Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday as he arrived to attend the 17th BRICS Leaders Summit.
The Prime Minister will join other BRICS leaders to deliberate on global issues, including reforms in global governance, peace and security, multilateralism, artificial intelligence, climate change, global health, and economic challenges.
This is PM Modi’s fourth visit to Brazil. After the two-day Summit, he will travel to Brasília for a State Visit — the first by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly six decades.
“As a founding member, India remains committed to BRICS as a vital platform for cooperation among emerging economies,” the PM had said earlier this week. “Together, we strive for a more peaceful, equitable, just, democratic, and balanced multipolar world order.”
On the sidelines of the Summit, PM Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders.
The last BRICS Summit, hosted by Russia in Kazan in October 2024, came at a time when the world was grappling with multiple challenges, including conflicts, climate impacts, and cyber threats.
This year’s Summit holds significance for India as it will assume the BRICS Chairship next year. India last chaired the grouping in 2021, marking its 15th anniversary.
India has consistently pitched itself as the voice of the Global South, pushing for the interests of developing countries on platforms like BRICS.
The theme for this year’s Summit is ‘Strengthening Global South Cooperation for Inclusive and Sustainable Governance*. Sunday’s discussions will focus first on reforms in global governance, limited to full members only.
Talks will then cover peace and security, multilateralism, economic and financial affairs, and the responsible use of AI, followed by an official reception hosted by President Lula.
On Monday, leaders will meet again to discuss environment issues, COP30, and global health.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday as he arrived to attend the 17th BRICS Leaders Summit.
The Prime Minister will join other BRICS leaders to deliberate on global issues, including reforms in global governance, peace and security, multilateralism, artificial intelligence, climate change, global health, and economic challenges.
This is PM Modi’s fourth visit to Brazil. After the two-day Summit, he will travel to Brasília for a State Visit — the first by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly six decades.
“As a founding member, India remains committed to BRICS as a vital platform for cooperation among emerging economies,” the PM had said earlier this week. “Together, we strive for a more peaceful, equitable, just, democratic, and balanced multipolar world order.”
On the sidelines of the Summit, PM Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders.
The last BRICS Summit, hosted by Russia in Kazan in October 2024, came at a time when the world was grappling with multiple challenges, including conflicts, climate impacts, and cyber threats.
This year’s Summit holds significance for India as it will assume the BRICS Chairship next year. India last chaired the grouping in 2021, marking its 15th anniversary.
India has consistently pitched itself as the voice of the Global South, pushing for the interests of developing countries on platforms like BRICS.
The theme for this year’s Summit is ‘Strengthening Global South Cooperation for Inclusive and Sustainable Governance*. Sunday’s discussions will focus first on reforms in global governance, limited to full members only.
Talks will then cover peace and security, multilateralism, economic and financial affairs, and the responsible use of AI, followed by an official reception hosted by President Lula.
On Monday, leaders will meet again to discuss environment issues, COP30, and global health.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday as he arrived to attend the 17th BRICS Leaders Summit.
The Prime Minister will join other BRICS leaders to deliberate on global issues, including reforms in global governance, peace and security, multilateralism, artificial intelligence, climate change, global health, and economic challenges.
This is PM Modi’s fourth visit to Brazil. After the two-day Summit, he will travel to Brasília for a State Visit — the first by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly six decades.
“As a founding member, India remains committed to BRICS as a vital platform for cooperation among emerging economies,” the PM had said earlier this week. “Together, we strive for a more peaceful, equitable, just, democratic, and balanced multipolar world order.”
On the sidelines of the Summit, PM Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders.
The last BRICS Summit, hosted by Russia in Kazan in October 2024, came at a time when the world was grappling with multiple challenges, including conflicts, climate impacts, and cyber threats.
This year’s Summit holds significance for India as it will assume the BRICS Chairship next year. India last chaired the grouping in 2021, marking its 15th anniversary.
India has consistently pitched itself as the voice of the Global South, pushing for the interests of developing countries on platforms like BRICS.
The theme for this year’s Summit is ‘Strengthening Global South Cooperation for Inclusive and Sustainable Governance*. Sunday’s discussions will focus first on reforms in global governance, limited to full members only.
Talks will then cover peace and security, multilateralism, economic and financial affairs, and the responsible use of AI, followed by an official reception hosted by President Lula.
On Monday, leaders will meet again to discuss environment issues, COP30, and global health.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday as he arrived to attend the 17th BRICS Leaders Summit.
The Prime Minister will join other BRICS leaders to deliberate on global issues, including reforms in global governance, peace and security, multilateralism, artificial intelligence, climate change, global health, and economic challenges.
This is PM Modi’s fourth visit to Brazil. After the two-day Summit, he will travel to Brasília for a State Visit — the first by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly six decades.
“As a founding member, India remains committed to BRICS as a vital platform for cooperation among emerging economies,” the PM had said earlier this week. “Together, we strive for a more peaceful, equitable, just, democratic, and balanced multipolar world order.”
On the sidelines of the Summit, PM Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders.
The last BRICS Summit, hosted by Russia in Kazan in October 2024, came at a time when the world was grappling with multiple challenges, including conflicts, climate impacts, and cyber threats.
This year’s Summit holds significance for India as it will assume the BRICS Chairship next year. India last chaired the grouping in 2021, marking its 15th anniversary.
India has consistently pitched itself as the voice of the Global South, pushing for the interests of developing countries on platforms like BRICS.
The theme for this year’s Summit is ‘Strengthening Global South Cooperation for Inclusive and Sustainable Governance*. Sunday’s discussions will focus first on reforms in global governance, limited to full members only.
Talks will then cover peace and security, multilateralism, economic and financial affairs, and the responsible use of AI, followed by an official reception hosted by President Lula.
On Monday, leaders will meet again to discuss environment issues, COP30, and global health.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday as he arrived to attend the 17th BRICS Leaders Summit.
The Prime Minister will join other BRICS leaders to deliberate on global issues, including reforms in global governance, peace and security, multilateralism, artificial intelligence, climate change, global health, and economic challenges.
This is PM Modi’s fourth visit to Brazil. After the two-day Summit, he will travel to Brasília for a State Visit — the first by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly six decades.
“As a founding member, India remains committed to BRICS as a vital platform for cooperation among emerging economies,” the PM had said earlier this week. “Together, we strive for a more peaceful, equitable, just, democratic, and balanced multipolar world order.”
On the sidelines of the Summit, PM Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders.
The last BRICS Summit, hosted by Russia in Kazan in October 2024, came at a time when the world was grappling with multiple challenges, including conflicts, climate impacts, and cyber threats.
This year’s Summit holds significance for India as it will assume the BRICS Chairship next year. India last chaired the grouping in 2021, marking its 15th anniversary.
India has consistently pitched itself as the voice of the Global South, pushing for the interests of developing countries on platforms like BRICS.
The theme for this year’s Summit is ‘Strengthening Global South Cooperation for Inclusive and Sustainable Governance*. Sunday’s discussions will focus first on reforms in global governance, limited to full members only.
Talks will then cover peace and security, multilateralism, economic and financial affairs, and the responsible use of AI, followed by an official reception hosted by President Lula.
On Monday, leaders will meet again to discuss environment issues, COP30, and global health.
Earth formed about 4.6 billion years ago, during the geological eon known as the Hadean. The name “Hadean” comes from the Greek god of the underworld, reflecting the extreme heat that likely characterized the planet at the time.
However, very little is known about this early chapter in Earth’s history, as rocks and minerals from that time are extremely rare. This lack of preserved geological records makes it difficult to reconstruct what the Earth looked like during the Hadean Eon, leaving many questions about its earliest evolution unanswered.
Geologists Jonathan O’Neil and Chris Sole examine rocks in northern Québec. (H. Rizo), CC BY
Remains from the Hadean Eon
The Hadean Eon is the first period in the geological timescale, spanning from Earth’s formation 4.6 billion years ago and ending around 4.03 billion years ago.
The oldest terrestrial materials ever dated by scientists are extremely rare zircon minerals that were discovered in western Australia. These zircons were formed as early as 4.4 billion years ago, and while their host rock eroded away, the durability of zircons allowed them to be preserved for a long time.
