Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
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Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
ZAMBALES, Philippines — U.S. Army soldiers from the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force’s 5th Battalion, 3rd Long Range Fires Battalion, working alongside the U.S. Air Force’s 374th Airlift Wing, 5th Air Force, and the Philippine Navy successfully demonstrated the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) multi-modal mobility throughout northern Luzon May 24-31, 2025
Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)
Vice President JD Vance attends the American Compass Fifth Anniversary Gala and participates in a discussion with American Compass founder and chief economist Oren Cass.
Washington, DC
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) voted for, and the U.S. House of Representatives passed, the 7(a)Loan Agent Oversight Act, which would require the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide annual reports to Congress on loan agents, which serve as intermediaries, for the SBA 7(a) program.
“Ensuring that our small businesses have access to reliable, affordable capital is important for economic growth and rural development in Iowa. The SBA’s flagship loan program – the 7(a) loan program – helps facilitate this investment by assisting job creators on Main Street with securing financing. However, a percentage of this program uses loan agents, which have a history of fraud, to disburse small business loans,” said Rep. Feenstra. “It’s why I voted for legislation to conduct vigorous oversight of this program so that small businesses get the financial resources that they need to grow, hire, and invest while protecting taxpayer dollars and combatting fraud. Under President Trump, we are eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government, and this legislation will further that mission at the SBA.”
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Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Lee Jae-myung of South Korea’s majority liberal Democratic Party was elected president, the ongoing vote count by the National Election Commission showed on Wednesday.
With 94.4 percent of the votes counted after midnight, Lee won 48.8 percent and his major rival Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party took 42.0 percent, the National Election Commission data showed.
Even if all the remaining uncounted votes go to Kim, Lee will win the presidential by-election, confirming his victory.
Local broadcaster JTBC and three terrestrial broadcasters including KBS, MBC and SBS forecast earlier that Lee was certain to be elected the country’s 21st president.
Preliminary voter turnout reached 79.4 percent, marking the highest in 28 years since the voting rate recorded 80.7 percent in 1997.
Out of about 44.39 million eligible voters, some 35.24 million cast their ballots at 14,295 polling stations across the country.
The voter turnout, which included those who participated in early voting last Thursday and Friday, was up from 77.1 percent tallied in the previous presidential election in 2022.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Villagers compete during a dragon boat race at Xixi National Wetland Park in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, on May 31, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
In the watery maze of Diejiao Village in Foshan, south China’s Guangdong Province, dragon boat teams race through S-curves, L-bends and tight C-turns with breathtaking precision. Spectators gasp and cheer as the 25-meter-long boats spin around corners at full speed, water spraying in their wake.
A popular Cantonese saying captures the spirit of the event: “Ning ho bou laan, bat ho paa maan,” meaning, “It’s better to crash the boat than to paddle slowly.” It’s no surprise, then, that Chinese social media users have dubbed this tradition the “F1 on water,” with thrilling clips of races going viral across the country and beyond during the recent Dragon Boat Festival holiday.
The festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month each year, and in 2009, it became the first Chinese holiday to be inscribed on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. People throughout China and all over the world celebrate the festival, which has a history stretching more than 2,000 years.
Festivities vary from region to region but usually share several features: a memorial ceremony offering sacrifices to an ancient Chinese patriotic poet is combined with sporting events such as dragon boat races, zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) feasts, and folk entertainments such as opera performances.
These rich traditions are increasingly influencing how people choose their travel destinations. Across China, more tourists are seeking out immersive cultural experiences, and the Dragon Boat Festival offers both vibrant celebrations and a focus on deep-rooted heritage.
This year’s holiday — May 31 to June 2 — turned Foshan into a travel magnet, with its total tourist bookings up 167 percent year on year. Hotel reservations jumped 145 percent, and airline ticket sales rose 110 percent.
“Chinese dragon boat racing has long gone global,” said Chen Xiaolin, a Chinese-Canadian and the leader of a dragon boat team from Victoria, Canada, that joined an international dragon boat competition in east China’s Suzhou city on May 31.
Chen originally founded the team in Victoria to connect with the local Chinese community. But over time, more and more local residents joined. “That might be because residents in Victoria really enjoy water sports like kayaking and canoeing, which have similarities to dragon boat racing,” she said.
Yvonne Christine Ann Sharpe, a 70-year-old team member, had eight years of canoeing experience before she tried her hand at dragon boat racing. Sharpe told Xinhua that canoeing allows paddlers to switch hands, making it a bit easier than dragon boat racing, which has a complex technique and requires full team synchronization to maintain balance and speed.
“Hard connectivity, soft connectivity and economic ties lay the foundation for tourism, but cultural connectivity is key to sustaining its appeal,” said Tang Jinwen, an associate professor at the Management College of Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University. Tang noted that traditional festivals like the Dragon Boat Festival are becoming cultural events that connect China with the world.
Traditional Chinese festival experiences are drawing growing numbers of international visitors to explore and connect with Chinese culture firsthand, particularly following the country’s rollout of its visa-free travel policies.
According to data from the National Immigration Administration, 231,000 foreign nationals entered China during this year’s Dragon Boat Festival holiday under these new policies — a 59.4 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Hotel searches for inbound international tourism during the holiday more than doubled this year, according to data from online travel giant Trip.com. The top-10 source countries for related inbound travel were Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, Russia, Japan, Britain, Australia and France.
Beijing, China’s capital city, welcomed 67,000 international tourists during the holiday, a year-on-year increase of 35.8 percent. These visitors spent a total of 720 million yuan (about 100 million U.S. dollars), which was 41.1 percent higher than the same period last year.
China has been vigorously boosting its domestic consumption, notably in its culture and tourism sectors. Since the beginning of 2025, local governments have rolled out a variety of incentives, ranging from cultural vouchers to ticket discounts, aiming to unlock spending potential.
These efforts intensified during the 2025 Dragon Boat Festival. In central China’s Hubei Province, more than 160 A-level scenic areas offered ticket discounts, pass bundles and family deals. Shandong Province distributed 50 million yuan in cultural tourism vouchers covering attractions, hotels and cultural products.
As China’s economy reaches a certain level, a growing emphasis is being placed on exploring traditional culture and, in particular, how it is reflected in consumption, said Wang Qing, who works at a market economy institute under the Development Research Center of the State Council.
Elements of traditional culture are likely to play increasingly important roles in shaping consumption in China, Wang said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China firmly opposes the EU’s protectionist move to limit Chinese medical device firms from participating in major EU public procurement tenders, the Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday.
The statement came in response to the EU member states’ decision to block Chinese companies from participating in public procurement tenders in the medical device sector for contracts valued over 5 million euros (about 5.72 million U.S. dollars) under the bloc’s International Procurement Instrument. The plan, reportedly approved on Monday, would prohibit Chinese firms from bidding on such contracts for a five-year period.
