preemptive war, and we should vote as soon as possible on legislation to explicitly deny President Trump the authorization to drag us into a conflict in Middle East that could get countless Americans killed and waste trillions of dollars. All my thoughts tonight are for the safety of our personnel in the region.”
President John Dramani Mahama has announced a significant investment of 1 billion Ghana cedis towards retooling our vital security services. This commitment underscores his dedication to ensuring the safety and security of all Ghanaians.
Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS): Recognising the urgent need for updated equipment, new fire tenders will be acquired to replace ageing and broken-down vehicles, some nearly a decade old. “We understand the frustrations of our citizens when the Fire Service arrives late, and this initiative aims to equip them to respond more effectively to emergencies”, the president noted.
Ghana Police Service: To better combat armed robbery, the Police Service will receive armoured vehicles to ensure the safety of officers during patrols. “We must provide our brave officers with the necessary tools to confront criminals effectively”, he added.
Immigration & Prisons Services: Acknowledging the mobility challenges faced by the Immigration and Prisons Services, new vehicles will be allocated to improve their operational capacity and enhance public safety.
President Mahama also acknowledged security personnel’s difficult working conditions and called for public understanding and support as his government works to build a safer country.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.
The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has extended warm congratulations to His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, on his election as Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The election of President Bio took place during the 67th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority held in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria. In his congratulatory message, President Boakai hailed the selection of President Bio as a testament to his steadfast leadership, dedication to democratic governance, and commitment to the collective progress of the West African sub-region. President Boakai commended President Bio’s efforts in fostering peace, security, and stability in Sierra Leone, as well as his active engagement in promoting regional cooperation. He expressed strong confidence that, under President Bio’s stewardship, ECOWAS will be well positioned to address pressing challenges such as insecurity, economic integration, youth unemployment, and climate resilience, while strengthening democratic institutions and good governance.
President Boakai reaffirmed Liberia’s unwavering commitment to the ideals and objectives of ECOWAS and pledged his government’s continued collaboration in advancing the shared vision of a peaceful, prosperous, and integrated West Africa. “As a close neighbor and sister republic,” President Boakai stated, “Liberia stands in full solidarity with the Government and People of Sierra Leone, and we look forward to working closely with President Bio in his new role to foster unity, development, and the well-being of all ECOWAS citizens.” The Liberian leader extended best wishes to President Bio for a successful tenure and assured him of Liberia’s support as he assumes this vital regional responsibility.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.
Ugandan troops serving with the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) have recaptured strategic villages of Sabiid and Anole from Al Shabaab.
This win came during a three-day joint operation code-named ‘Operation Silent Storm’, aimed at liberating areas under Al-Shabaab control in the Lower Shabelle region.
Several Al-Shabaab fighters were neutralised during a prolonged siege of their hideouts in various parts of the villages. The forces also seized a substantial amount of ammunition from fleeing militants, clearing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted in communities and supply routes.
“I commend the brave efforts of our gallant AUSSOM Ugandan troops and the Somali National Army in degrading Al-Shabaab. AUSSOM is fully committed to implementing the Somali Transition Plan, which will culminate in the transfer of security responsibilities to the Somali Security Forces,” said AUSSOM Force Commander, Lieutenant General Sam Kavuma, following the successful operation.
Sector One Commander Brigadier General Joseph Ssemwanga emphasised that joint operations will continue in Lower Shabelle until Al-Shabaab threats are effectively addressed.
“Sabiid-Anole has become a strategic location since March, where terrorists plan deadly attacks, conceal ammunition, including vehicles for Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs), and establish illegal checkpoints to extort locals,” said Brig. Gen. Ssemwanga.
Major General Sahal Abdullahi Omar, Commander of the Somali National Army’s Land Forces, also confirmed that ‘Operation Silent Storm’ successfully dismantled Al-Shabaab’s presence in the two villages.
AUSSOM and SNA Forces are currently securing the recaptured villages and clearing remaining pockets of Al-Shabaab terrorists in Lower Shabelle’s Afgooye district. The operation aims to degrade and eliminate terrorists from Lower Shabelle and neighbouring areas.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has successfully completed a scheduled trial run of the Namo Bharat train across the entire corridor from Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Modipuram in Meerut. The full 82 km stretch was covered in under an hour.
During the trial, Namo Bharat trains ran alongside Meerut Metro trains, with both systems performing successfully. This marks a major milestone in the operational readiness of India’s first Namo Bharat corridor, which connects Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Meerut.
The Namo Bharat trains operated smoothly at their maximum operational speed of 160 km per hour, stopping at every station along the route between Sarai Kale Khan and Modipuram. The journey was completed as per NCRTC’s targeted schedule.
The corridor features the world’s first deployment of the advanced ETCS Level 3 hybrid signalling system over an LTE backbone. The system, which is fully integrated with platform screen doors (PSDs) at every station, passed all tests without any interruptions, underlining the corridor’s technological readiness.
Currently, a 55 km stretch of the corridor, comprising 11 stations, is operational for passengers. Final finishing work and trial runs are underway on the remaining segments — the 4.5 km stretch between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar in Delhi, and the approximately 23 km section from Meerut South to Modipuram.
This successful trial is a major step toward the full commissioning of the Namo Bharat corridor.
Meanwhile, trial runs of the Meerut Metro between Meerut South and the Modipuram Depot are also progressing rapidly. This project marks the first time in India that local metro services will operate on the same infrastructure as regional rapid transit trains.
The 23 km Meerut Metro section includes 13 stations, with 18 km of elevated track and 5 km running underground.
Israeli forces have recovered the bodies of three hostages which had been held in the Gaza Strip since the Palestinian militant group Hamas’ 2023 attack, the military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday.
The hostages were identified as civilians Ofra Keidar and Yonatan Samerano, and soldier Shay Levinson. All were killed on the day of the attack, on October 7, 2023, the military said.
With their retrieval, 50 hostages now remain in Gaza, only 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
The abduction of Samerano, 21 at the time of his death, by a man later identified by Israeli officials as a worker at the U.N.’s Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, was caught on CCTV.
Around 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, according to Israeli authorities.
The subsequent Israeli campaign against Hamas in Gaza has since killed more than 55,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run strip, displaced almost the entire 2.3 million population, plunged the enclave into humanitarian crisis and left much of the territory in ruins.
Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland
To coincide with the 9th anniversary (23rd June) of the Brexit referendum, TUV leader and North Antrim MP, Jim Allister, has tabled this motion in the House of Commons:-
“This House deplores that 9 years on from the Brexit referendum – the greatest democratic mandate in the nation’s history – Brexit has still not been delivered for Northern Ireland and that instead the United kingdom has been partitioned by a foreign EU customs and regulatory border in the Irish Sea, leaving Northern Ireland under the EU Customs Code and subject in 300 areas of law to EU, not UK, law.