Studies of these zircon minerals has given us clues about the Hadean environment, and the formation and evolution of Earth’s oldest crust. The zircons’ chemistry suggests that they formed in magmas produced by the melting of sediments deposited at the bottom of an ancient ocean. This suggests that the zircons are evidence that the Hadean Eon cooled rapidly, and liquid water oceans were formed early on.
Other research on the Hadean zircons suggests that the Earth’s earliest crust was mafic (rich in magnesium and iron). Until recently, however, the existence of that crust remained to be confirmed.
Since then, the age of those rocks — found in the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt — has been controversial and the subject of ongoing scientific debate.
The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt in northern Québec. (H. Rizo), CC BY
‘Big, old solid rock’
The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt is located in the northernmost region of Québec, in the Nunavik region above the 55th parallel. Most of the rocks there are metamorphosed volcanic rocks, rich in magnesium and iron. The most common rocks in the belt are called the Ujaraaluk rocks, meaning “big old solid rock” in Inuktitut.
The age of 4.3 billion years was proposed after variations in neodymium-142 were detected, an isotope produced exclusively during the Hadean through the radioactive decay of samarium-146. The relationship between samarium and neodymium isotope abundances had been previously used to date meteorites and lunar rocks, but before 2008 had never been applied to Earth rocks.
This interpretation, however, was challenged by several research groups, some of whom studied zircons within the belt and proposed a younger age of at most 3.78 billion years, placing the rocks in the Archean Eon instead.
Confirming the Hadean Age
In the summer of 2017, we returned to the Nuvvuagittuq belt to take a closer look at the ancient rocks. This time, we collected intrusive rocks — called metagabbros — that cut across the Ujaraaluk rock formation, hoping to obtain independent age constraints. The fact that these newly studied metagabbros are in intrusion in the Ujaraaluk rocks implies that the latter must be older.
The project was led by masters student Chris Sole at the University of Ottawa, who joined us in the field. Back in the laboratory, we collaborated with French geochronologist Jean-Louis Paquette. Additionally, two undergraduate students — David Benn (University of Ottawa) and Joeli Plakholm (Carleton University) participated to the project.
We combined our field observations with petrology, geochemistry, geochronology and applied two independent samarium-neodymium age dating methods, dating techniques used to assess the absolute ages of magmatic rocks, before these become metamorphic rocks. Both assessments yielded the same result: the intrusive rocks are 4.16 billion years old.
Sunset at the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt. (H. Rizo), CC BY
The oldest rocks
Since these metagabbros cut across the Ujaraaluk formation, the Ujaraaluk rocks must be even older, placing them firmly in the Hadean Eon.
Studying the Nuvvuagittuq rocks, the only preserved rocks from the Hadean, provides a unique opportunity to learn about the earliest history of our planet. They can help us understand how the first continents formed, and how and when Earth’s environment evolved to become habitable.
Hanika Rizo receives funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
Jonathan O’Neil receives funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
Earth formed about 4.6 billion years ago, during the geological eon known as the Hadean. The name “Hadean” comes from the Greek god of the underworld, reflecting the extreme heat that likely characterized the planet at the time.
However, very little is known about this early chapter in Earth’s history, as rocks and minerals from that time are extremely rare. This lack of preserved geological records makes it difficult to reconstruct what the Earth looked like during the Hadean Eon, leaving many questions about its earliest evolution unanswered.
Geologists Jonathan O’Neil and Chris Sole examine rocks in northern Québec. (H. Rizo), CC BY
Remains from the Hadean Eon
The Hadean Eon is the first period in the geological timescale, spanning from Earth’s formation 4.6 billion years ago and ending around 4.03 billion years ago.
The oldest terrestrial materials ever dated by scientists are extremely rare zircon minerals that were discovered in western Australia. These zircons were formed as early as 4.4 billion years ago, and while their host rock eroded away, the durability of zircons allowed them to be preserved for a long time.
Studies of these zircon minerals has given us clues about the Hadean environment, and the formation and evolution of Earth’s oldest crust. The zircons’ chemistry suggests that they formed in magmas produced by the melting of sediments deposited at the bottom of an ancient ocean. This suggests that the zircons are evidence that the Hadean Eon cooled rapidly, and liquid water oceans were formed early on.
Other research on the Hadean zircons suggests that the Earth’s earliest crust was mafic (rich in magnesium and iron). Until recently, however, the existence of that crust remained to be confirmed.
Since then, the age of those rocks — found in the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt — has been controversial and the subject of ongoing scientific debate.
The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt in northern Québec. (H. Rizo), CC BY
‘Big, old solid rock’
The Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt is located in the northernmost region of Québec, in the Nunavik region above the 55th parallel. Most of the rocks there are metamorphosed volcanic rocks, rich in magnesium and iron. The most common rocks in the belt are called the Ujaraaluk rocks, meaning “big old solid rock” in Inuktitut.
The age of 4.3 billion years was proposed after variations in neodymium-142 were detected, an isotope produced exclusively during the Hadean through the radioactive decay of samarium-146. The relationship between samarium and neodymium isotope abundances had been previously used to date meteorites and lunar rocks, but before 2008 had never been applied to Earth rocks.
This interpretation, however, was challenged by several research groups, some of whom studied zircons within the belt and proposed a younger age of at most 3.78 billion years, placing the rocks in the Archean Eon instead.
Confirming the Hadean Age
In the summer of 2017, we returned to the Nuvvuagittuq belt to take a closer look at the ancient rocks. This time, we collected intrusive rocks — called metagabbros — that cut across the Ujaraaluk rock formation, hoping to obtain independent age constraints. The fact that these newly studied metagabbros are in intrusion in the Ujaraaluk rocks implies that the latter must be older.
The project was led by masters student Chris Sole at the University of Ottawa, who joined us in the field. Back in the laboratory, we collaborated with French geochronologist Jean-Louis Paquette. Additionally, two undergraduate students — David Benn (University of Ottawa) and Joeli Plakholm (Carleton University) participated to the project.
We combined our field observations with petrology, geochemistry, geochronology and applied two independent samarium-neodymium age dating methods, dating techniques used to assess the absolute ages of magmatic rocks, before these become metamorphic rocks. Both assessments yielded the same result: the intrusive rocks are 4.16 billion years old.
Sunset at the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt. (H. Rizo), CC BY
The oldest rocks
Since these metagabbros cut across the Ujaraaluk formation, the Ujaraaluk rocks must be even older, placing them firmly in the Hadean Eon.
Studying the Nuvvuagittuq rocks, the only preserved rocks from the Hadean, provides a unique opportunity to learn about the earliest history of our planet. They can help us understand how the first continents formed, and how and when Earth’s environment evolved to become habitable.
Hanika Rizo receives funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
Jonathan O’Neil receives funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) recently released its annual Online Safety Survey that discovered almost 50 per cent of parents surveyed aren’t using parental controls to manage their children’s devices. These are tools that would ostensibly help parents filter out inappropriate content or unwanted interactions on their children’s devices.
The FOSI authors conclude the reason parents aren’t using the tools is because they feel “overwhelmed” and recommend parents educate themselves as a good first step toward broader use.
While overwhelm is a real thing, we suggest a bigger problem with parental controls is how they are designed. This includes how little attention is given to supporting open communication between parents and children.
We also asked their parents how they mediated their kids’ gaming. Nearly half of them don’t use parental controls either. They say parental controls don’t always work as promised, offer little context about how settings affect gameplay and force binary choices that don’t align with household rules or with children’s maturity levels.
The parents we asked said they aren’t avoiding parental controls because they feel overwhelmed by them. It’s that the tools are poorly designed.
Parent controls can introduce more problems
At the same time, many of the parents described themselves as highly engaged in their child’s gameplay; talking with their children regularly or encouraging play in shared, supervised spaces. Several said they choose to trust their child rather than set top-down limits.
Our findings align with previous research on digital parenting. In one British study, parents said they felt some controls were valuable supplements to mediation, while other controls were poorly designed, introducing more problems than solutions.
The use of parental controls doesn’t necessarily translate to increased child safety. In fact, using parental controls can create a disconnect between parents and children on key safety issues.