The EU’s decision and discriminatory measures harm the interests of Chinese enterprises, and also undermine fair competition and set up new trade barriers through unilateral tools, the ministry noted, stressing that China firmly opposes such a protectionist move.
The global economic order is facing severe challenges from unilateralism and protectionism, the ministry said.
As responsible major economies, China and the EU should adhere to WTO rules, uphold the principles of fairness, transparency and non-discrimination, address challenges through mutual openness, and resolve differences through cooperative dialogue to jointly safeguard the healthy development of China-EU economic and trade relations, the ministry added.
It is hoped that the EU will rectify its misguided approach, the ministry said, stressing that China will closely monitor the EU’s subsequent actions and take necessary measures to safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.
Source: New Zealand Labour Party
The Government continues to obliterate science and innovation in New Zealand.
“New Zealand’s world leading crown research institutes are being left to dwindle, and New Zealand’s best scientists are losing their jobs and leaving the country,” Labour science and innovation spokesperson Reuben Davidson said.
“National’s decision to cut Callaghan Innovation has lost the country at least 60 skilled science jobs, meaning the expertise to commercialise great New Zealand innovations has evaporated.
“GNS Science has axed nearly 10 percent of its workforce, despite its important work on seismic and climate research. ESR – the Institute of Environmental Science and Research – slashing eight percent of its workforce because of government cuts. NIWA was also proposing 13 percent of its workforce would have to go.
“Cuts to the Marsden Fund, which supports important research at universities, will mean less research in public health, nursing, law, education, Māori studies, and public policy.
“The Government has also closed the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund and replaced it with a new, smaller fund, and decided not to award new funding through the Endeavour Fund in 2026.
“They’ve taken a total of $90 million out of grants and funds in Budget 2025. This is incredibly short-sighted, and gambles with New Zealand’s technology future.
“National is happy to turn up to events like the Hi-Tech awards and congratulate winners when the cameras are rolling in Budget week, but behind the scenes they are cutting the funding that got lots of our best innovators there,” Reuben Davidson said.
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Source: New Zealand Labour Party
Public schools aren’t converting to charter schools at the rate David Seymour claimed they would.
Due to low demand over the past year, $4 million was taken out of the money set aside for charter schools to be used on other things. Despite that, the Government is still funding ACT’s failing charter school model.
“Charter schools are a waste of taxpayer’s money. They cost far more per student than state schools, have very little oversight and are based on ideology, not evidence,” Labour education spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime said.
“It’s time David Seymour faced reality – ACT’s charter schools experiment is failing again. The Government’s own budget documents state that no state school converted in the last financial year.
“When the funding was announced last year, he claimed there would be ‘15 new charter schools and the conversion of 35 state schools to charter schools in 2025 and 2026’. Now he’s back-tracking.
“The Government is wasting money on David Seymour’s vanity project despite knowing it isn’t working. The cost per student is astronomical and there is no evidence it is worth it.
“A student at a charter school costs the taxpayer around five times as much as a student who attends a state school, with nothing to show for it.
“David Seymour is cutting funding for school lunches while wasting money on charter schools,” Willow-Jean Prime said.
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Source: New Zealand Labour Party
The Government is continuing its attack on women, this time targeting the pay of early childhood education (ECE) teachers.
David Seymour’s changes will mean new ECE teachers being at the whim of their employers who will choose what they’re paid, regardless of any higher qualifications.
“It wasn’t enough that the Government cut women’s pay to save its budget, but now it’s doubling down and further undermining the pay of ECE teachers,” Labour’s early childhood education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said.
“Under these changes, ECE centres will have a harder time attracting recent graduates – a devastating blow for a sector already struggling with teacher numbers.
“We introduced pay parity to ensure we could build the ECE workforce back up and reduce turnover. We did this so those doing the most important teaching of our tamariki would be paid what they deserved and wouldn’t just see it as a temporary job, but a career.
“Budget 2025 offered a measly 0.5% cost adjustment in ECE subsidies. To make up for this cost, women are again, being under-valued,” Jan Tinetti said.
“This also comes as it’s reported that the Ministry of Education’s pay equity claims team is at risk of cuts,” Labour’s education spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime said.
“This is after Erica Stanford stood in the House and claimed she didn’t know anything about the proposed cuts.
“Women across the country are still trying to stitch the holes National has cut into their pockets and it’s disheartening that at every turn, National chooses to continuing cutting,” Willow-Jean Prime said.
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Source: New Zealand Labour Party
The Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Statement predicts a sluggish economy with higher inflation and more job losses.
“Just days after Nicola Willis slashed women’s pay in order to deliver her so-called ‘Growth Budget’, growth is now predicted to slow,” Labour finance and economy spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said.
“The Reserve Bank cited low growth, higher inflation in the short term, and higher unemployment as key reasons why they cut rates today. Rate cuts are good for mortgage-holders, but there are some real alarm bells in the RBNZ’s statement.
“Specifically, it projected sluggish economic growth of less than 1% in 2025, and said that inflation will continue to rise in the short term.
“Most concerning, the Reserve Bank warned about a weakening labour market, with unemployment remaining above 5% and expected to climb further this year. That contradicts National’s promises of thousands of new jobs in their Budget. Thanks to their choices, more than 15,000 construction jobs have been lost.
“The Government claims to have delivered a ‘Growth Budget’ but the only growth we can see is growing unemployment, growing prices, and a growing pay gap between men and women.
“Instead of helping people through tough times, the Government has chosen to cut jobs and take money from women’s future pay, all so they can give it to tobacco, fossil fuel, and big tech companies.
“Labour would make different choices, investing in jobs, health, and homes to grow the economy and lift living standards for everyone,” Barbara Edmonds said.
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Source: US State of Colorado
DENVER – Today, Governor Polis bills into law to support members of the military, veterans, and military connected families.
Governor Polis signed the following bills into law:
“Military families and veterans have long called Colorado home, and we are committed to continuing our work to expand resources for military connected Colordans by protecting veterans benefits, creating more transportation options for military families, and ensuring mission readiness for active military personnel,” said Governor Polis.
Governor Polis also signed SB25-304 – Measures to Address Sexual Assault Kit Backlog, sponsored by Representatives Willford and Froelich, and Senator Weissman.
“Everyone who has experienced sexual assault deserves justice and this new law moves us closer to ensuring that. I thank the bill sponsors for their work to address this urgent situation and help hold perpetrators accountable,” said Governor Polis.
Governor Polis also signed the following bills into law administratively:
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Source: United States Coast Guard
06/03/2025 07:24 PM EDT
The Coast Guard, alongside fellow federal, state and local agency partners will be actively patrolling the Northern California waterways during the recreational salmon fishery open period scheduled for June 7 to 8, 2025.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
ST. HELIER, Jersey, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Plantro Ltd. (“Plantro”) today announced the completion of its all-cash tender offer (the “Tender Offer”) to acquire class A limited voting shares (“Class A Shares”) in the capital of Information Services Corporation (TSX: ISC) (“ISC” or the “Company”) at a price of $30 per Class A Share.