“This House therefore calls on HMG to take back control and sovereignty over the whole United Kingdom and to regulate the international border with the EU through application of the solution of mutual enforcement.”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Projects jointly funded by Guangdong-Hong Kong and Shenzhen-Hong Kong under Mainland-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme open for application All applications must fit the specific themes/topics, and be submitted simultaneously by the Hong Kong and Mainland applicant organisations to the ITC and relevant Mainland authorities respectively.
To facilitate participating institutes and companies in submitting funding applications, the Mainland-Hong Kong Joint Funding Scheme and the Guangdong-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme have been merged as the MHKTCFS to support and encourage collaboration among universities, research institutes and technology enterprises in Hong Kong and Mainland China. There are three categories of projects under the MHKTCFS: Application details for projects jointly funded by the Mainland and Hong Kong will be announced in due course.
Hai Phong (Agenzia Fides) – To accompany adults who have recently received baptism on their journey of faith: with this objective, the Association for the Promotion of Faith was born in the parish of Trang Quan, in the diocese of Hai Phong.The initiative of giving life to this new group came after considering the data on the administration of the sacraments presented by the parish Executive Committee. In the last five years, more than 100 adults have decided to receive baptism in this community.The association was officially presented during a Mass presided over by parish priest Giuse Vu Van Khuong and joins other formation initiatives recently promoted by the parish. In addition to premarital and catechism courses for adults, in recent months, specific training programs for first-level catechists have been launched, which include a certification by the diocese.At the diocesan level, the Church of Hai Phong has promoted extensive training: hundreds of catechists have participated in the various series organized by the Diocesan Catechetical Office. The meetings have offered theological content on the ministry of the catechist and have placed special emphasis on the central role of Sacred Scripture in the transmission of the faith. Some participants have been able to apply their acquired knowledge by completing pastoral internships with children of the Eucharistic Youth Movement. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 21/6/2025)
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Esmeraldas (Agenzia Fides) – On March 13, 2025, a pipeline rupture in the province of Esmeraldas, northwest Ecuador, caused a huge amount of oil to spill into the river of the same name, which gives the region its name. It reached the Pacific Ocean and altered the biodiversity of unique river and marine ecosystems for kilometers.Most of the region’s population makes a living from fishing. An activity that, several months later, is struggling to restart. According to authorities, more than half a million people are still affected by the environmental disaster: while in March, the oil-related water crisis required rationing and the use of water reserves, in recent weeks, fishermen have struggled to resume their fishing activities as the “oil spill” damaged their equipment. Just over a month later, the same region was hit by an earthquake that caused even more damage.Salesian missionaries, through the Salesian Foundation North Coast and the Salesian Inspectorate Campaign of Ecuador “Together for Emeraldas”, delivered artisanal fishing kits and construction materials last week to areas affected by the oil spill and the recent earthquake, according to the Salesian news agency ANS.Thanks to the support of the Salesian Procurator of Ireland and the active collaboration of the Salesian Works of Ecuador, the kits were distributed to various groups of fishermen on the banks of Santa Cruz and in the Santa Martha II neighborhood. The kits include basic tools for artisanal fishing, such as nets, hooks, ropes, safety devices, and other supplies.At the same time, families affected by the violent earthquake of April 25 received building materials to rebuild their homes. The beneficiary families come from the Santa Martha and 5 de Junio neighborhoods, where the earthquake caused serious structural damage to several homes. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 21/6/2025)
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sanjoy Paul, Associate Professor in Operations and Supply Chain Management, UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney
The Iranian parliament has approved the closure of key shipping route the Strait of Hormuz, in a move that could further escalate the Israel/Iran war.
The strait lies between Iran and its Gulf Arab neighbours and is used to transport about 20 million barrels per day of oil – the equivalent of 20% of global daily oil consumption.
Since 2020, this critical route has been used to transport an average of 14.8 million barrels a day of crude oil and natural gas liquids, 5.5 million barrels a day of petroleum products and 10.8 billion cubic feet per day of LNG.
The closure of the strait, which will not take effect until endorsed by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, will significantly impact global oil and gas supplies and could potentially create energy crises.
An important route for Asia
In 2024, 84% of the crude oil and natural gas liquids, and 83% of the LNG passed through this channel were destined for Asian countries including China, India, Japan and South Korea.
In the first quarter of 2025, China alone imported about 38% of crude oil shipped through the strait.
It is likely these countries will be directly impacted by a closure.
What it means for Australia
Only about 15% of Australia’s crude oil and 5% of petroleum products are imported from Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
However, 30% of Australia’s refined oil effectively transits through the Strait of Hormuz. This is because Australia sources refined oil from the Republic of Korea and Singapore that is refined from crude oil from the Middle East.
If Australia’s key suppliers are affected by the closure, there could be devastating flow-on effects for the country’s oil supply.
Since the conflict between Iran and Israel started, the oil price has increased by 10%. The closure of the strait could further inflate the oil price globally
Though Australia does not rely directly on crude oil from the Middle East, its reliance on South Korea and Singapore for refined oil is significant. The increased oil price and its impact on the cost of goods and services could also hurt Australia’s fight to control inflation.
Past tensions in the strait
The Strait of Hormuz has never been fully closed. However, it has been disrupted a few times leading to reduced capacity.
Notable disruptions include attacks on commercial ships including oil tankers during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s and the tension in the strait between Iranian and US navies in 2007.
None of these disruptions led to the closure of the channel so the impact of these disruptions on global oil supply was minimal.
Bypassing the strait
Both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have established oil pipelines that could bypass the Strait of Hormuz if it is closed or compromised.
Saudi Arabia’s pipeline can carry five million barrels per day and the emirates’ capacity is 1.5 million barrels per day. This is compared to their production capacities of nine and 3.3 million barrels per day respectively.
This could significantly slow down the transportation of crude oil from both countries.
Qatar relies on the Strait of Hormuz to transport nearly all of its LNG shipments. Last week Qatar instructed all LNG carriers to hold off transiting through the strait until the day before loading and to remain east of Hormuz. This has kept their carriers outside the impacted regions.
The limited alternative options and reduced capacities of pipelines could potentially disrupt the global oil and LNG supply.
Potential strategies
If the strait is fully closed, the impacts could be severe, especially for Asian countries which rely on energy from the Middle East.
Many countries, such as China, have oil reserves that can sustain their current oil consumption for about five years. However, many developing countries don’t keep supply inventories.