Awareness of risks
Six children we interviewed were not aware their parents were using controls, and at least two children revealed they didn’t even know why a parent would use parental controls in the first place. In this context, parents’ efforts to protect their children had the unintended side effect of obscuring vital knowledge, leaving the children unaware of some of the key risks associated with playing online. Parental controls can remove opportunities to teach kids about safety if they aren’t part of the conversation.
We believe that the behind-the-scenes protections enabled by (some) parental controls can be detrimental to parent-child communication about online safety. What are the risks? How can children avoid the riskiest behaviour? What should they do when or if they’ve encountered danger?
Meanwhile, parents aren’t always familiar with the features and activities they are asked to restrict or allow. Very few parental controls contain information about how gameplay will be impacted by their settings. Many contain terms only someone familiar with the game would understand, while others are hard to navigate.
All of this can lead to misinterpretations and parent-child conflicts, making the tools even harder to use.
Power of communication
Open communication between parents and children on safety topics fosters trust, which increases the likelihood kids will turn to their parents for help when something dangerous happens.
It enables children to build resiliency, which in turn reduces the risk they’ll be harmed by negative online encounters.
The importance of open communication is also emphasized in the FOSI report. In households where conversations about online safety happened regularly (six times or more a year), parents and children were both more likely to view parental controls as a useful and valuable tool for online safety.
On this point, we couldn’t agree more. Families would benefit from making parental controls and safety settings a family affair. Kids and parents have a lot to learn from each other about the digital world, and reviewing these systems together can provide a much-needed opening for crucial conversations about risk, safety and what kids find meaningful about digital play.
Rethinking safety tools
Let’s not pretend parental controls are a panacea for child safety.
Many parental controls contain serious design flaws and limitations. Very few comprehensively address the needs and concerns of either children or their parents.
Now that lawmakers are starting to make parental controls a mandatory part of new child safety legislation, we urgently need to start taking a closer and more critical look at what they can and can’t do.
Parental controls can be a useful tool when they are designed well, applied with transparency, and provide families with ample options so they can be tailored to not only fit with but foster household rules and open communication.
There’s a lot of work to be done before this is the standard. But also a growing impetus for game and other tech companies to make it happen.
Sara M. Grimes receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada,
Riley McNair 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.
When practiced with integrity, mindfulness and self-compassion can improve the collective well-being and personal agency of employees.(Shutterstock)
Mindfulness and self-compassion have become popular tools for improving mental health and well-being in the workplace. Mindfulness involves paying attention to thoughts, emotions and surroundings without judgment, much like watching clouds pass in the sky. This moment-to-moment awareness helps people respond skilfully rather than react automatically.
Both mindfulness and self-compassion can be practised formally through meditations like body scans, breath awareness or loving-kindness meditation, and informally by bringing mindful attention to mind, emotions and everyday activities.
Both practices have the potential to transform dysfunctional workplaces by improving the collective well-being and personal agency of employees.
Yet too often, these practices are introduced superficially to boost productivity and performance, rather than used to address the root causes of workplace stress. It’s a pattern I’ve witnessed repeatedly in my years as a mindfulness teacher and researcher.
This brings into question whether these practices can thrive in capitalist systems that prioritize profit over people. But rather than rejecting mindfulness and self-compassion as incompatible with capitalism, I argue we need a more thoughtful framework that stays true to their essence while tackling common misunderstandings and misuses.
How capitalism is co-opting mindfulness
Academic and practitioner critics have raised concerns about how mindfulness and self-compassion practices are being integrated into corporate life.
If organizations want to reap the full benefits of mindfulness and self-compassion, they need to take a more deliberate, systemic approach. (Unsplash/Redd Francisco)
While these critiques raise valid concerns, they often create more confusion and resistance than meaningful dialogue or practical solutions for implementing mindfulness and self-compassion in the workplace.
Employees who develop mindfulness and self-compassion skills tend to respond in three main ways, according to research.
First, they become more aware of dysfunction in the workplace. This awareness can empower them to speak up and advocate for change if it’s within their control and in their own interest. It can also cause them to engage in more ethical practices, especially in toxic work environments.
And for employers hoping mindfulness will instantly boost engagement or drive performance, research shows employees may actually become more critical of their work and less willing to perform mundane tasks.
Towards true workplace transformation
Mindfulness alone cannot fix a toxic workplace. When organizations introduce mindfulness programs without first addressing the underlying causes of stress or toxicity, they’re unlikely to see the results they expect.
If organizations want to reap the full benefits of mindfulness and self-compassion, they need to take a more deliberate, structured approach. Psychologist Kurt Lewin’s three-step change management model offers a useful guide:
Step 1. Unfreeze: Address the root causes of workplace stress
Address systemic stressors. Before introducing any well-being initiative, organizations must confront actual sources of stress such as excessive workloads, toxic leadership and job insecurity.
Without addressing the systemic causes of stress, mindfulness practices can prove ineffective. (Shutterstock)
Step 2. Change: Implement practices ethically and intentionally
Lead by example at the top. Instead of only offering these programs to employees, leaders should engage with mindfulness and self-compassion practices themselves. When senior figures lead by example, these programs gain legitimacy and workplaces foster more ethical, people-centered leadership that goes beyond performance and productivity.
Ensure cultural sensitivity. Small cultural adaptations can improve the inclusion of mindfulness and self-compassion sessions. For instance, research has found that in Hispanic communities, using familiar stories or proverbs can make mindfulness sessions more relatable and improve engagement.
Preserve ethical foundations. Present mindfulness and self-compassion as universal practices, not tied to any one religion. This preserves their ethical underpinnings while ensuring they remain universal and accessible to all.
Step 3. Freeze: Embed mindfulness and self-compassion into workplace culture
Encourage small, daily practices. Offer simple tools like journaling or mindful breathing breaks that employees can tailor to their own needs and schedules.
Provide ongoing support. Create time and space for continued practice, such as guided meditations, mindfulness moments in meetings or gratitude boards so new habits take root.
Measure impact holistically. Consider hiring qualified professionals to evaluate program effectiveness, address emerging needs and keep the organization moving forward.
Moving beyond wellness window-dressing
Mindfulness and self-compassion are not magic bullets, but they can still be powerful catalysts for change.
When introduced with a deliberate and thoughtful approach, mindfulness and self-compassion can help workplaces move beyond shallow wellness “hacks” toward truly transformative practices, even in high-pressure, profit-driven environments.
The true value of mindfulness and self-compassion practices lies not in short-term outcomes or surface-level improvements, but in helping individuals be more aware of themselves, their surroundings and the choices they make, which is beyond any outcome or context.
Yasemin Pacaci 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.
When practiced with integrity, mindfulness and self-compassion can improve the collective well-being and personal agency of employees.(Shutterstock)
Mindfulness and self-compassion have become popular tools for improving mental health and well-being in the workplace. Mindfulness involves paying attention to thoughts, emotions and surroundings without judgment, much like watching clouds pass in the sky. This moment-to-moment awareness helps people respond skilfully rather than react automatically.
Both mindfulness and self-compassion can be practised formally through meditations like body scans, breath awareness or loving-kindness meditation, and informally by bringing mindful attention to mind, emotions and everyday activities.
Both practices have the potential to transform dysfunctional workplaces by improving the collective well-being and personal agency of employees.
Yet too often, these practices are introduced superficially to boost productivity and performance, rather than used to address the root causes of workplace stress. It’s a pattern I’ve witnessed repeatedly in my years as a mindfulness teacher and researcher.
This brings into question whether these practices can thrive in capitalist systems that prioritize profit over people. But rather than rejecting mindfulness and self-compassion as incompatible with capitalism, I argue we need a more thoughtful framework that stays true to their essence while tackling common misunderstandings and misuses.
How capitalism is co-opting mindfulness
Academic and practitioner critics have raised concerns about how mindfulness and self-compassion practices are being integrated into corporate life.
If organizations want to reap the full benefits of mindfulness and self-compassion, they need to take a more deliberate, systemic approach. (Unsplash/Redd Francisco)
While these critiques raise valid concerns, they often create more confusion and resistance than meaningful dialogue or practical solutions for implementing mindfulness and self-compassion in the workplace.