In connection with the completion of the Tender Offer, Plantro will take up and pay for Class A Shares that have been validly tendered and not withdrawn within three business days. Following the take up and payment for such Class A Shares, Plantro will own a total of 580,863 Class A Shares, representing approximately 3.13% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Class A Shares.
Payment for the purchased Class A Shares will be effected by Odyssey Trust Company, the depositary for the Tender Offer, in accordance with the Tender Offer and applicable law. Shareholders of ISC who have validly deposited and not withdrawn their Class A Shares are not required to take any further action to accept the Tender Offer.
Plantro is pleased to have provided participating ISC shareholders an opportunity to receive liquidity and certainty of value for their Class A Shares. Plantro intends to remain an engaged shareholder, hold the ISC board of directors to account, and to continue to take actions to unlock value for the benefit of all shareholders.
About Plantro
Plantro is a privately held company, with an established track record of making successful investments in undervalued and high quality legal, financial, and information services businesses.
Shareholder Questions
Shareholders of ISC who have questions with respect to the completed Tender Offer, please contact the depositary or the information agent for the Tender Offer at the contact details below:
Depositary: Odyssey Trust Company
Toll Free (US & Canada): 1-888-290-1175
Calls (All Regions): 587-885-0960
Email: corp.actions@odysseytrust.com
Information Agent: Carson Proxy
North America Toll Free: 1-800-530-5189
Local and Text: 416-751-2066
Email: info@carsonproxy.com
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which reflects Plantro’s current expectations regarding future events. Specifically, certain statements contained in this press release, including without limitation statements regarding the Tender Offer, and taking up and paying for Class A Shares deposited under the Tender Offer, contain “forward-looking information” and are prospective in nature. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology such as “plans”, “targets”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “an opportunity exists”, “is positioned”, “estimates”, “intends”, “assumes”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate” or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “will” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are not historical facts, nor guarantees or assurances of future performance but instead represent Plantro’s current beliefs, expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Plantro’s control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. Plantro does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.
Media Contact: Gagnier Communications
Riyaz Lalani / Dan Gagnier
Email: Plantro@gagnierfc.com
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and 25 senate colleagues in introducing a resolution declaring June as “Life Month” to recognize the historic overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2022.
“Ever since I got to Washington, I have been a champion for the unborn,” said Senator Tuberville. “If we are going to dedicate entire months to recognizing every group under the sun, the least we can do is dedicate June to protecting the most vulnerable among us. Now that Republicans control the White House, Senate, and House, we have to send a strong message: Republicans are the party that stands up for life.”
Joining Senators Tuberville and Cruz in introducing the resolution are U.S. Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), John Kennedy (R-LA), Ted Budd (R-NC), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), James Lankford (R-OK), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Rick Scott (R-FL), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Todd Young (R-IN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Jim Risch (R-ID), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Hoeven (R-ND), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tim Scott (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Jim Justice (R-WV), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY).
This resolution is supported by ADF, Heritage Action, SBA Pro-life, National Right to Life, Human Coalition, Heartbeat International, Family Research Council, Students for Life, Americans United for Life, Family Policy Alliance, Concerned Women for America, Catholic Vote, March for Life, 40 Days for Life, National Pro-Life Alliance, NIFLA, Citizens for Life, Christian Broadcasting Network, Focus on the Family, Liberty Counsel Action, and Eagle Forum.
Full text of the resolution can be found here.
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.
Source: Scottish Government
£24 million to realise Kishorn Port potential.
A multi-million pound investment is being made in one of Scotland’s most strategically important ports.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will invest up to £24 million at Kishorn Port in the west Highlands to enhance its capacity and capabilities, with an expanded dry dock and land reclamation enabling the manufacture of floating offshore wind foundations.
The expanded facilities are forecast to attract projects with the potential to support up to 1,500 jobs once the port is fully developed.
The investment forms part a Scottish Government commitment of up to £500 million over five years to develop the country’s ports and offshore wind supply chain. The funding will help ensure businesses and communities secure maximum benefit from the country’s growing renewables capabilities.
As a strategic location for offshore wind components marshalling and manufacturing, Kishorn Port will play a crucial role in supporting current offshore wind developments and is well positioned to capitalise on future opportunities extending beyond Scotland.
The port houses one of the largest openings of any dry dock facility in Europe, making it a unique and valuable asset.
Announcing the award ahead of making an investment-focused speech today at Panmure House in Edinburgh, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said:
“This is one of the most significant public investments in our port infrastructure in decades. It is crucial to ensuring Kishorn Port and the communities it supports can reap the benefits of the global renewables market.
“It is a clear signal from the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise that will give investors the confidence to invest millions more in the area’s wider infrastructure, economy and people.”
HIE chief executive Stuart Black said:
“Offshore wind presents a massive opportunity for the Highlands and Islands and Kishorn is one of several ports that are at the heart of this. The facility has provided skilled jobs in a rural area for many decades and this is likely to grow significantly, which is vital to community resilience in a priority west coast location.
“The proposed dry dock expansion and land reclamation will greatly enhance the port’s capacity to support offshore wind and the contribution it makes to Scotland’s economy. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to secure this significant additional funding for the region and look forward to continuing to work with Kishorn Port Ltd as the project develops.”
Kishorn Port Limited (KPL) Directors Alasdair Ferguson said:
“This is a significant milestone in the continuing development of Kishorn Port. The port expansion will provide the catalyst for the support and creation of jobs within Wester Ross and the wider Highlands, benefiting communities across the area. We’re grateful to Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Government for their support.
“With the quarry on site, Kishorn Port is ideally suited to concrete manufacturing of floating offshore wind sub-structures, with local content, laydown, marshalling, and long-term integration and assembly possible at the port as part of the wider project in the long-term.”
Background
Other investments made as part of the Scottish Government’s commitment of up to £500 million include:
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (Toronto ETO) supported the inaugural edition of the Kung Fu Film Festival (Festival), which has presented six screenings of martial arts movies across the Greater Toronto Area from May 31 to June 1 (Toronto time) to celebrate the 50 years of Hong Kong’s kung fu cinema heritage and its influence on global film culture.