Supply countries should focus on expanding alternative routes such as pipelines connected to alternative ports.
Most importantly, countries should focus on creating renewable energy sources and speed up their adoption to meet energy needs. In future, renewable energies will be the most viable alternatives to crude oil and LNG amid geopolitical tensions.
Sanjoy Paul 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.
According to new data from the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors, 91% of Australia’s top chief executive officers (CEOs) received some form of performance bonus last year. That elevated their pay well above their base salaries (which were already over A$1 million). Only five CEOs out of 142 eligible for a bonus received zero.
The fact nearly all of Australia’s top CEOs are receiving these performance bonuses shows performance pay is more about rewarding conformity and discipline than risk-taking and entrepreneurship.
Do we really believe 91% of our CEOs made big bets that paid off last year? A more plausible explanation is that we simply reward executives for not stuffing up. Their customer base is growing in line with population growth and their prices are rising faster than their cost of production, which means profits rise without too much effort.
Not keeping up with change
Take the electricity industry for example. It’s hard to imagine an industry in which change is more inevitable than the industry responsible for transitioning away from gas and coal-fired power stations to renewable energy.
But according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the electricity, gas and water industry spends a mere 0.24% of sales on research and development each year. That is half the economy-wide average.
Unfortunately, innovation does not appear to be a prerequisite for CEOs being rewarded with large bonuses. According to Energy Australia, its CEO Mark Collette (base salary over $1 million) recently challenged a room full of other well-paid leaders at Australian Energy Week to continuously ask themselves: “Will this make energy cheaper?”
However instead of focusing on keeping costs down for consumers, companies have sometimes resorted to misleading statements. Energy Australia recently admitted to misleading customers by claiming the coal and gas-fired electricity it was selling was “carbon neutral”.
Companies purchase carbon credits to offset emissions elsewhere in their businesses. tech_BG/Shutterstock
Energy Australia was buying widely used carbon offsets to make the claim the fossil-fuel fired electricity it was selling was carbon neutral. In its apology Energy Australia conceded “offsets do not prevent or undo the harms caused by burning fossil fuels for a customer’s energy use”.
While it is clear Energy Australia’s spending on carbon credits did nothing to make the company’s energy cheaper, it is not yet clear if the board will award a “performance bonus”.
Leading the world – in pay packets
Another example of the lack of relationship between CEO pay and organisational performance is Australia’s university sector. The vice chancellors of Australian universities are among the best paid in the world, with over a dozen Australian earning more than the head of Cambridge University.
But there is no correlation between student satisfaction and vice chancellor pay.
And while Australian vice chancellor pay has been soaring, Australian universities have been slipping steadily down international rankings for university quality.
Inequality is rising
While performance-based bonuses and incentives are common among CEOs and vice chancellors, the same is not true for lower-paid staff.
Instead, these staff are often asked to “do more, with less” even as their real wages have declined. Universities have seen a notable decline in academic staff per student while the gap between the pay of lecturers and vice chancellors has skyrocketed.
Extremely high salaries for CEOs and vice chancellors have done nothing to boost Australian productivity growth, or our performance in global rankings for our universities, research and development or innovation. Paying out large bonuses for average performance has done little to help either.
Inequality in Australia is rising. As long as CEO pay is rising faster than the minimum wages, that gap will continue to widen. The latest data showed CEO salaries are 55 times that of the average worker.
Just doing their job
While it is true it is hard to measure the performance of a CEO, it’s also hard to measure the care and attention provided by a childcare worker, the compassion of an aged care nurse, the helpfulness of a call centre operator or the enthusiasm of a lecturer.
Few CEOs think we need bonuses to motivate the vast majority of Australian workers. But it is heresy to suggest those at the top of a big organisation could simply work diligently without a giant bonus.
So, it’s not just income that is unequal in Australia. We expect a lot more self-motivation from those at the bottom of the income distribution than those at the very top.
Richard Denniss 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.
The controversial extension of Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project off Western Australia faces two legal challenges. Both raise significant concerns about the validity of government approvals. One could even seek an injunction, preventing federal environment minister Murray Watt from making a final decision.
The first battle is being fought along climate lines. Enormous amounts of greenhouse gases will be released when gas from the project is exported and burned overseas. The Friends of Australian Rock Art group now argues the then WA environment minister Reece Whitby should have taken this pollution into account when approving the extension in December.
The second concerns ancient Aboriginal rock art in the Murujuga National Park on the Burrup Peninsula. There’s evidence greenhouse gas emissions released during extraction of fossil fuels is damaging the artwork, and Traditional Owners are seeking a protection order.
The decision to grant the extension appears at odds with national heritage and state environment laws. Both cases will be a closely watched test of these legal protections.
What’s the North West Shelf approval about?
Approval for the North West Shelf gas processing plant in Karratha, WA, was to expire in 2030. Woodside Energy sought to extend the project to 2070.
The state government gave approval to the extension in December, and the federal government gave conditional approval last month.
Watt gave Woodside ten business days to respond to “strict conditions particularly relating to the impact of air emissions” on nearby rock art, but that deadline was not met. Woodside has been given more time to review the conditions.
Meanwhile, two legal challenges have been mounted.
Judicial review is where courts review government decisions to ensure they are lawful and fair. The case is yet to be heard in the WA Supreme Court.
The group argues the state failed to give proper regard to the climate impact of the proposal, as required under the WA Environment Protection Act.
Specifically, the group argues the approval did not fully examine the climate impacts of so-called “scope three” emissions. These occur when the exported gas is burned overseas.
Under WA state law, the minister must consider whether a proposal will have a significant effect on the environment. This is a broad requirement and the climate effects of a decision are relevant.
The WA Office of Environmental Protection makes this clear in a statement of objectives, which include minimising “the risk of environmental harm associated with climate change by reducing greenhouse gases as far as practicable”.
Guidelines published in November to help implement this objective set out that where scope three emissions are likely to exceed 100,000 tonnes a year, extra information must be provided to government. This includes “a summary of where the scope three emissions will be emitted (domestic or international), and whether they are or are reasonably likely to be subject to emission reduction requirements as scope 1 or 2 emissions”.
The guidelines further state that the EPA’s usual minimum expectation for proposals is for “deep, substantial and sustained emission reductions” this decade – with net zero no later than 2050, and reductions occurring along a linear trajectory (at minimum) from 2030.
Co-convener of the Friends group, Judith Hugo, said the minister did not give adequate regard to the guidelines and failed to consider the project’s full impact on the climate, as well as the nearby rock art.