Employees who develop mindfulness and self-compassion skills tend to respond in three main ways, according to research.
First, they become more aware of dysfunction in the workplace. This awareness can empower them to speak up and advocate for change if it’s within their control and in their own interest. It can also cause them to engage in more ethical practices, especially in toxic work environments.
And for employers hoping mindfulness will instantly boost engagement or drive performance, research shows employees may actually become more critical of their work and less willing to perform mundane tasks.
Towards true workplace transformation
Mindfulness alone cannot fix a toxic workplace. When organizations introduce mindfulness programs without first addressing the underlying causes of stress or toxicity, they’re unlikely to see the results they expect.
If organizations want to reap the full benefits of mindfulness and self-compassion, they need to take a more deliberate, structured approach. Psychologist Kurt Lewin’s three-step change management model offers a useful guide:
Step 1. Unfreeze: Address the root causes of workplace stress
Address systemic stressors. Before introducing any well-being initiative, organizations must confront actual sources of stress such as excessive workloads, toxic leadership and job insecurity.
Without addressing the systemic causes of stress, mindfulness practices can prove ineffective. (Shutterstock)
Step 2. Change: Implement practices ethically and intentionally
Lead by example at the top. Instead of only offering these programs to employees, leaders should engage with mindfulness and self-compassion practices themselves. When senior figures lead by example, these programs gain legitimacy and workplaces foster more ethical, people-centered leadership that goes beyond performance and productivity.
Ensure cultural sensitivity. Small cultural adaptations can improve the inclusion of mindfulness and self-compassion sessions. For instance, research has found that in Hispanic communities, using familiar stories or proverbs can make mindfulness sessions more relatable and improve engagement.
Preserve ethical foundations. Present mindfulness and self-compassion as universal practices, not tied to any one religion. This preserves their ethical underpinnings while ensuring they remain universal and accessible to all.
Step 3. Freeze: Embed mindfulness and self-compassion into workplace culture
Encourage small, daily practices. Offer simple tools like journaling or mindful breathing breaks that employees can tailor to their own needs and schedules.
Provide ongoing support. Create time and space for continued practice, such as guided meditations, mindfulness moments in meetings or gratitude boards so new habits take root.
Measure impact holistically. Consider hiring qualified professionals to evaluate program effectiveness, address emerging needs and keep the organization moving forward.
Moving beyond wellness window-dressing
Mindfulness and self-compassion are not magic bullets, but they can still be powerful catalysts for change.
When introduced with a deliberate and thoughtful approach, mindfulness and self-compassion can help workplaces move beyond shallow wellness “hacks” toward truly transformative practices, even in high-pressure, profit-driven environments.
The true value of mindfulness and self-compassion practices lies not in short-term outcomes or surface-level improvements, but in helping individuals be more aware of themselves, their surroundings and the choices they make, which is beyond any outcome or context.
Yasemin Pacaci 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.
I interviewed more than two dozen senior leaders in complex organizations in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand — the majority of whom were in the post-secondary sector. I found the leaders I interviewed were intuitively using elements from Weick’s organizational sense-making framework.
As one leader shared:
“The first thing you need to do is to recognize that it’s your role to help the rest of your community make sense of what’s happening around you. It’s something that I take very seriously.”
“Sense-making is most often needed when our understanding of the world becomes unintelligible in some way. This occurs when the environment is changing rapidly, presenting us with surprises for which we are unprepared or confronting us with adaptive, rather than technical problems to solve.”
Leading in ‘age of outrage’
Social-purpose organizations face common issues such as a lack of funding, system fragmentation, competing stakeholders, new entrants and the challenges of emerging technologies.
I heard from leaders who felt they didn’t have the proper training for the job or support once they started their roles. In part, this is because few of them, including those involved in their hiring, seem to realize the actual messiness inherent within their organizations.
I heard from various leaders who experienced an “aha” moment when they realized they were immersed within a fluid and dynamic organizational environment that they were expected to run like a traditional business. This realization gave them a framework to understand the lack of agency they often experienced.
The challenge with social-purpose organizations is that they’re complex adaptive systems in which individual interactions form an ever-changing array of networks generating emergent behaviours that are often unpredictable. Complex adaptive systems also tend to revert to the status quo when faced with change.
So how do social-purpose leaders navigate change and this challenging organizational context? They wrap their efforts around purpose. It’s an anchor point and unifying focus for leaders, teams and all stakeholders.
4 strategies
Based on my research, I’ve identified four main sense-making strategies that leaders use:
Exploration and map-making: These pursuits help leaders extract a steady flow of information and data from their interactions both inside and outside their organizations. This allows them to develop high-level, adaptive frameworks that are constantly in flux — similar to Google Maps, as it generates live snapshots of traffic flows and suggested routes.
Storytelling and narrative development: Leaders use storytelling and narrative development to project ideas, purposes and visions into the future. This allows them to connect emotionally and inspire people and communities. Recognizing their role as storyteller-in-chief can align disparate parts of an organization into a coherent and engaged whole.
Invention and improvisation: These are employed by leaders to test assumptions as they learn what works and what doesn’t. This approach allows them to respond in real time to the never-ending flow of new information. Without taking risks, leaders are at risk of being stuck in paralysis.
Adaptation and collaboration allows leaders to help their organizations remain relevant. Leaders spoke about the need to foster adaptation. They also stressed the need to attract new resources through collaboration across like-minded institutions, governments, funding partners and the private sector.
Time and energy — two scarce resources — are necessary to build aligned and high-performing teams and to break down silos. Team alignment cannot be achieved through the occasional team-building session, but requires an ongoing commitment and a well-articulated plan.
Social-purpose organizations need practices, frameworks and metrics that are tailored to organizations’ unique needs. Rather than spending resources, time and energy on strategic plans, some leaders are building more flexible strategic frameworks or using strategic foresight to guide an innovative vision for the future.
Leadership can be lonely
It’s also important to remember that leadership can be lonely. To survive and thrive, social-purpose leaders must remember to seek out their own coaches and build communities of practice to enhance their lived experience and activities.
Developing an outer shell to weather criticism also helps. While leaders can’t please everyone, sense-making leaders find strength and build endurance in the recognition that the roles they play are meaningful, satisfying and essential — not only within the organizations they serve but through the collective work their organizations accomplish in the world.
Leaders (and board members) must realize that hiring the same people with the same profile as the past won’t make an organization ready for change, but instead reinforces the status quo.
By recognizing the messiness of their organizations and using sense-making skills, leaders in social-purpose organizations have better odds of surviving the perils and challenges of massive disruption and unprecedented change.
Daniel Atlin 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.
July 6, 2025 Lac-Mégantic, Quebec Transport Canada
The Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, today issued the following statement to mark the twelve years that have passed since the Lac-Mégantic tragedy:
“Twelve years ago, the community of Lac-Mégantic experienced a devastating tragedy. On that day, 47 lives were lost, and a vibrant downtown was devastated by a train derailment that left an indelible mark on the heart of Quebec and all of Canada.
“On this day of remembrance, we pause in memory of the victims, we offer our thoughts to the survivors, and we salute the courage of an entire community that, year after year, continues to rebuild itself with dignity and resilience.
“The Government of Canada remains firmly committed to ensuring that such a tragedy never happens again. The construction of the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass is one of my priorities. We are committed to working closely with the local communities until its completion. We have strengthened rail safety rules, modernized our oversight systems, and continued to work with our partners to build a safer, more sustainable, and people-centred transportation system.
“We have learned from the Lac-Mégantic derailment. This tragedy must never be forgotten, because it pushes us to do better, to be more rigorous, and to never accept the unacceptable. We owe our determination to the victims, and our concrete action to the generations to come.”
People shop for food in Brooklyn in 2023 at a store that makes sure that its customers know it accepts SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps and EBT. Spencer Platt/Getty Images
In my research on the history of food stamps, I’ve found that the program was meant to be widely available to most low-income people. The SNAP changes break that tradition in two ways.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that about 3 million people are likely to be dropped from the program and lose their benefits. This decline will occur in part because more people will face time limits if they don’t meet work requirements. Even those who meet the requirements may lose benefits because of difficulty submitting the necessary documents.