To mark the festival’s debut, Toronto ETO hosted an opening ceremony in Markham on May 31 with the presence of Canada Hong Kong Intercultural Association President and the Festival Chair, Ms Connie Yu, Secretary Manager of Southern Film Culture Foundation and the Festival Curator, Ms Catherine Lam, along with the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Toronto, Mr Luo Weidong, Senator Mr Woo Yuen-pau, Member of Parliament of Canada Mr Michael Ma and about 50 guests from the local film, cultural and business communities. Some of them also graced the closing ceremony before the screening of the Hong Kong production “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” directed by Soi Cheang and starring Louis Koo, Raymond Lam and Philip Ng in Toronto on June 1.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Acting Director of the Toronto ETO, Mr Gavin Yeung, highlighted Hong Kong’s position as an international hub for the arts, cultural and creative industries.
“Each film featured in this festival is a gem of Hong Kong’s film industry,” Mr Yeung shared. “Over the decades, Hong Kong movies and film talents have won numerous international awards. Many Hong Kong actors, directors, cinematographers and producers have become household names at global level.”
Mr Yeung also reaffirmed the commitment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to supporting the cultural and creative industries, noting that significant funding has been approved through the Film Development Fund for film projects. He added that the Toronto ETO would continue to bring more Hong Kong films to participate in various international film festivals across Canada.
The two-day festival curated a selection of six Hong Kong martial arts films produced between 1974 and 2024, including “The Shaolin Temple” (including a special AI anime version), “Martial Club”, “Ip Man 3”, “Kids from Shaolin”, “Hapkido”, and “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In”, offering Canadian audience a dynamic view into the evolution of Hong Kong-produced kung fu cinema.
In addition, a student seminar with Q&A session was held during the festival at Cineplex Cinemas Scarborough on June 1. The audience actively engaged in the discussion and shared their views on Hong Kong’s martial arts movies.
Source: US Geological Survey
“How do government and nonprofit agencies assess water quality? How do they know what effects a storm or agricultural practice has on stream health? WMRA’s Randi B. Hagi tagged along on a demonstration and filed this report.
[stream running, insects and birds calling]
War Branch is a small stream that winds through the poultry, beef, and crop land of Rockingham County before joining Smith Creek, a tributary of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. It’s the site of a monitoring station where the U.S. Geological Survey is studying how farm conservation practices – such as cover crops and fertilizer management – affect water quality. The fact that it’s a relatively small watershed makes it unique to study.
It’s draining about 10 square miles of land area up above us. So that’s still a lot that can happen in that area. A lot of farms, a lot of different activities. But most of our longer-term monitoring networks are in larger rivers and streams – think hundreds of square miles. … It’s really hard in those systems to identify specific activities causing changes in the stream chemistry.
Jimmy Webber
Jimmy Webber, the Chesapeake Bay associate coordinator for the USGS, led a group of 20-some attendees on a field trip to see the monitoring station. The trip was a part of the Choose Clean Water Conference held in Harrisonburg in mid-May. The group walked through hayfields and pastures down to the grassy stream banks of the War Branch site. Established a year ago, it’s one of five watersheds in the ongoing study. The others are in Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
Monitoring equipment that lies in the stream collects data and uploads it to an online database about every 15 minutes. It’s a metal tube with smaller cylindrical sensors extending from the end – it kind of looks like a cross between a caulk gun and a gatling gun. A tiny motorized brush sweeps off the end of the sensors before each data reading. As Hydrologic Technician Laura Yates explained, the sensors are gauging metrics including water height, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen. She pointed out another one to the group. . .”
Read or listen to the full article at WMRA Public Radio
Source: US Department of Energy
ICYMI— The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) announced increased transparency and accountability for the federal permitting of two Department of Energy (DOE) lithium processing projects, advancing President Trump’s commitment to bolster domestic production of minerals and support American jobs.
The projects — Kings Mountain and Liberty Owl — increase lithium processing in the United States. Currently, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) controls 70% of the market, with lithium as a key component in many energy storage and defense applications. Once completed, these projects will help to develop more secure domestic supply chains, strengthening our national security and our economic security.
The Kings Mountain, NC Project is owned by Albemarle Corporation, a leading provider in lithium that has established extensive capabilities in chemical manufacturing. The Kings Mountain Lithium Material Processing Plant is receiving a $150 million federal award through DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC). This project supports the construction of a new, commercial scale processing facility that will have the capacity to produce 350,000 tons per year of lithium oxide concentrate.
The Liberty Owl Project in the Texarkana region is owned by TerraVolta, a US-based critical minerals and resources company. This project is receiving a $225 million award through MESC for the construction of a commercial scale lithium extraction and refining facility to produce battery grade lithium from domestic brine resources from the Smackover region.
These additions to the Federal Permitting Dashboard reflect the Trump Administration’s commitment to strengthen domestic supply chains for critical minerals and materials, reduce dependence on foreign sources and advance President Trump’s bold agenda for American energy dominance through a more secure, affordable and reliable U.S. energy system.
The Department looks forward to working with federal partners, project sponsors, and developers to ensure these projects move forward with increased transparency, clear project timelines, expedited reviews, and the support needed to strengthen domestic supply chains, drive economic growth and deliver on President Trump’s commitment to unleashing American energy and economic security.
Source: New Zealand Police
A prolific Tauranga shoplifter has been sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of 37 shoplifting charges dating back to 2024.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said it was the result of outstanding investigative work by an officer in the Tauranga Retail Crime Unit.
The officer began his investigation based on a single shoplifting report that came through Auror, with no offender identified and no real lines of enquiry.
From that single report, the officer was able to build a picture of a serial shoplifter, who was offending on an almost daily basis.
A 45-year-old woman was arrested in February 2025, and charged with offending dating back to September 2024. She appeared in Tauranga District Court on 21 May and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.
“This was the result of meticulous and painstaking work by the officer in the Tauranga Retail Crime Unit,” Commissioner Chambers said.
“The exceptional work of the officer has meant a serial shoplifter has been held to account for her actions. It highlights the importance of monitoring and following up on what might initially seem like low-level offending.
“We know how devastating this type of offending is for our retail community, and holding people to account for shoplifting and retail theft remains a priority for NZ Police.
“The convictions in this case were a result of not only outstanding investigative work, but also of the great rapport that the officer has built with local retailers.
“Each region is different and policing Districts much continue to have the leeway to decide how their resources are best used, and what their priorities need to be.
“However, the case does highlight just how effective the dedicated retail crime unit in Tauranga can be.
“It provides a good model for other Districts to consider when deciding how to tackle retail crime.”
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre.
Source: New South Wales Community and Justice
Two men arrested and youths spoken to after drug dog patrols in Glenorchy
Wednesday, 4 June 2025 – 9:34 am.
Tasmania Police continues to focus on reducing anti-social behaviour and retail crime in the Glenorchy municipality with high visibility patrols supported by police dog handlers yesterday afternoon resulting in several arrests and formal directions being made.
Sergeant Iain Shepherd from the Tasmania Police Dog Handlers Unit said that during the patrols, dog handlers searched 12 people resulting in the seizure of drugs such as methylamphetamine and cannabis, and three people were found in possession of knives or other weapons.