While litigation on scope three emissions is relatively new, it is gaining traction globally. It has become an increasingly significant factor underlying corporate climate action and policy development.
Announcing the legal challenge on June 17, 2025 (Friends of Australian Rock Art)
2. The Traditional Owner case
Raelene Cooper is a Mardathoonera woman and founder of the group Save our Songlines. She filed legal action in the Federal Court in 2022, seeking temporary protection from industrial emissions for the art.
Murujuga has some of the planet’s oldest known rock art, dating back 40,000 years. Research has shown rocks closer to the industrial operations have been degraded by past emissions.
On May 23 this year, Cooper called for an “urgent assessment of the ongoing impacts of all industry on the Burrup” before the federal government decided on Woodside’s proposed extension.
She had filed a motion in the Federal Court seeking to compel Watt to make a determination of her Murujuga Section 10 cultural heritage assessment. But Watt announced conditional approval for the Woodside extension on May 28.
Watt reportedly promised to give Cooper three days’ notice of the approval. That would have given Cooper an opportunity to file an injunction preventing the minister from making a final decision to approve the North West Shelf prior to resolving her section 10 protection order.
Resolution of the protection order is particularly important given the art has been nominated for UNESCO World Heritage listing. The World Heritage Committee referred the nomination back to the federal government so as to “prevent any further industrial development adjacent to, and within, the Murujuga Cultural Landscape”.
This referral occurred before the project extension was approved. If the approval is finalised, the nomination may fail, because the government cannot ensure the area will be protected.
Saving Murujuga Rock Art (The Australia Institute)
High stakes and delicate decision-making
These legal actions reflect deep public concern over the North West Shelf gas project extension.
In the context of a worsening climate emergency and damage to ancient rock art, properly adhering to the legal requirements for the assessment of such projects couldn’t be more crucial.
Samantha Hepburn 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.
Ilkay Gundogan scored two goals as Manchester City comfortably dispatched Emirati club Al-Ain 6-0 on Sunday to ease into the knockout stage of the Club World Cup from Group G along with Juventus.
The German midfielder found the net in the ninth and 73rd minutes while Argentine teenager Claudio Etcheverri also fired home a free kick and Erling Haaland a penalty before the break.
Substitutes Oscar Bobb and new signing Rayan Cherki sealed the emphatic victory in the last 10 minutes to draw City level on goal difference with Juventus, who beat Wydad Casablanca 4-1 earlier on Sunday.
City and Juventus meet in their final group match in Orlando on Thursday to decide which of them progresses to the round of 16 as group winners.
“A really good performance,” said Gundogan. “I think we had our moments in the first half, and then also the second part of the second half.
“I think the result speaks for itself, and in the end, fully deserved.”
City manager Pep Guardiola illustrated the depth of his squad by making 11 changes, and Gundogan made the most of his start by opening the scoring with a chipped cross that floated over the head of Al-Ain keeper Khalid Eisa and into the net.
Al-Ain were showing more ambition than they had in their 5-0 loss to Juventus and winger Nassim Chadli had a chance to equalise in the 15th minute but City keeper Stefan Ortega Moreno managed to push it wide.
Etcheverri, making his first start for City, doubled the lead in the 27th minute when he bent a free kick around a poorly-placed defensive wall and past the hapless Eisa.
Haaland almost immediately created a chance for himself by dispossessing the final defender but he took the ball too wide to get around Eisa and his shot went across the goal.
The big Norwegian went through on goal again in the 41st minute before again angling his shot wide of the far post but made no mistake from the spot with his third chance to score in first-half stoppage time.
Egyptian Ramy Rabia wrestled Manuel Akanji to the ground from a corner and after VAR informed the referee of the offence, Haaland sent Eisa to the left and banged the ball into the right-hand corner for his 32nd goal of the season.
City kept up the pressure in the second half and forward Matheus Nunes turned and volleyed the ball past the post just after the hour mark before Eisa finally showed his quality by twice denying Haaland from close range.
Chadli had another chance in the 69th minute but fired his shot high over the bar and Gundogan soon ended any hopes of a comeback with his second goal.
Bernardo Silva drifted across the edge of the box before drilling a pass towards the penalty spot and Gundogan got a great first touch to take him past the defence before lifting the ball over Eisa.
Bobb cut inside the box onto his left foot to beat Eisa at his near post eight minutes from time before his fellow winger Cherki sealed the rout with a clinical finish from the edge of the box.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday paid homage to the 329 victims of the 1985 Air India ‘Kanishka’ bombing, marking the 40th anniversary of one of the deadliest acts of aviation terrorism in history.
Reiterating India’s firm stance against terrorism, Jaishankar underscored the need for global zero tolerance towards terrorism and violent extremism. He called the tragedy a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of allowing such ideologies to persist.
“On the 40th anniversary of Air India 182 ‘Kanishka’ bombing, we honour the memory of the 329 lives lost in one of the worst acts of terrorism. A stark reminder of why the world must show zero tolerance towards terrorism and violent extremism,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.
Air India Flight 182 was en route from Montreal to Mumbai via London and Delhi when it was destroyed mid-air over the Atlantic Ocean on June 23, 1985, after a bomb exploded in its cargo hold.
The Boeing 747 aircraft, named after Emperor Kanishka of the Kushan dynasty, had just completed a scheduled stop at Montreal’s Mirabel Airport, where additional passengers boarded. The flight then resumed its journey toward London Heathrow before vanishing from radar shortly after establishing contact with Shannon Air Traffic Control in Ireland.
The mid-air explosion occurred off the Irish coast, killing all 329 people on board, including 22 crew members. The investigation later revealed that the bomb had been placed in luggage originating from Vancouver, pointing to a transnational terror plot.
The attack was attributed to the Khalistani extremist outfit Babbar Khalsa. Inderjit Singh Reyat, a British-Canadian national, pleaded guilty in 2003 for his role in assembling the explosive device. Another key conspirator, Talwinder Singh Parmar, a founding member of Babbar Khalsa, was believed to be the mastermind behind the bombing.
To mark the solemn anniversary, a high-level Indian delegation led by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri arrived in Ireland on Sunday to participate in the memorial service at the Ahakista Memorial in Cork.
The delegation includes BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh and elected representatives from five Indian states: Arvinder Singh Lovely (Delhi MLA), Baldev Singh Aulakh (Minister from Uttar Pradesh), Gurveer Singh Brar (MLA from Rajasthan), Trilok Singh Cheema (MLA from Uttarakhand), and Narinder Singh Raina (MLA from Jammu & Kashmir).