Inspired by the plight of unemployed coal miners whom John F. Kennedy met in Appalachia when he campaigned for the presidency in 1960, the early food stamps program was not limited to single parents with children, older people and people with disabilities, like many other safety net programs were at the time. It was supposed to help low-income people afford more and better food, regardless of their circumstances.
From the start, the states administered the program and covered some of its administrative costs and the federal government paid for the benefits in full. This arrangement encouraged states to enroll everyone who needed help without fearing the budgetary consequences.
Who could qualify and how much help they could get were set by uniform national standards, so that even the residents of the poorest states would be able to afford a budget-conscious but nutritionally adequate diet.
The federal government’s responsibility for the cost of benefits also allowed spending to automatically grow during economic downturns, when more people need assistance. These federal dollars helped families, retailers and local economies weather tough times.
The changes to the SNAP program included in the legislative package that Congress approved by narrow margins and Trump signed into law, however, will make it harder for the program to serve its original goals.
Restricting benefits
Since the early 1970s, most so-called able-bodied adults who were not caring for a child or an adult with disabilities had to meet a work requirement to get food stamps. Welfare reform legislation in 1996 made that requirement stricter for such adults between the ages of 18 and 50 by imposing a three-month time limit if they didn’t log 20 hours or more of employment or another approved activity, such as verified volunteering.
Budget legislation passed in 2023 expanded this rule to adults up to age 54. The 2025 law will further expand the time limit to adults up to age 64 and parents of children age 14 or over.
States can currently get permission from the federal government to waive work requirements in areas with insufficient jobs or unemployment above the national average. This flexibility to waive work requirements will now be significantly limited and available only where at least 1 in 10 workers are unemployed.
Concerned senators secured an exemption from the work requirements for most Native Americans and Native Alaskans, who are more likely to live in areas with limited job opportunities.
The new changes to SNAP policies will also deny benefits to many immigrants with authorization to be in the U.S., such as people granted political asylum or official refugee status. Immigrants without authorization to reside in the U.S. will continue to be ineligible for SNAP benefits.
Tracking ‘error rates’
Critics of food stamps have long argued that states lack incentives to carefully administer the program because the federal government is on the hook for the cost of benefits.
In the 1970s, as the number of Americans on the food stamp rolls soared, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the program, developed a system for assessing if states were accurately determining whether applicants were eligible for benefits and how much they could get.
A state’s “payment error rate” estimates the share of benefits paid out that were more or less than an applicant was actually eligible for. The error rate was not then and is not today a measure of fraud. Typically, it just indicates the share of families who get a higher – or lower – amount of benefits than they are eligible for because of mistakes or confusion on the part of the applicant or the case worker who handles the application.
States responded by increasing their red tape. For example, they asked applicants to submit more documentation and made them go through more bureaucratic hoops, like having more frequent in-person interviews, to get – and continue receiving – SNAP benefits.
These demands hit low-wage workers hardest because their applications were more prone to mistakes. Low-income workers often don’t have consistent work hours and their pay can vary from week to week and month to month. The number of families getting benefits fell steeply.
The USDA tried to reverse this decline by offering states options to simplify the process for applying for and continuing to get SNAP benefits over the course of the presidencies of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Enrollment grew steadily.
Despite this requirement, the national average error rate jumped from 7.4% before the pandemic, to a record high of 11.7% in 2023. Rates rose as states struggled with a surge of people applying for benefits, a shortage of staff in state welfare agencies and procedural changes.
The big legislative package will increase states’ expenses in two ways.
It will reduce the federal government’s responsibility for half of the cost of administering the program to 25% beginning in the 2027 fiscal year.
And some states will have to pay a share of benefit costs for the first time in the program’s history, depending on their payment error rates. Beginning in the 2028 fiscal year, states with an error rate between 6-8% would be responsible for 5% of the cost of benefits. Those with an error rate between 8-10% would have to pay 10%, and states with an error rate over 10% would have to pay 15%. The federal government would continue to pay all benefits in states with error rates below 6%.
Republicans argue the changes will give states more “skin in the game” and ensure better administration of the program.
While the national payment error rate fell from 11.68% in the 2023 fiscal year to 10.93% a year later, 42 states still had rates in excess of 6% in 2024. Twenty states plus the District of Columbia had rates of 10% or higher.
At nearly 25%, Alaska has the highest payment error rate in the country. But Alaska won’t be in trouble right away. To ease passage in the Senate, where the vote of Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, was in doubt, a provision was added to the bill allowing several states with the highest error rates to avoid cost sharing for up to two years after it begins.
About 600,000 individuals and families will lose an average of $100 a month in benefits because of a change in the way utility costs are treated. The law also prevents future administrations from increasing benefits beyond the cost of living, as the Biden Administration did.
States cannot cut benefits below the national standards set in federal law.
But the shift of costs to financially strapped states will force them to make tough choices. They will either have to cut back spending on other programs, increase taxes, discourage people from getting SNAP benefits or drop the program altogether.
The changes will, in the end, make it even harder for Americans who can’t afford the bare necessities to get enough nutritious food to feed their families.
Tracy Roof does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
People shop for food in Brooklyn in 2023 at a store that makes sure that its customers know it accepts SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps and EBT. Spencer Platt/Getty Images
In my research on the history of food stamps, I’ve found that the program was meant to be widely available to most low-income people. The SNAP changes break that tradition in two ways.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that about 3 million people are likely to be dropped from the program and lose their benefits. This decline will occur in part because more people will face time limits if they don’t meet work requirements. Even those who meet the requirements may lose benefits because of difficulty submitting the necessary documents.
Inspired by the plight of unemployed coal miners whom John F. Kennedy met in Appalachia when he campaigned for the presidency in 1960, the early food stamps program was not limited to single parents with children, older people and people with disabilities, like many other safety net programs were at the time. It was supposed to help low-income people afford more and better food, regardless of their circumstances.
From the start, the states administered the program and covered some of its administrative costs and the federal government paid for the benefits in full. This arrangement encouraged states to enroll everyone who needed help without fearing the budgetary consequences.
Who could qualify and how much help they could get were set by uniform national standards, so that even the residents of the poorest states would be able to afford a budget-conscious but nutritionally adequate diet.
The federal government’s responsibility for the cost of benefits also allowed spending to automatically grow during economic downturns, when more people need assistance. These federal dollars helped families, retailers and local economies weather tough times.
The changes to the SNAP program included in the legislative package that Congress approved by narrow margins and Trump signed into law, however, will make it harder for the program to serve its original goals.
Restricting benefits
Since the early 1970s, most so-called able-bodied adults who were not caring for a child or an adult with disabilities had to meet a work requirement to get food stamps. Welfare reform legislation in 1996 made that requirement stricter for such adults between the ages of 18 and 50 by imposing a three-month time limit if they didn’t log 20 hours or more of employment or another approved activity, such as verified volunteering.
Budget legislation passed in 2023 expanded this rule to adults up to age 54. The 2025 law will further expand the time limit to adults up to age 64 and parents of children age 14 or over.
States can currently get permission from the federal government to waive work requirements in areas with insufficient jobs or unemployment above the national average. This flexibility to waive work requirements will now be significantly limited and available only where at least 1 in 10 workers are unemployed.
Concerned senators secured an exemption from the work requirements for most Native Americans and Native Alaskans, who are more likely to live in areas with limited job opportunities.
The new changes to SNAP policies will also deny benefits to many immigrants with authorization to be in the U.S., such as people granted political asylum or official refugee status. Immigrants without authorization to reside in the U.S. will continue to be ineligible for SNAP benefits.
Tracking ‘error rates’
Critics of food stamps have long argued that states lack incentives to carefully administer the program because the federal government is on the hook for the cost of benefits.
In the 1970s, as the number of Americans on the food stamp rolls soared, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the program, developed a system for assessing if states were accurately determining whether applicants were eligible for benefits and how much they could get.