“A 48-year-old man from Bridgewater wanted on stealing charges was located and interviewed and another 48-year-old man from Bridgewater was arrested for consuming alcohol and engaging in disorderly conduct.”
“The man was bailed before being arrested again a short time later for attempted stealing.”
“He was banned from entering all Coles stores for one year and will appear in court at a later date.”
“Five other individuals also received formal directions to leave the Glenorchy CBD due to their behaviour.”
“In addition, several youths were spoken to, and those found in possession of drugs will be dealt with through youth diversion programs,” said Sergeant Shepherd.
Police would like to thank the community for their support and assistance, and encourage anyone with information about drugs and anti-social behaviour to contact police at 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania at 1800 333 000 or via crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Salt Lake City, Utah, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TruGolf Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRUG), a leading golf technology company, announced today that Brenner Adams, TruGolf’s Chief Growth Officer will present at the “2025 Virtual Tech Conference: Discover the Innovations Reshaping Tomorrow,” presented by Maxim Group LLC, tomorrow, June 4th at 3:00 PM EDT.
The Conference will be live on M-Vest. To attend, follow this link to register for this virtual event. https://m-vest.com/events/tmt-06032025
About TruGolf Holdings
TruGolf is a golf technology company, committed to making golf, easy. From innovative uses for AI to build content and enhance its image and spatial analysis, to gamified golf improvement plans, TruGolf is an industry leader in the growing technological revolution in the sport of golf. Since its founding, TruGolf has redefined what is possible in golf through technology. TruGolf’s suite of Hardware, Software, and Web Products make it easier to Play, Improve, and Enjoy the game of golf.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, whether the Company’s compliance plan will be accepted by Nasdaq and the Company’s expected future cash needs. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, expectations may prove to have been materially different from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company has attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including ”believes,” ”estimates,” ”anticipates,” ”expects,” ”plans,” ”projects,” ”intends,” ”potential,” ”may,” ”could,” ”might,” ”will,” ”should,” ”approximately” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Any forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of its date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after its date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. More detailed information about the risks and uncertainties affecting the Company is contained under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov.
For more information about our products and upcoming innovations, please visit TruGolf.com.
Media Contacts:
TruGolf: Michael Bacal: Phone: 917-886-9071; mbacal@darrowir.com Web: TruGolf.com LinkedIn: @TruGolf
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
HOUSTON, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (the “Company”) (NYSE: KYN) today provided a summary unaudited statement of assets and liabilities and announced its net asset value and asset coverage ratios under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) as of May 31, 2025.
As of May 31, 2025, the Company’s net assets were $2.3 billion, and its net asset value per share was $13.79. As of May 31, 2025, the Company’s asset coverage ratio under the 1940 Act with respect to senior securities representing indebtedness was 740% and the Company’s asset coverage ratio under the 1940 Act with respect to total leverage (debt and preferred stock) was 530%.
| STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES MAY 31, 2025 // (UNAUDITED) |
||||
| (in millions) | ||||
| Investments | $ | 3,184.4 | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 12.1 | |||
| Receivable for securities sold | 2.8 | |||
| Accrued income | 1.6 | |||
| Other assets | 1.0 | |||
| Total assets | 3,201.9 | |||
| Notes | 388.2 | |||
| Unamortized notes issuance costs | (2.5 | ) | ||
| Preferred stock | 153.6 | |||
| Unamortized preferred stock issuance costs | (1.2 | ) | ||
| Total leverage | 538.1 | |||
| Payable for capital shares purchased | 2.6 | |||
| Other liabilities | 19.8 | |||
| Current tax liability, net | 12.6 | |||
| Deferred tax liability, net | 297.1 | |||
| Total liabilities | 332.1 | |||
| Net assets | $ | 2,331.7 | ||
The Company had 169,126,038 common shares outstanding as of May 31, 2025.
Long-term investments were comprised of Midstream Energy Companies (94%), Other (4%) and Utility Companies (2%).
The Company’s ten largest holdings by issuer at May 31, 2025 were:
| Amount (in millions) |
% Long Term Investments |
|||||
| 1. | The Williams Companies, Inc. (Midstream Energy Company) | $ | 359.7 | 11.3% | ||
| 2. | Energy Transfer LP (Midstream Energy Company) | 319.4 | 10.0% | |||
| 3. | Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (Midstream Energy Company) | 313.6 | 9.8% | |||
| 4. | MPLX LP (Midstream Energy Company) | 308.6 | 9.7% | |||
| 5. | Cheniere Energy, Inc. (Midstream Energy Company) | 266.9 | 8.4% | |||
| 6. | Kinder Morgan, Inc. (Midstream Energy Company) | 215.4 | 6.8% | |||
| 7. | ONEOK, Inc. (Midstream Energy Company) | 186.4 | 5.9% | |||
| 8. | TC Energy Corporation (Midstream Energy Company) | 167.7 | 5.3% | |||
| 9. | Targa Resources Corp. (Midstream Energy Company) | 152.5 | 4.8% | |||
| 10. | Western Midstream Partners, LP (Midstream Energy Company) | 120.6 | 3.8% | |||
Portfolio holdings are subject to change without notice. The mention of specific securities is not a recommendation or solicitation for any person to buy, sell or hold any particular security. You can obtain a complete listing of holdings by viewing the Company’s most recent quarterly or annual report.
Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (NYSE: KYN) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, whose common stock is traded on the NYSE. The Company’s investment objective is to provide a high after-tax total return with an emphasis on making cash distributions to stockholders. KYN intends to achieve this objective by investing at least 80% of its total assets in securities of Energy Infrastructure Companies. See Glossary of Key Terms in the Company’s most recent quarterly or annual report for a description of these investment categories and the meaning of capitalized terms.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer or sale is not permitted. Nothing contained in this press release is intended to recommend any investment policy or investment strategy or consider any investor’s specific objectives or circumstances. Before investing, please consult with your investment, tax, or legal adviser regarding your individual circumstances.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This communication contains statements reflecting assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions, or beliefs about future events. These and other statements not relating strictly to historical or current facts constitute forward-looking statements as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements involve a variety of risks and uncertainties. These risks include but are not limited to changes in economic and political conditions; regulatory and legal changes; energy industry risk; leverage risk; valuation risk; interest rate risk; tax risk; and other risks discussed in detail in the Company’s filings with the SEC, available at www.kaynefunds.com or www.sec.gov. Actual events could differ materially from these statements or our present expectations or projections. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Kayne Anderson undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein. There is no assurance that the Company’s investment objectives will be attained.