The commemorative event is being held on Monday at the memorial site, in the presence of Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheál Martin, Canadian Minister Gary Anandasangaree, and several other international dignitaries.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) — The China-Russia-Mongolia New Landscape of International Communications Academic Forum was held in Hohhot, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, from June 21 to 22, where participants jointly discussed the new architecture and new opportunities in international communication, Zhongxinshe News Agency reported.
The event featured a total of 5 sub-forums, covering topics such as mutual learning and content dissemination among media outlets of the three countries under the Belt and Road Initiative, the Northern Corridor in the digital era, the global value of the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, and the mission of the media of China, Russia and Mongolia.
Renmin University of China professor Wang Bin said local media should rely on news topics and specific practices to project to the world an image of China that is trustworthy, commendable and respected.
According to Zhang Jun, director of Inner Mongolia Normal University, his university will take this event as an opportunity to further deepen exchanges and cooperation between higher education institutions in China, Russia and Mongolia, and accelerate the practical application of its achievements in scientific research.
The forum was organized by the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Normal University.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) — The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Community of Shared Future Study Center was established in Tianjin, north China, local newspaper Tianjin Ribao reported on Saturday.
The new research center is based at Tianjin Foreign Studies University (TFISU). Its establishment was initiated by TFISU together with the Foreign Affairs Office of the Tianjin Municipal People’s Government and the Tianjin Academy of Social Sciences.
According to the publication, the center will combine the scientific and external relations resources of the above-mentioned three organizations. It is planned that within the framework of the joint meeting mechanism, the center will annually convene a plenary meeting 1-2 times, and working meetings – on an unspecified schedule.
The work of the center will be aimed at providing intellectual support in achieving the goals of sustainable development of the SCO and realizing the vision of building a closer community of a common destiny of the SCO, as well as creating a platform of new types of analytical centers with international influence.
The center will focus on studying the theory and practice related to the SCO community of shared destiny, international cooperation in education and training of specialists in multilateral governance, inheriting and developing the core values of the “Shanghai Spirit”, researching issues of regional governance and multilateral cooperation, and serving state strategies and regional development, the newspaper notes.
Let us recall that the next SCO summit is planned to be held in Tianjin this fall. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) — The number of freight train departures on China-Central Asia international freight routes increased 23 percent year-on-year in the first five months of 2025, according to China Railways (CR).
According to the department, from January to May this year, the China-Europe freight train sector maintained stable dynamics, with 6,046 China-Central Asia freight train trips completed.
In addition, an increase in the volume of freight transportation was recorded. In January-May of this year, about 1.64 billion tons of freight were transported by rail, which is 3.1 percent more in annual terms.
During the reporting period, the average daily number of loaded wagons amounted to 181 thousand units, which is 4.2 percent more than in January-May last year, according to KZhD data. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
UNITED NATIONS, June 23 (Xinhua) — China’s permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong condemned the United States at an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Sunday for attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities.
“Yesterday (Saturday) the United States attacked three Iranian nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. China strongly condemns the US attacks on Iran and the bombing of nuclear sites under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards,” the Chinese diplomat said.
According to him, the US actions grossly violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, and also infringe on the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Iran. These strikes have increased tensions in the Middle East and caused serious damage to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.
Fu Cong stressed that the international community must uphold justice and make genuine efforts to de-escalate the situation and restore peace and stability.
He also called for an immediate ceasefire and ceasefire.
“With tensions in the Middle East sharply escalating, China is deeply concerned about the risk of the situation spiraling out of control. All parties to the conflict, especially Israel, should immediately cease fire to prevent further escalation and resolutely prevent the war from spreading,” Fu Cong said.
“The parties concerned must respect international law, restrain the urge to use force and avoid escalating conflicts and adding fuel to the fire,” he added. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
UNITED NATIONS, June 23 (Xinhua) — China’s permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong condemned the United States at an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Sunday for striking Iran’s nuclear facilities.
“Yesterday (Saturday) the United States attacked three Iranian nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. China strongly condemns the US attacks on Iran and the bombing of nuclear sites under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards,” the Chinese diplomat said.
According to him, the US actions grossly violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, and also infringe on the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Iran. These strikes have increased tensions in the Middle East and caused serious damage to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.
Fu Cong stressed that the international community must uphold justice and make genuine efforts to de-escalate the situation and restore peace and stability.
He also called for an immediate ceasefire and ceasefire.
“With tensions in the Middle East sharply escalating, China is deeply concerned about the risk of the situation spiraling out of control. All parties to the conflict, especially Israel, should immediately cease fire to prevent further escalation and resolutely prevent the war from spreading,” Fu Cong said.
“The parties concerned must respect international law, restrain the urge to use force and avoid escalating conflicts and adding fuel to the fire,” he added. –0–
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California
San Francisco – Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on President Trump’s unilateral military action in Iran:
“Tonight, the President ignored the Constitution by unilaterally engaging our military without Congressional authorization. I join my colleagues in demanding answers from the Administration on this operation which endangers American lives and risks further escalation and dangerous destabilization of the region.”
On Friday 20 June 2025, Mental Health Australia provided an Incoming Government Brief on psychosocial disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to Minister for Disability and the NDIS, the Hon Mark Butler MP and Minister for the NDIS, Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister.
The brief acknowledges that while the NDIS has been life changing for many people with psychosocial disability, their family, carers and kin, it is clear that overall there is a need for a more tailored and effective use of the funding committed to the NDIS for people with psychosocial disability. The brief outlines practical solutions to deliver this approach and recommends priority actions for the first 100 days and first year of this government, informed by sector and lived experience expertise. Actions include introducing a new approach to NDIS support for people with psychosocial disability, getting navigation reforms right for people with psychosocial disability, understanding the recent decline in NDIS access rates, shifting from encouraging dependence to supporting recovery, ensuring psychosocial expertise is informing NDIS reforms and fixing NDIS pricing. The brief also discusses implementation of General Foundational Supports for people with psychosocial disability and addressing the unmet need for psychosocial support outside the NDIS.
Read the full Incoming Government Brief by clicking on the PDF link below.
The City of Greater Bendigo is pleased to announce a new work placement initiative aimed at encouraging more young women to explore careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Applications are now open for the Young Women in STEM Work Placement Program which is aimed at high school students in Years 9 and 10 across Greater Bendigo. The program will offer week-long placements in selected City units where STEM skills are actively applied such as Bendigo Airport, Bendigo Venues & Events, Engineering and Financial Strategy.
Applicants will undergo a competitive selection process managed by the respective unit.
Director Corporate Performance Jess Howard said the City was proud to present the new STEM placement program.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for 12 young women to gain hands-on experience and valuable insights on what STEM careers look like within local government,” Ms Howard said.