A state’s “payment error rate” estimates the share of benefits paid out that were more or less than an applicant was actually eligible for. The error rate was not then and is not today a measure of fraud. Typically, it just indicates the share of families who get a higher – or lower – amount of benefits than they are eligible for because of mistakes or confusion on the part of the applicant or the case worker who handles the application.
States responded by increasing their red tape. For example, they asked applicants to submit more documentation and made them go through more bureaucratic hoops, like having more frequent in-person interviews, to get – and continue receiving – SNAP benefits.
These demands hit low-wage workers hardest because their applications were more prone to mistakes. Low-income workers often don’t have consistent work hours and their pay can vary from week to week and month to month. The number of families getting benefits fell steeply.
The USDA tried to reverse this decline by offering states options to simplify the process for applying for and continuing to get SNAP benefits over the course of the presidencies of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Enrollment grew steadily.
Despite this requirement, the national average error rate jumped from 7.4% before the pandemic, to a record high of 11.7% in 2023. Rates rose as states struggled with a surge of people applying for benefits, a shortage of staff in state welfare agencies and procedural changes.
The big legislative package will increase states’ expenses in two ways.
It will reduce the federal government’s responsibility for half of the cost of administering the program to 25% beginning in the 2027 fiscal year.
And some states will have to pay a share of benefit costs for the first time in the program’s history, depending on their payment error rates. Beginning in the 2028 fiscal year, states with an error rate between 6-8% would be responsible for 5% of the cost of benefits. Those with an error rate between 8-10% would have to pay 10%, and states with an error rate over 10% would have to pay 15%. The federal government would continue to pay all benefits in states with error rates below 6%.
Republicans argue the changes will give states more “skin in the game” and ensure better administration of the program.
While the national payment error rate fell from 11.68% in the 2023 fiscal year to 10.93% a year later, 42 states still had rates in excess of 6% in 2024. Twenty states plus the District of Columbia had rates of 10% or higher.
At nearly 25%, Alaska has the highest payment error rate in the country. But Alaska won’t be in trouble right away. To ease passage in the Senate, where the vote of Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, was in doubt, a provision was added to the bill allowing several states with the highest error rates to avoid cost sharing for up to two years after it begins.
About 600,000 individuals and families will lose an average of $100 a month in benefits because of a change in the way utility costs are treated. The law also prevents future administrations from increasing benefits beyond the cost of living, as the Biden Administration did.
States cannot cut benefits below the national standards set in federal law.
But the shift of costs to financially strapped states will force them to make tough choices. They will either have to cut back spending on other programs, increase taxes, discourage people from getting SNAP benefits or drop the program altogether.
The changes will, in the end, make it even harder for Americans who can’t afford the bare necessities to get enough nutritious food to feed their families.
Tracy Roof does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
People shop for food in Brooklyn in 2023 at a store that makes sure that its customers know it accepts SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps and EBT. Spencer Platt/Getty Images
In my research on the history of food stamps, I’ve found that the program was meant to be widely available to most low-income people. The SNAP changes break that tradition in two ways.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that about 3 million people are likely to be dropped from the program and lose their benefits. This decline will occur in part because more people will face time limits if they don’t meet work requirements. Even those who meet the requirements may lose benefits because of difficulty submitting the necessary documents.
Inspired by the plight of unemployed coal miners whom John F. Kennedy met in Appalachia when he campaigned for the presidency in 1960, the early food stamps program was not limited to single parents with children, older people and people with disabilities, like many other safety net programs were at the time. It was supposed to help low-income people afford more and better food, regardless of their circumstances.
From the start, the states administered the program and covered some of its administrative costs and the federal government paid for the benefits in full. This arrangement encouraged states to enroll everyone who needed help without fearing the budgetary consequences.
Who could qualify and how much help they could get were set by uniform national standards, so that even the residents of the poorest states would be able to afford a budget-conscious but nutritionally adequate diet.
The federal government’s responsibility for the cost of benefits also allowed spending to automatically grow during economic downturns, when more people need assistance. These federal dollars helped families, retailers and local economies weather tough times.
The changes to the SNAP program included in the legislative package that Congress approved by narrow margins and Trump signed into law, however, will make it harder for the program to serve its original goals.
Restricting benefits
Since the early 1970s, most so-called able-bodied adults who were not caring for a child or an adult with disabilities had to meet a work requirement to get food stamps. Welfare reform legislation in 1996 made that requirement stricter for such adults between the ages of 18 and 50 by imposing a three-month time limit if they didn’t log 20 hours or more of employment or another approved activity, such as verified volunteering.
Budget legislation passed in 2023 expanded this rule to adults up to age 54. The 2025 law will further expand the time limit to adults up to age 64 and parents of children age 14 or over.
States can currently get permission from the federal government to waive work requirements in areas with insufficient jobs or unemployment above the national average. This flexibility to waive work requirements will now be significantly limited and available only where at least 1 in 10 workers are unemployed.
Concerned senators secured an exemption from the work requirements for most Native Americans and Native Alaskans, who are more likely to live in areas with limited job opportunities.
The new changes to SNAP policies will also deny benefits to many immigrants with authorization to be in the U.S., such as people granted political asylum or official refugee status. Immigrants without authorization to reside in the U.S. will continue to be ineligible for SNAP benefits.
Tracking ‘error rates’
Critics of food stamps have long argued that states lack incentives to carefully administer the program because the federal government is on the hook for the cost of benefits.
In the 1970s, as the number of Americans on the food stamp rolls soared, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the program, developed a system for assessing if states were accurately determining whether applicants were eligible for benefits and how much they could get.
A state’s “payment error rate” estimates the share of benefits paid out that were more or less than an applicant was actually eligible for. The error rate was not then and is not today a measure of fraud. Typically, it just indicates the share of families who get a higher – or lower – amount of benefits than they are eligible for because of mistakes or confusion on the part of the applicant or the case worker who handles the application.
States responded by increasing their red tape. For example, they asked applicants to submit more documentation and made them go through more bureaucratic hoops, like having more frequent in-person interviews, to get – and continue receiving – SNAP benefits.
These demands hit low-wage workers hardest because their applications were more prone to mistakes. Low-income workers often don’t have consistent work hours and their pay can vary from week to week and month to month. The number of families getting benefits fell steeply.
The USDA tried to reverse this decline by offering states options to simplify the process for applying for and continuing to get SNAP benefits over the course of the presidencies of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Enrollment grew steadily.
Despite this requirement, the national average error rate jumped from 7.4% before the pandemic, to a record high of 11.7% in 2023. Rates rose as states struggled with a surge of people applying for benefits, a shortage of staff in state welfare agencies and procedural changes.
The big legislative package will increase states’ expenses in two ways.
It will reduce the federal government’s responsibility for half of the cost of administering the program to 25% beginning in the 2027 fiscal year.
And some states will have to pay a share of benefit costs for the first time in the program’s history, depending on their payment error rates. Beginning in the 2028 fiscal year, states with an error rate between 6-8% would be responsible for 5% of the cost of benefits. Those with an error rate between 8-10% would have to pay 10%, and states with an error rate over 10% would have to pay 15%. The federal government would continue to pay all benefits in states with error rates below 6%.
Republicans argue the changes will give states more “skin in the game” and ensure better administration of the program.
While the national payment error rate fell from 11.68% in the 2023 fiscal year to 10.93% a year later, 42 states still had rates in excess of 6% in 2024. Twenty states plus the District of Columbia had rates of 10% or higher.
At nearly 25%, Alaska has the highest payment error rate in the country. But Alaska won’t be in trouble right away. To ease passage in the Senate, where the vote of Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, was in doubt, a provision was added to the bill allowing several states with the highest error rates to avoid cost sharing for up to two years after it begins.
About 600,000 individuals and families will lose an average of $100 a month in benefits because of a change in the way utility costs are treated. The law also prevents future administrations from increasing benefits beyond the cost of living, as the Biden Administration did.
States cannot cut benefits below the national standards set in federal law.
But the shift of costs to financially strapped states will force them to make tough choices. They will either have to cut back spending on other programs, increase taxes, discourage people from getting SNAP benefits or drop the program altogether.
The changes will, in the end, make it even harder for Americans who can’t afford the bare necessities to get enough nutritious food to feed their families.