Contact investor relations at 877-657-3863 or cef@kayneanderson.com.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
CALGARY, Alberta, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Acceleware® Ltd. (“Acceleware” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: AXE), a leading innovator of transformative technologies using radio frequency (RF) technology targeting industrial process heat in the critical minerals and enhanced oil production industries, announces the strategic appointment of two seasoned energy executives to the Board of Directors (the “Board”), and that two original members of the Board are stepping down. The new Board appointees, with their significant industry experience and knowledge, will be instrumental in assisting management in implementing a new strategic plan.
Board Announcement:
The Company announces the appointment of Peter (Pete) Sametz P. Eng. ICD.D as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and the appointment to the Board of Merle Johnson P. Eng. MBA, ICD.D, both effective June 3, 2025. Mr. Bohdan (Don) Romaniuk, Chairman of the Board, and Dr. Peter Neweduk, Director, have stepped down from the Board after over 19 years of service. Mr. Sametz and Mr. Johnson, whose appointments will fill the vacancies left by Mr. Romaniuk and Dr. Neweduk, will both also serve on the audit committee, with Mr. Johnson appointed as Chair of the Audit Committee.
Said Mr. Romaniuk, “I am thrilled that Mr. Sametz has agreed to serve as Executive Chair of Acceleware’s board. Acceleware’s technology offers outstanding potential. I wish him, and the Company all the best.”
Added Geoff Clark, Acceleware CEO, “On behalf of Acceleware, our shareholders, and our employees, I would like to extend our thanks to Don and Peter for their dedication and service over many years. Their efforts have been greatly appreciated – we’ve certainly had many successes along the way – and they’ve also helped see us through many challenges. We wish them all the best.”
Both Mr. Romaniuk and Dr. Neweduk will remain available to provide support and knowledge transfer for as long as is required to ensure an efficient Board transition.
“I am extremely pleased to welcome Pete and Merle to the Acceleware board,” said Mr. Clark. “Acceleware is implementing a new and transformative strategic plan intended to advance the business and create significant value for shareholders. Having Pete join us as Executive Chair and Merle as Director and Audit Committee Chair to drive development and execution of this strategy is invaluable.”
Mr. Sametz’ past several years have focused on change management and corporate restructuring. He has extensive experience in the energy sector at both the senior executive and board levels, managing growth from startup to intermediate status. He is recognized as a leader in innovation and an advocate for environmental responsibility in the energy industry. He has been a director of four public companies, as well as a volunteer in the community and with industry organizations.
Mr. Johnson was the CEO of Connacher Oil and Gas from late 2015 up until his 2024 retirement and was the longest serving executive in the company’s history. Prior to Connacher, Mr. Johnson worked for EnCana (now Cenovus) on its Christina Lake and Senlac Projects and for IMC Global (now The Mosaic Company) at Belle Plaine. Belle Plaine’s potash solution mining technique was the inspiration for SAGD technology. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Metis Nation of Alberta.
The appointments of Mr. Sametz and Mr. Johnson remain conditional on TSX Venture Exchange review pursuant to Policy 3.1.
About Acceleware:
Acceleware is an advanced electromagnetic (EM) heating company with highly scalable EM solutions for large industrial applications. The Company’s solutions provide an opportunity to electrify and decarbonize industrial process heat applications while reducing costs.
Acceleware’s RF XL is a patented low-cost, low-carbon EM thermal production technology for heavy oil that is materially different from any enhanced recovery technique used today. The Company is also working with a consortium of world-class potash partners on a pilot project using its patented and field proven Clean Tech Inverter (CTI) to decarbonize drying of potash ore and other critical minerals. Acceleware is actively developing partnerships for EM heating for other industrial process heat applications.
Acceleware is a public company listed on Canada’s TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol “AXE”.
Cautionary Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements and/or forward-looking information (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. When used in this release, such words as “will”, “anticipates”, believes”, “intends”, “expects” and similar expressions, as they relate to Acceleware, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of Acceleware with respect to future events, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause Acceleware’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any expected future results, performance or achievement that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Certain information and statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, which reflects Acceleware’s current expectations regarding future events, including, but not limited to the appointment of Mr. Sametz and Mr. Johnson to the Board, the development and execution of a new strategic plan, the Company’s ability to successfully execute that plan, and the impact of that plan on Acceleware’s business and shareholder value.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the high degree of uncertainties inherent to feasibility and economic studies which are based to a significant extent on various assumptions; variations in commodity prices and exchange rate fluctuations; variations in cost of supplies and labour; lack of availability of qualified personnel; receipt of necessary approvals; availability of financing for technology and project development; uncertainties and risks with respect to developing and adopting new technologies; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; change in demand for technologies to be offered by the Company; obtaining required approvals of regulatory authorities; ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources. For a more fulsome list of risk factors please see the Company’s December 31, 2024, year-end Management Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Management of the Company has included the above summary of assumptions and risks related to forward-looking statements provided in this release to provide shareholders with a more complete perspective on the Company’s current and future operations and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For more information:
Geoff Clark
Tel: +1 (403) 249-9099
geoff.clark@acceleware.com
Acceleware Ltd.
435 10th Avenue SE
Calgary, AB, T2G 0W3
Canada
www.acceleware.com
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By James Horncastle, Assistant Professor and Edward and Emily McWhinney Professor in International Relations, Simon Fraser University
The drone attacks by Ukrainian Operation Spider’s Web forces on Russian airfields have called into question Russia’s supposed military strength.
Russian authorities have acknowledged damage from the June 1 attacks — an unusual admission that suggests the strikes were probably effective, given Russia’s usual pattern of downplaying or denying the success of Ukrainian operations.
The operation’s most significant target was the Belaya air base, north of Mongolia. Belaya, like the other bases targeted, is a critical component in the Russian Air Force’s strategic strike capabilities because it houses planes capable of long-range nuclear and conventional strikes.
It’s also in Irkutsk, approximately 4,500 kilometres from the front lines in Ukraine.
Read more:
Ukraine drone strikes on Russian airbase reveal any country is vulnerable to the same kind of attack
Ukraine’s ability to successfully strike Belaya — an attempted strike at the even more distant Ukrainka air base failed — probably won’t have much of a military impact on the war. But along with successful attacks on other Russian airfields and the strike at the Kerch Bridge in Crimea, Operation Spider Web’s successes could play a strategic role in the conflict.
These attacks could shift what has become increasingly negative media coverage and public perception about Ukraine’s chances in the war over the last year. In a war of attrition, which the conflict in Ukraine has become, establishing a belief in victory is a pre-condition for success.
Policymakers and pundits, instead of recognizing their expectations of a Ukrainian victory in 2023 were unrealistic, have often declared that the war is unwinnable for Ukraine.
This perspective was even more prevalent following United States President Donald Trump’s resumption of power in January 2025. In the Oval Office spat Trump had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in late February, he declared Ukraine did not “have the cards” to defeat Russia.
This turned out to be false. Ukraine’s army may possess significantly less military hardware and fewer soldiers than Russia’s, but war is often a continuation of politics. Politically, Russia faces several issues that could derail its war efforts.