“Students will be selected through a competitive application process and placed in departments where they will see how STEM skills are used every day.
“The City is deeply committed to advancing gender equality both in the workplace and across our community. This program reflects our goal to build strong, diverse teams that deliver high-quality services.
“STEM offers a wide range of exciting and evolving career pathways, and these skills are increasingly valued by employers. I hope this experience inspires students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and maths. It’s vital that organisations like ours, and local businesses in the region, continue to attract emerging talent and embrace the benefits of a diverse workforce.”
The following City business units are championing the program and offering placement opportunities that highlight STEM in action:
Bendigo Venues & Events: August 25-29, 2025
Resource Recovery & Education: August 25-29 or September 1-5, 2025
Climate Change & Environment: September 1-5 or September 15-19, 2025
Engineering: September 1-5 or November 10-14, 2025
Financial Strategy: September 8-12 or October 20-24, 2025
Bendigo Airport: October 6-10 or November 10-14, 2025
Information Technology: November 10-14, 2025
Today also marks International Women in Engineering Day, a global celebration of the achievements of women engineers and a call to action for more women to shape the world through engineering. The City proudly acknowledges the contributions of its women engineers: Saran O’Connor-Williams (Infrastructure Engineer), Larnie Ham (Graduate Design Engineer), and Kylie Douglas (Senior Landfill Engineer).
“Their work demonstrates the innovation and impact of women in engineering and highlights the exciting range of career opportunities available in STEM,” Ms Howard said.
The City presents around 60 work placements a year for high school and university students, of which 12 will be linked to the Young Women in STEM Work Placement Program. The other City placements are open to everyone who meets the criteria.
Commercial airlines around the world on Monday were weighing how long to suspend Middle East flights as a conflict which has already cut off major flight routes entered a new phase after the U.S. attacked key Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran vowed to defend itself.
The usually busy airspace stretching from Iran and Iraq to the Mediterranean has been largely empty of commercial air traffic for 10 days since Israel began strikes on Iran on June 13, as airlines divert, cancel and delay flights through the region due to airspace closures and safety concerns.
New cancellations of some flights by international carriers in recent days to usually resilient aviation hubs like Dubai, the world’s busiest international airport, and Qatar’s Doha, show how aviation industry concerns about the region have escalated.
However, some international airlines were resuming services on Monday.
Leading Asian carrier Singapore Airlines, which described the situation as “fluid”, was set to resume flying to Dubai on Monday after cancelling its Sunday flight from Singapore.
Similarly, Flightradar24 departure boards show British Airways, owned by IAG, was set to resume Dubai and Doha flights on Monday after cancelling routes to and from those airports on Sunday.
Air France KLM cancelled flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh on Sunday and Monday.
With Russian and Ukrainian airspace also closed to most airlines due to years of war, the Middle East had become a more important route for flights between Europe and Asia. Amid missile and air strikes during the past 10 days, airlines have routed north via the Caspian Sea or south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Added to increased fuel and crew costs from these long detours and cancellations, carriers also face a potential hike in jet fuel costs as oil prices rise following the U.S. attacks.
AIRSPACE RISKS
Proliferating conflict zones are an increasing operational burden on airlines, as aerial attacks raise worries about accidental or deliberate shoot-downs of commercial air traffic.
Location spoofing and GPS interference around political hotspots, where ground-based GPS systems broadcast incorrect positions which can send commercial airliners off course, are also a growing issue for commercial aviation.
Flightradar24 told Reuters it had seen a “dramatic increase” in jamming and spoofing in recent days over the Persian Gulf. SkAI, a Swiss company that runs a GPS disruption map, late on Sunday said it had observed more than 150 aircraft spoofed in 24 hours there.
Safe Airspace, a website run by OPSGROUP, a membership-based organisation that shares flight risk information, noted on Sunday that U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites could heighten the threat to American operators in the region.
This could raise additional airspace risks in Gulf states like Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, it said.
In the days before the U.S. strikes, American Airlines suspended flights to Qatar, and United Airlines and Air Canada did the same with flights to Dubai. They have yet to resume.
While international airlines are shying away from the region, local carriers in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq are tentatively resuming some flights after widespread cancellations.
Israel is ramping up flights to help people return home, and leave. The country’s Airports Authority says that so-called rescue flights to the country would expand on Monday with 24 a day, although each flight would be limited to 50 passengers.
From Monday, Israeli airlines will start to operate outbound flights from Israel, the authority said.
Israeli airline El Al on Sunday said it had received applications to leave the country from about 25,000 people in about a day.
Tesla deployed a small group of self-driving taxis picking up paying passengers on Sunday in Austin, Texas, with CEO Elon Musk announcing the “robotaxi launch” and social-media influencers posting videos of their first rides.
The event marked the first time Tesla cars without human drivers have carried paying riders, a business that Musk sees as crucial to the electric car maker’s financial future.
He called the moment the “culmination of a decade of hard work” in a post on his social-media platform X and noted that “the AI chip and software teams were built from scratch within Tesla.”
Teslas were spotted early Sunday in a neighborhood called South Congress with no one in the driver’s seat but one person in the passenger seat. The automaker planned a small trial with about 10 vehicles and front-seat riders acting as “safety monitors,” though it remained unclear how much control they had over the vehicles.
In recent days, the automaker sent invites to a select group of influencers for a carefully monitored robotaxi trial in a limited zone. The rides are being offered for a flat fee of $4.20, Musk said on X.
Tesla investor and social-media personality Sawyer Merritt posted videos on X Sunday afternoon showing him ordering getting picked up, and taking a ride to a nearby bar and restaurant, Frazier’s Long and Low, using a Tesla robotaxi app.
If Tesla succeeds with the small deployment, it still faces major challenges in delivering on Musk’s promises to scale up quickly in Austin and other cities, industry experts say.
It could take years or decades for Tesla and self-driving rivals, such as Alphabet’s Waymo, to fully develop a robotaxi industry, said Philip Koopman, a Carnegie Mellon University computer-engineering professor with expertise in autonomous-vehicle technology.
A successful Austin trial for Tesla, he said, would be “the end of the beginning – not the beginning of the end.”
Most of Tesla’s sky-high stock value now rests on its ability to deliver robotaxis and humanoid robots, according to many industry analysts. Tesla is by far the world’s most valuable automaker.
As Tesla’s robotaxi-rollout date approached, Texas lawmakers moved to enact autonomous-vehicle rules. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, on Friday signed legislation requiring a state permit to operate self-driving vehicles.
The law, which takes effect September 1, signals that state officials from both parties want the driverless-vehicle industry to proceed cautiously.