Tracy Roof does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
On July 5, 1814, on the plains of Chippawa, near the shores of Lake Ontario, the United States left its adolescence as a nation, and took its place among the great powers of the world, with a stirring victory over the British Army. At the Battle of Chippawa, a seminal battle in the War of 1812, the true might of the United States Army was revealed in full glory in a victory that rekindled American pride and respect for the Army, and foreshadowed the rise of the United States as the greatest military power that the world has ever seen.
When the first shots of the War of 1812 were fired, the United States Army was outmatched and underprepared to fight the then-greatest power in the world, Great Britain. To reform our Nation’s military, Secretary of War John Armstrong Jr. established “Camps of Instruction” in New York to instill readiness and discipline in his troops. Guided by strong military leadership and rigorous training from the likes of General Winfield Scott and General Jacob Brown, the United States Army was transformed from ragtag regiments into a finely-honed professional force—changing the course of the war and paving the path to unrivaled American military dominance.
On the morning of July 5, 1814, the British launched a surprise attack in Chippawa along the Niagara River in Ontario, Canada. General Scott’s brigade of regulars wore the gray uniforms of American militiamen, leading the British to believe that they were facing undisciplined troops who would quickly retreat, unable to match British battlefield prowess honed over years of conflict in the Napoleonic Wars. And yet, as the two armies exchanged volley after volley of musket fire and artillery barrages, the intrepid American Soldiers were the ones who heroically held the line, and it was the British who were forced into an embarrassing retreat. Recognizing his grave error, the British General Phineas Riall famously cried out, “Those are regulars, by God!”
That day, the American Army decisively defeated the enemy, protected the American homeland, and inspired a new wave of unity, patriotism, and urgently-needed military morale in our war-weary nation. America’s resounding victory at Chippawa will forever be remembered as the moment that the United States Army took its place among the great armies of the world, and showed itself to be capable of defeating any threat to the safety and security of the great American nation.
As we commemorate this epic battle, we honor the memory of the valiant warriors who fought and died to defend the sovereignty of our young Republic. To this day, the proud legacy of the Battle of Chippawa endures in every Soldier who proudly wears the uniform of the United States of America.
Eastern Cape provincial government strengthens oversight in flood-affected areas
The Eastern Cape Provincial Government has intensified efforts to coordinate disaster relief and recovery measures following the devastating floods that have impacted the province, particularly in the OR Tambo and Amathole Districts.
In a statement on Friday, the provincial government said a multidisciplinary team led by the Office of the Premier, supported by the Departments of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Human Settlements, Health, Home Affairs, SASSA, and affected local municipalities, has been deployed since the disaster began.
A Provincial Joint Operations Centre (JOC) has been activated to streamline disaster response as well as the Donations Management Team which coordinates humanitarian support, including food, sanitary items, and household necessities.
The provincial government said this team has been actively assessing the functionality, safety, and welfare of residents in temporary shelters across the province, while coordinating and distributing humanitarian aid.
The team is also making significant progress in the resettlement of displaced residents, which is expected to resume once all proper government processes have been followed.
“As of [Friday], the official death toll stands at 103, tragically including 32 school-going children. Out of the 103, there are 50 men and 53 females, 63 are adults and 40 are children.
“The OR Tambo District has the most fatalities with 79 victims, followed by Amathole District with 10, Alfred Nzo district 5, Chris Hani 5, Joe Gqabi 2, and Sarah Baartman District with 2.
“Of the 103 deceased, 98 bodies have been identified and collected, while 5 bodies remain unidentified. The Department of Home Affairs has registered 92 deaths out of the 103,” a statement issued by the provincial government said.
Floodwaters have ravaged over 6 800 households, leaving 4 724 without homes and partially damaging another 2 145 dwellings.
Search and recovery efforts are still underway, while emergency response and relief teams continue their critical work.
The Provincial Government thanked all the stakeholders involved and assured affected communities that comprehensive support services will remain in place until full recovery and stability are achieved.
“The South African National Defence Force and Mercedes-Benz have all joined the collective effort to support flood victims in the OR Tambo and Amathole districts. These key stakeholders have delivered substantial donations of food, clothing, and other essential supplies, reinforced the broader relief operation and demonstrated a strong spirit of solidarity across public and private sectors. Donations have also been received from entities such as Shoprite, Meals on Wheels, AbaThembu Kingdom, and numerous community contributors,” the provincial government said.
COGTA MEC Zolile Williams this week conducted an oversight visit to assess the conditions at all eight of the Community Care Centres (CCCs) accommodating displaced residents in and around OR Tambo District Municipality.
Mayor of OR Tambo District Municipality, Mesuli Ngqondwana, and the Mayor of King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality, Nyaniso Nelani were also there.
Community members shared their appreciation for the support received but also raised concerns about an urgent need for a more durable and dignified housing solutions.
Responding to these concerns, MEC Williams reaffirmed the government’s commitment to restoring dignity and stability for all affected families. He emphasised that municipalities have identified land for the erection of temporary structures as part of broader resettlement plans.
“Suitable land has been identified in both KSD and Mnquma municipalities for the construction of 1 230 Temporary Residential Units (TRUs), with R120 million reprioritised to begin implementation. A further R461 million is needed to meet the full TRU demand.
“The verification of damaged homes is underway in Mnquma and OR Tambo Districts, with Joe Gqabi District having completed the process.
“This critical step aims to determine which families require temporary or permanent housing, ensuring that those displaced or affected by structural damage receive appropriate support and stability as part of the ongoing recovery and resettlement strategy,” the provincial government said.
Additionally, the exercise will further determine households that must be permanently moved as they are situated in flood plans.
Furthermore, key progress milestones for the road to recovery so far includes:
62 burials have been completed; with 9 more planned for this weekend.
1442 individuals received psychosocial support.
760 families have been supported with SASSA food vouchers.
989 smart ID and 96 birth certificate applications have been processed.
Additionally, the provincial government said infrastructure repairs are in motion, with 235 schools, 69 health facilities, and 149 roads and 91 bridges damaged across various districts.
A total of R5.04 billion is the estimated cost to repair damaged infrastructure.
“The collaboration across government and with civil society has been instrumental in responding to this humanitarian crisis. We remain committed to ensuring that displaced families are cared for with dignity and that donations are managed transparently. The province thanks all donors,” the MEC said. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)
His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa, accompanied by Minister in the Presidency, Ms Khumbudzo Ntshavheni and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ronald Lamola,, arrives in Rio de Janeiro, Federative Republic of Brazil to attend the XVII BRICS Summit. President Cyril Ramaphosa is received by Secretary of Economic and Financial Affairs, Next Sherpa, Ambassador Philip Fox-Drummond Gough.
The Summit which takes place from 06 to 07 July 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, serves as a political and diplomatic coordination forum for countries from the Global South.
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Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Xinhua | 06. 07. 2025
Keywords: China-USA
Source: Xinhua
Flash: Xi Jinping responds to letter from US youth pickleball cultural exchange delegation regarding their visit to China Flash: Xi Jinping responds to letter from US youth pickleball cultural exchange delegation regarding their visit to China
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Saturday that China is willing to work with Brazil to leverage each other’s complementary advantages and expand cooperation in such areas as digital economy, green economy, sci-tech innovation and aerospace.
Li made the remarks during his meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The Chinese premier arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday to attend the 17th BRICS Summit.
Li conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s warm greetings to Lula, noting that China-Brazil relations are in their best shape ever, with both sides working together to build a China-Brazil community with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet.
During Lula’s visit to China in May, the two heads of state reached important consensus on pushing for building a China-Brazil community with a shared future and upholding multilateralism, Li said.
China stands ready to work with Brazil to continue the efforts in enriching the dimensions of bilateral relations and achieving more concrete results in cooperation so as to deliver more benefits to the two peoples, Li added.
China is willing to work with Brazil to further consolidate and deepen bilateral cooperation in trade, finance and infrastructure development under the framework of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, said the premier.
Li also urged both countries to jointly ensure the success of the China-Brazil Year of Culture in 2026, step up cooperation in education, youth, healthcare and other areas, further facilitate people-to-people exchanges and strengthen public support for China-Brazil friendship and cooperation.