Russia’s military capabilities are important to Russian nationalists, who make up Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s core constituency. Russian military forces have advanced along nearly all fronts in Ukraine over the last year.
These advances, however, have largely been insignificant. Furthermore, they have emphasized Russia’s military weakness, which is an ongoing affront to Russian nationalists.
Not only have Russian military advances over the last year not changed the war in a strictly military sense, but the pace of advance has been incredibly slow. Over the last year, Russian forces have captured 5,107 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory. This territory represents less than one per cent of Ukraine’s pre-war territory.
In exchange for what amounts to negligible gains, Russian armed forces have suffered significant casualties.
Both Russia and Ukraine carefully guard the number of casualties their forces have suffered in the war. The British Ministry of Defence, however, estimates that Russia will have suffered more than a million casualties in the war by the end of this month. The Russian casualty rate is also accelerating, with an estimated 160,000 casualties in the first four months of 2025.
Russia attempts to compensate for this battlefield devastation in two ways.
First, it’s isolated Ukraine by manipulating Trump’s desire for political wins and business deals. Russia, in appearing to seek an end to the conflict while offering no concessions, has stoked tensions between Zelenskyy and Trump, where there was little love lost between the two to begin with.
Second, Russia has increased its attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. Large-scale bombing does little to help Russia on the battlefield. The attacks, in fact, put its forces at a disadvantage by redirecting munitions from military targets.
The attacks on civilian infrastructure, however, are more about instilling fear in the Ukrainian population and demonstrating American impotence to a Russian audience.
Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian cities also highlight Russia’s trump card: nuclear weapons. Russia, and specifically former Russian president Dimitry Medvedev, has repeatedly threatened nuclear war in an attempt to dissuade Ukraine’s supporters.
By bombing Ukrainian cities, albeit with conventional munitions, Russia seeks to demonstrate its ability to deploy even more destructive weapons should the situation call for it.
These Russian military missteps, combined with a Russian economy that is structurally unsound, means that Russia’s war effort is increasingly fragile.
Ukraine’s attack on Belaya also signals Russian weakness to its nominal allies in Asia.
Since the start of hostilities, Russia has relied on the tacit consent of China. This support has taken the form of China purchasing Russian crude oil to maintain the Russian economy and Chinese citizens unofficially fighting for Russia.
Belaya has been a vital element of Russia’s deterrence strategy in Asia, which has come to rely more heavily on the Russian strategic nuclear threat. The inability of Russia to protect one of its key strategic assets from a Ukrainian drone attack, combined with the weakness of Russian conventional forces in Ukraine, erodes its ability to position itself as a key ally to China.
In fact, some Russian authorities continue to view China as a major threat.
At the same time, Operation Spider’s Web gives hope to the Ukrainian people. It may also cause Trump — who prefers to back winners — to ponder whether it’s Putin, not Zelenskyy, who lacks the cards to win the war.
James Horncastle does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russian airfields could derail Russia’s war efforts – https://theconversation.com/ukraines-drone-attacks-on-russian-airfields-could-derail-russias-war-efforts-258049
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
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Click here or on the image above to watch Senator Capito’s questions.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), questioned U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon during a hearing to review the president’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request.
HIGHLIGHTS:
ON KEEPING JEWISH STUDENTS SAFE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES:
SENATOR CAPITO: “I want to ask about antisemitism. The morning before our education hearing last year, there were protestors at Colombia University. I asked the then-secretary, how many people from the Office of Civil Rights have you actually had on campus to see what’s occurring there, to see what kind of violation of civil rights might be occurring on the Colombia University campus. And, apparently there was nobody there from the Office of Civil Rights…This is not a problem that’s going away on our college campuses…How are you going to make sure that the department is taking to ensure all students and in this particular case, Jewish students, are able to learn an environment free from intimidation?”
ON COMBATTING POOR LITERACY RATES:
SENATOR CAPITO: “Let’s talk about literacy. As I mentioned at my opening statement, these test scores are very troubling, I think, and you want to try to figure out how do we attribute to this. It’s not like there’s not great teachers everywhere, all around this country, trying to figure out how to get their students achievement moving up in the right direction. I will say this, my state of West Virginia, the state legislature recognizing this, did allocate additional funds for reading teachers in the very early you know what, grades one through three to try to move our scores up because we have traditionally lower scores. We did actually make it. That did make a difference. Having that extra teacher in the classroom. We can pull the child aside, give them that one on one attention really does make a difference.”
Source: Samsung
For years, Samsung has listened to users asking for bigger screens, better cameras and new ways to connect and create. The demand is clear — an Ultra-experience that goes beyond a simple list of upgraded features in a smaller and more portable form factor.
That’s why Galaxy’s next chapter is to provide an experience that seamlessly blends artistry and engineering to elevate everyday interactions.
Squeeze onto a crowded subway train for your evening commute with the device folded in hand and use voice controls to have AI find you the perfect restaurant and text your dining companion. Finish off that unsent work email during the ride, then use the powerful camera to commemorate your night out. AI-powered tools enable all-day messaging, browsing and gaming on the go, so you can focus on your life—all without weighing you down.
With industry-leading hardware, cutting-edge performance and seamless AI integration optimized for the foldable format, it’s what users have come to expect from Galaxy Ultra.
And when it unfolds, it transforms– into a more immersive entertainment hub, a spacious workspace, or a multitasking powerhouse, now enhanced by powerful Galaxy AI features designed specifically for the foldable form.
The Ultra experience is ready to unfold.
Source: New Zealand Government
The NZ Transport Agency’s Board has endorsed the detailed business case for a new four-lane road in Hamilton which will deliver economic growth for the region, and approved $4.1 million for the next stage of design work, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says.
The project, which is cost-shared between Hamilton City Council (HCC) and NZTA, will enable the completion of the Ruakura Inland Port while also unlocking residential and commercial land for the Ruakura Superhub.
“It’s welcome news that the NZTA Board has endorsed the detailed business case for the Ruakura Eastern Transport Corridor, which means the project now has $4.1 million funding approved to complete consenting and detailed design,” says Mr Bishop.
“The Ruakura Eastern Transport Corridor project will complete a strategic four-lane corridor for freight and regional traffic with some walking and cycling elements to connect into the existing network. It also includes a grade separated link over the East Coast Main Line railway line, connecting housing with employment. The Ruakura Eastern Transport Corridor currently has a Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) of 6.7.
“A 2024 Future Proof study found that parts of the Hamilton roading network will soon be unable to accommodate the expected increases in traffic. This will cause extended periods of peak hour congestion, resulting in disruptions to 42 per cent of national freight volumes and jeopardising the generation of over 50 per cent of New Zealand’s GDP.