Tesla did not respond to requests for comment. The governor’s office declined to comment.
“EASY TO GET, EASY TO LOSE”
The law softens the state’s previous anti-regulation stance on autonomous vehicles. A 2017 Texas law specifically prohibited cities from regulating self-driving cars.
The new law requires autonomous-vehicle operators to get approval from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles before operating on public streets without a human driver. It gives state authorities the power to revoke permits for operators they deem a public danger.
The law also requires firms to provide information on how first responders can deal with their driverless vehicles in emergency situations.
The law’s permit requirements for an “automated motor vehicle” are not onerous but require firms to attest their vehicles can operate legally and safely.
It defines an automated vehicle as having at least “Level 4” autonomous-driving capability under a recognized standard, meaning it can operate with no human driver under specified conditions. Level 5 autonomy is the top level and means a car can drive itself anywhere, under any conditions.
Compliance remains far easier than in some states, notably California, which requires submission of vehicle-testing data under state oversight.
Bryant Walker Smith, a University of South Carolina law professor who focuses on autonomous driving, said it appears any company that meets minimum application requirements will get a Texas permit – but could also lose it if problems arise.
“California permits are hard to get, easy to lose,” he said. “In Texas, the permit is easy to get and easy to lose.”
MUSK’S SAFETY PLEDGES
The Tesla robotaxi rollout comes after more than a decade of Musk’s unfulfilled promises to deliver self-driving Teslas.
Musk has said Tesla would be “super paranoid” about robotaxi safety in Austin, including operating in limited areas.
The service in Austin will have other restrictions as well. Tesla plans to avoid bad weather, difficult intersections, and will not carry anyone below age 18.
Commercializing autonomous vehicles has been risky and expensive. GM’s Cruise was shut down after a serious accident. Regulators are closely watching Tesla and its rivals, Waymo and Amazon’s Zoox.
Tesla is also bucking the young industry’s standard practice of relying on multiple technologies to read the road, using only cameras. That, Musk says, will be safe and much less expensive than lidar and radar systems added by rivals.
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) on Sunday reported a net addition of 19.14 lakh members in April 2025, reflecting a strong momentum in formal sector employment. The latest payroll data released by the Ministry of Labour and Employment indicates a noticeable rise in workforce participation, particularly among the youth.
According to the provisional figures, around 8.49 lakh new members enrolled with the EPFO during the month of April. This marks an increase of 12.5 percent compared to March 2025. Of these new joiners, nearly 57.7 percent were in the age group of 18 to 25 years, underscoring a healthy entry rate of young workers into the organized sector.
The data also highlights regional trends, with five states and union territories contributing over 60 percent of the net payroll additions. Maharashtra led the chart, accounting for 21.1 percent of the total member additions. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana also recorded notable contributions to the overall increase.
Industry-wise, the expert services segment, including manpower suppliers, saw the highest number of new member additions. Other sectors such as trading and commercial establishments, engineering contractors, construction, computer services, and education also witnessed significant growth in employment registrations. Within expert services, manpower suppliers alone added around 4.24 lakh new accounts.
The EPFO has clarified that the payroll figures are provisional and subject to change as the organization continues to update its data based on new Electronic Challan-cum-Return (ECR) filings and revised member records. Monthly revisions are also made due to exit corrections and Aadhaar-based identification updates.
Three solar projects in regional New Zealand will receive loans of up to $28.1 million combined from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to ensure security of local energy supply and community resilience, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Energy Minister Simon Watts say.
“The loans for these projects in Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay and Rakiura/Stewart Island will allow them to get under way this year, helping them to improve economic prosperity and resilience. They will also create up to 150 jobs during construction,” Mr Jones says.
“These projects support the Coalition Government’s objective of doubling renewable energy generation by 2050 and enabling a more reliable and affordable electricity supply for regional New Zealand,” Mr Watts says.
The three projects are:
Rakiura/Stewart Island – a suspensory loan of up to $15.35m to Southland District Council to build the first stage of a solar farm, and network upgrades, replacing high-cost, diesel-generated electricity for the island’s 494 permanent electricity connections
Ongaonga, Hawke’s Bay – a loan of up to $8m to local lines company Centralines Ltd to build a 35ha solar farm to generate 52GW annually and provide about 9000 electricity connections in Central Hawke’s Bay with a local source of generation
Te Kaha, Bay of Plenty – a loan of up to $4.75m to Te Huata Charitable Trust to build an 804kW-peak solar farm to ensure reliable electricity supply to about 320 homes and businesses.
The Rakiura/Stewart Island project is expected to reduce diesel consumption by 200,000 litres within two years of beginning. During construction, about 40 high-skilled workers will be required.
When complete, more competitive energy costs will help business growth on the island including in aquaculture, tourism and hospitality.
The Ongaonga solar farm will improve electricity network resilience and support more competitive pricing for residents and commercial customers. Power could also be supplied to the national grid at peak generation. About 80-100 roles are expected to be needed during construction.
The Te Kaha project will provide more reliable, competitively priced power for a Māori community that regularly suffers electricity outages. The solar farm battery will have storage capacity for up to 72 hours which will protect the community from power outages. Reliable power will also help the Ōpōtiki region with its bid to be an aquaculture centre of national significance. During construction, up to 12 people will be employed.
“Solar power is playing an increasingly important role in increasing electricity generation in New Zealand. It will help us reach our renewable energy targets and bolster the security and affordability of our energy supply,” Mr Watts says.
“The Government has been making great progress on a series of exciting new solar and battery initiatives recently. I look forward to seeing these three projects make a real difference for these communities.”
Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson travelled to Rakiura for the announcement today. He said the project should lead to considerable savings for residents.
“The Regional infrastructure Fund is contributing to energy security where communities cannot gain investment from other sources, and there are wider benefits for the communities,” Mr Patterson says.
BEIJING, June 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On June 17, 2025, Boyuan Capital (the market-oriented investment platform under the Bosch Group), announced a joint venture named BOYIN INNOVATION ALLIANCE with Galbot, a market leading innovator in building general-purpose humanoid robots powered by Embodied AI.
The collaboration was officially unveiled at the “Open Bosch: Embodied AI Day” event on June 17. On the same day, Bosch China, Boyuan Capital, and Galbot signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly advance the R&D and commercialization of Embodied Intelligent Robotics.
The joint venture will focus on industrial applications with Embodied AI in high-precision manufacturing—such as complex assembly— aiming at promoting the large-scale industrial deployment of Embodied AI and accelerating the global adoption of Embodied AI technologies. It will leverage Galbot’s proprietary Embodied AI technology, replace traditional rule-based and programmed automation deployment methods with Embodied AI models trained on real industrial scenario data, and develop next-generation intelligent robot systems for industrial scenarios. This initiative marks a significant milestone in transitioning Embodied AI from pilot testing to scaled industrial deployment, aligning with the global acceleration of smart manufacturing.
Galbot: A pioneer in Embodied AI
Galbot—recognized by The Information as one of the Top Asia Startups of 2024 has emerged as a leader in Embodied AI. Galbot is Founded in May 2023 by Prof. He Wang from Peking University, who gained his PhD from Stanford.
At the event, Galbot demonstrated its Embodied AI robots, showcasing fully autonomous capabilities in complex automotive and retail scenarios. The live demonstrations received widespread acclaim from key partners, including Bosch China, BoYuan Capital and United Automotive Electronic Systems (UAES), underscoring the maturity of Galbot’s Embodied AI technologies.
These demonstrations showcased the maturity of Galbot’s technology stack, which includes: End-to-End VLA (Vision-Language-Action) Large Models with strong generalization capabilities; A proprietary simulation dataset containing over 10 billion high-quality robotic action data points; Advanced hardware systems featuring high-precision control and scenario adaptability.
Strategic Collaboration and Global Reach
As a key early milestone, BOYIN INNOVATION ALLIANCE signed a memorandum of understanding with UAES to establish RoboFab, a joint laboratory dedicated to cultivating automotive-operations related expertise in Embodied AI and redefining industrialization.
“Embodied AI holds transformative potential to redefine manufacturing processes. We’re already witnessing its remarkable capabilities across diverse production stages. Through this powerful synergy between Boyuan Capital and Galbot, we anticipate delivering commercially viable, scalable robotics solutions with real industry impact,” said Dr. Ingo Ramesohl, Managing Partner of Bosch Ventures.
“The future of manufacturing lies in intelligent, adaptive systems that can learn from real-world data,” said Professor He Wang, founder of Galbot. “Through this collaboration with Bosch and Boyuan Capital, we’re building an end-to-end value chain that will deliver globally competitive Embodied AI solutions for smart manufacturing.”
The joint venture adopts a “global design, local production” strategy, positioning it to serve key international markets including Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia.
Industry analysts view this collaboration as a significant development in the Embodied AI sector, potentially accelerating the industrialization of AI-driven robot system in manufacturing. The partnership brings together complementary strengths: Bosch’s industrial experience, Boyuan’s financial resources and eco-system, and Galbot’s technological innovations in Embodied AI.
Contact Person: Xiaokang Li Email: business@galbot.com
BEIJING, June 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On June 17, 2025, Boyuan Capital (the market-oriented investment platform under the Bosch Group), announced a joint venture named BOYIN INNOVATION ALLIANCE with Galbot, a market leading innovator in building general-purpose humanoid robots powered by Embodied AI.
The collaboration was officially unveiled at the “Open Bosch: Embodied AI Day” event on June 17. On the same day, Bosch China, Boyuan Capital, and Galbot signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly advance the R&D and commercialization of Embodied Intelligent Robotics.
The joint venture will focus on industrial applications with Embodied AI in high-precision manufacturing—such as complex assembly— aiming at promoting the large-scale industrial deployment of Embodied AI and accelerating the global adoption of Embodied AI technologies. It will leverage Galbot’s proprietary Embodied AI technology, replace traditional rule-based and programmed automation deployment methods with Embodied AI models trained on real industrial scenario data, and develop next-generation intelligent robot systems for industrial scenarios. This initiative marks a significant milestone in transitioning Embodied AI from pilot testing to scaled industrial deployment, aligning with the global acceleration of smart manufacturing.
Galbot: A pioneer in Embodied AI
Galbot—recognized by The Information as one of the Top Asia Startups of 2024 has emerged as a leader in Embodied AI. Galbot is Founded in May 2023 by Prof. He Wang from Peking University, who gained his PhD from Stanford.
At the event, Galbot demonstrated its Embodied AI robots, showcasing fully autonomous capabilities in complex automotive and retail scenarios. The live demonstrations received widespread acclaim from key partners, including Bosch China, BoYuan Capital and United Automotive Electronic Systems (UAES), underscoring the maturity of Galbot’s Embodied AI technologies.
These demonstrations showcased the maturity of Galbot’s technology stack, which includes: End-to-End VLA (Vision-Language-Action) Large Models with strong generalization capabilities; A proprietary simulation dataset containing over 10 billion high-quality robotic action data points; Advanced hardware systems featuring high-precision control and scenario adaptability.
Strategic Collaboration and Global Reach
As a key early milestone, BOYIN INNOVATION ALLIANCE signed a memorandum of understanding with UAES to establish RoboFab, a joint laboratory dedicated to cultivating automotive-operations related expertise in Embodied AI and redefining industrialization.
“Embodied AI holds transformative potential to redefine manufacturing processes. We’re already witnessing its remarkable capabilities across diverse production stages. Through this powerful synergy between Boyuan Capital and Galbot, we anticipate delivering commercially viable, scalable robotics solutions with real industry impact,” said Dr. Ingo Ramesohl, Managing Partner of Bosch Ventures.
“The future of manufacturing lies in intelligent, adaptive systems that can learn from real-world data,” said Professor He Wang, founder of Galbot. “Through this collaboration with Bosch and Boyuan Capital, we’re building an end-to-end value chain that will deliver globally competitive Embodied AI solutions for smart manufacturing.”
The joint venture adopts a “global design, local production” strategy, positioning it to serve key international markets including Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia.
Industry analysts view this collaboration as a significant development in the Embodied AI sector, potentially accelerating the industrialization of AI-driven robot system in manufacturing. The partnership brings together complementary strengths: Bosch’s industrial experience, Boyuan’s financial resources and eco-system, and Galbot’s technological innovations in Embodied AI.
Contact Person: Xiaokang Li Email: business@galbot.com
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The U.S. State Department on Sunday issued a Worldwide Caution Security Alert, advising U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution.
“The conflict between Israel and Iran has resulted in disruptions to travel and periodic closure of airspace across the Middle East,” said the notice posted on the State Department’s website.
“There is the potential for demonstrations against U.S. citizens and interests abroad. The Department of State advises U.S. citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution,” it said.
The United States struck three key nuclear facilities in Iran on Saturday, claiming that it had obliterated Iran’s nuclear program.
Late Saturday night, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that any retaliation by Iran against the United States “will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight.”
The State Department last week warned U.S. travelers not to travel to Israel, Gaza and the West Bank because of armed conflict, terrorism and civil unrest.