“The study concluded that the Ruakura Eastern Transport Corridor will enable ‘the golden triangle’ – Auckland, Tauranga and Hamilton – to continue to provide freight corridors for the most economically significant part of New Zealand, putting the right traffic on the right roads to reduce congestion and improve freight reliability.
“On land owned by Tainui Group Holdings, the Ruakura Superhub is a nationally significant development which services around 45 per cent of New Zealand’s population, 42 per cent of the nation’s freight and 55 per cent of the country’s GDP with a 30ha inland port connected via rail to Auckland’s port and the Port of Tauranga.
“Recently the Prime Minister, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka and I attended a ceremony at Ruakura where Tainui Group Holdings announced a long-term joint venture with global investment firm Brookfield. This exciting joint venture will see the development of a further 70 hectares of facilities for storing goods and moving them through different modes of transport including road and rail freight, making the transport corridor project even more important.”
Hamilton East MP Ryan Hamilton welcomes the news as this not only supports commercial activity at Ruakura but unlocks housing and development to support New Zealand’s fastest growing city.
Implementation of the Eastern Transport Corridor project is currently timed for 2027-30 National Land Transport Programme and is subject to further funding being approved.
Notes to Editor:
Source: United States Small Business Administration
Click Here to View the Original U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Press Release
Angelo Stephen, 33, a former Federal Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer, and George Arestuche, 47, a former Miami-Dade County Aviation Department employee, were sentenced in separate cases after pleading guilty to defrauding COVID-19 relief programs.
Angelo Stephen
On May 22, Stephen was sentenced to four months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $75,513 in restitution by Chief U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga. Chief Judge Altonaga also entered a forfeiture money judgment against Stephen in the additional amount of $71,166. The sentence follows Stephen’s conviction for wire fraud in connection with his fraudulent applications for two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and one Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), as well as his participation in two bank account takeover schemes.
During his change of plea hearing, Stephen admitted that on August 4, 2020, he submitted a false and fraudulent EIDL application in his own name to the Small Business Administration (SBA), claiming to be an independent contractor and the sole owner of a business that provided event planning and entertainment services with 10 employees. The EIDL application falsely certified that for the applicable 12-month period, the business had approximately $62,018 in gross revenue and a cost of goods sold of $0. Based on his false and fraudulent application, Stephen received $20,000 in EIDL proceeds from the SBA.
Stephen additionally admitted to fraudulently obtaining two PPP loans. On April 24, 2021, Stephen submitted a first-draw PPP loan application, claiming to be the sole proprietor of a non-existent business with $106,554 in gross income in 2020. In support of the application, Stephen submitted a fraudulent IRS Form 1040 Schedule C. Based on his false and fraudulent application, Stephen received $20,833 in PPP loan proceeds from an SBA-approved lender. On May 11, 2021, Stephen submitted a second-draw PPP loan application, making the same false claims about his nonexistent business that was supported by submission of the identical false Schedule C. Based on his false and fraudulent application, Stephen obtained $20,833 in PPP loan proceeds from a different SBA-approved lender.
Stephen also admitted to taking part in two bank account takeover schemes. On March 30, 2023, Stephen received a $20,000 wire transfer from the account of an unsuspecting victim in Virginia. Stephen quickly withdrew all illegally obtained money through a series of cash withdrawals and Zelle transfers to others. In the second takeover scheme, Stephen and his accomplices obtained new checks from the credit union account of a different unsuspecting victim. Stephen subsequently used one of those checks to obtain $8,500 in cash that he was not entitled to.
George Arestuche
On May 28, Arestuche was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck to five years of probation to include 210 days in home detention and ordered to pay $114,679 in restitution, plus community service. The sentence follows Arestuche’s conviction for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with his fraudulent application for an EIDL.
According to the facts admitted at the change of plea hearing, Arestuche and a co-conspirator devised a scheme to defraud the SBA by submitting a false and fraudulent application for Arestuche to obtain an EIDL and EIDL advance. As part of the conspiracy, Arestuche agreed to pay the co-conspirator a large fee.
On July 9, 2020, Arestuche’s co-conspirator submitted a false and fraudulent EIDL application to the SBA on behalf of Arestuche, claiming that Arestuche was an independent contractor and the sole owner of an automotive repair business with 10 employees. The EIDL application falsely certified that for the applicable 12-month period, the business had $600,000 in gross revenue and a cost of goods sold of $184,000. In reality, Arestuche was not an independent contractor and did not own any type of business. The EIDL application was supported by a fraudulent IRS Form 1040 Schedule C. As a result of this false and fraudulent EIDL application, Arestuche obtained $149,900 in EIDL proceeds and a $10,000 EIDL advance from the SBA. Arestuche subsequently paid his co-conspirator $17,275 for helping him fraudulently obtain the money from the SBA. Since pleading guilty, Arestuche has paid $50,000 in advance restitution payments.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; acting Special Agent in Charge Amber Howell of the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General’s Fraud Detection Office (DOJ-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG), Eastern Region; acting Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of FBI Miami; and Inspector General Felix Jimenez of the Miami-Dade County Office of Inspector General (MDC-OIG) made the announcement.
DOJ-OIG and SBA-OIG investigated the Stephen case. SBA-OIG and the FBI’s Miami Area Corruption Task Force, which includes task force officers from the MDC-OIG, investigated the Arestuche case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward N. Stamm prosecuted both cases.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda is handling forfeiture matters in the Stephen case.
In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted. It was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other sources of relief, the CARES Act authorized and provided funding to the SBA to provide EIDLs to eligible small businesses, including sole proprietorships and independent contractors, experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic to allow them to meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could otherwise have been met had the disaster not occurred. EIDL applications were submitted directly to the SBA via the SBA’s on-line application website, and the applications were processed and the loans funded for qualifying applicants directly by the SBA.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
On September 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the Southern District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney’s Office to head one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please click here.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case numbers 25-cr-20014 (Stephen) and 25-cr-20001 (Arestuche).
Source: New South Wales Community and Justice
Youths charged in Devonport
Wednesday, 4 June 2025 – 9:03 am.
Two boys have been arrested and charged over an alleged assault in the Devonport CBD as police continue to focus on anti-social behaviour in the city precinct.
The male youths have been bailed to appear at the Devonport Youth Justice Court at a later date.
Tasmania Police is aware of recent reports of anti-social behaviour in the Devonport CBD and is continuing with a high-visibility police presence in the area to deter this disruptive behaviour.
“Members of the public and those working in the Devonport CBD have a right and expectation to feel safe. Tasmania Police are committed to ensuring public safety and will not tolerate any disruptive or harmful behaviour from anyone,” Devonport Police Acting Inspector Luke Negri said.
“Offenders, including youths, will be held to account for their actions and behaviour.”
Anyone who witnesses concerning activity is encouraged to report it to police on 131 444 or call triple zero (000) if it is an emergency.
You can also report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au