Depicting both countries as staunch supporters of multilateralism and free trade, Li said that China is willing to enhance communication and coordination with Brazil within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, BRICS and the G20, work in unity with developing countries to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and provide more certainty and stability for the world.
China supports Brazil in hosting the UN Climate Change Conference in Belem (COP30) later this year, Li said.
For his part, Lula asked Li to convey his sincere regards to Xi. He noted that the two peoples share a profound friendship.
Brazil attaches great importance to advancing its relations with China, and stands ready to work with China to follow through on the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and further strengthen high-level exchanges, he said.
Brazil is ready to promote exchanges and cooperation with China in such areas as economy and trade, science and technology, finance, and aerospace, he added.
Brazil also seeks to deepen collaboration with China in addressing climate change, said Lula, noting the country welcomes China’s participation in the upcoming COP30 in Belem.
He also congratulated China on successfully hosting the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum this year.
Lula said Brazil is willing to deepen multilateral communication and coordination with China, jointly oppose unilateralism, and uphold multilateralism and free trade so as to promote world peace and development.
Following the meeting, the two sides witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in such fields as fiscal and financial affairs, artificial intelligence, development strategies alignment and aerospace.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, July 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Shavez Ahmed Siddiqui, the visionary fintech entrepreneur and Founder & CEO ofLQUIDPAY Deobank, is making waves across the global fintech and Web3 ecosystems. With two major accolades in 2025 — one from Entrepreneur Middle East in Dubai and another from Times of IndiaGroup in Lucknow — Siddiqui’s impact is now being recognized on both the international and domestic stage.
His rise reflects a larger movement: the transformation of traditional banking into decentralized, borderless, and user-owned financial systems.
From Global Acclaim to National Spotlight: 2025 Awards That Defined a Movement
In May 2025, LQUIDPAY Deobank was awarded “Fintech Company of the Year” at the Leaders inE-Business Awards in Dubai. Just weeks later, Shavez Ahmed Siddiqui received the “Times Leadership Award 2025” in his hometown, Lucknow — solidifying his growing stature in India’s fintech landscape.
These awards highlight Siddiqui’s transformative work in building digital financial infrastructure that is self-sovereign, compliant, and globally accessible.
Award-Winning Innovation: What Makes LQUIDPAY Deobank a Game Changer
LQUIDPAY Deobank is the world’s first decentralized on-chain bank, created to offer secure, borderless, and transparent financial services. With a strong emphasis on user sovereignty, it removes intermediaries and empowers users to manage their money freely, anywhere in the world.
Key Innovations:
Self-Custodial Vaults for total asset control
Visa-Enabled Virtual & Physical Cards for global crypto spending
On-Chain Yield Savings (6–14% APY) backed by smart contracts
Crypto On/Off-Ramp for instant fiat access
ATM Withdrawals via PIN + NFC Cards (launching globally in 2025)
Enterprise API Access for Web3 fintech infrastructure
These innovations are already unlocking access for users in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
Global Recognition: Fintech Company of the Year – Entrepreneur Middle East
At the Leaders inE-Business Awards held in Dubai, LQUIDPAY Deobank was honored for creating decentralized financial tools that serve both individuals and enterprises. The award celebrates the company’s ability to merge compliance, speed, and decentralization under a single ecosystem.
This positioned Shavez Ahmed Siddiqui as a global Web3 leader driving the evolution of finance.
National Impact: Times Leadership Award 2025 – Lucknow, India
On June 28, 2025, Siddiqui was awarded the Times Leadership Award 2025 in Lucknow by the Times of IndiaGroup — a powerful moment of homegrown recognition. This award not only honored his technological contributions but celebrated his commitment to India’s digital future.
Official Publication: (https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/68625b36e0d38c65cf43de77/)
“Receiving this award in Lucknow, the heart of India, reaffirms our mission to empower 1.4 billion people with financial freedom,” said Siddiqui on stage.
The Vision and Mission Behind Siddiqui’s Fintech Movement
To build a decentralized, borderless financial ecosystem where every individual — regardless of geography — can access, grow, and control their own financial future without reliance on centralized institutions.
Mission
To empower the world’s 1.4 billion unbanked through accessible, self-custodial, and blockchain-powered banking systems. Through platforms like LQUIDPAY Deobank, Siddiqui is enabling secure savings, global payments, and decentralized wealth creation for all.
“Financial sovereignty should not be a privilege. It should be a default,” he often emphasizes.
About Shavez Ahmed Siddiqui: Building the Future of Finance
A self-taught technologist with 10+ years of blockchain expertise, Siddiqui is the mind behind several disruptive ventures:
LQUIDPAY Deobank(2024) – A decentralized bank offering crypto savings, Visa card payments, and DeFi-powered finance
Protocol Yield(2025) – A DeFi platform with daily profit sharing, AI-powered risk scoring (PY Score), and broker partners including Binance and Bybit
DODO(2023) – A gasless, index-based crypto trading platform
BTC20 Smart Chain(2022) – A high-speed blockchain with 65,000 TPS and over 17 million wallets
Each initiative supports his broader goal of making finance secure, user-owned, and built for a decentralized future.
Awards Timeline
Date
Award Title
Presented By
Location
May 27, 2025
Fintech Company of the Year 2025
Entrepreneur Middle East
Dubai
June 28, 2025
Times Leadership Award 2025
Times of India Group
Lucknow
What’s Next: Scaling Financial Access for the World
Disclaimer: This press release is provided by LQUIDPAY Deobank. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.
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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – President Cyril Ramaphosa is in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for his working visit to attend the 17th BRICS Summit, which kicks off today.
The President, who arrived on Saturday evening, will attend the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) Summit at the invitation of President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Ahead of the high-level engagements, officials and delegations could be seen entering and exiting the summit venue making final preparations, while tight security measures were in place.
The objectives for this year’s summit include highlighting the ongoing humanitarian impact of Israeli military action in Gaza and in conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine and Iran; and advocating for the sustainable resolution of conflicts through diplomacy, inclusive dialogue, and a commitment to the United Nations Charter.
The summit, taking place from 6 to 7 July 2025, will also explore ways of expanding tangible trade, tourism, investment, and financial cooperation within BRICS and with BRICS partner countries.
“For South Africa, these deliberations will enhance our efforts to further diversify trade and enhance resilience, growth and development. The summit will look into synergies between BRICS, COP30 (Conference of the Parties) and G20 (Group of Twenty) outcomes, including in global governance of artificial intelligence and prioritising climate finance that is just, accessible, and transformational.
“BRICS leaders will continue advocating for the reform of global governance systems to be more inclusive and representative of contemporary realities. This includes the goal of countries of the South for more meaningful participation of the global South in global decision-making processes and structures, including in the United Nations Security Council,” the Presidency said.
The specific objectives of South Africa’s engagement in BRICS are: • To enhance the future growth and development of South Africa through its BRICS membership. • To strengthen intra-BRICS relations and develop mutually beneficial cooperation across the three pillars of cooperation, political and security, financial and economic, and cultural and people-to-people cooperation. • To shape global governance reform to be more equitable, balanced and representative.
South Africa has emphasised concrete cooperation that contributes both directly and indirectly to the priorities of a better South Africa, a better Africa, and a better world through its partnership in BRICS.
During the 17th BRICS Summit, session leaders are expected to deliberate on topics, including global governance reform, peace, and security, including a report by National Security Advisors.
“Heads of State and government will discuss a BRICS Leaders Statement on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence. This will be followed by the adoption of a BRICS Leaders Framework Declaration on Climate Finance and the launch of the BRICS Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases.”
The summit will conclude with the adoption of the Rio de Janeiro Declaration.
The summit will be attended by leaders of the BRICS member states, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia.
Member states participate in all BRICS meetings, while partner states participate principally in summits. Partner states may be invited to other meetings of the association if members agree on this.
Leaders of BRICS partner countries will come from Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan.
The Rio Summit will also be attended by leaders of outreach countries, which in the BRICS system are countries from the region, where the rotational Presidency is located.
In this context, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay have also been invited by the Government of Brazil to participate in the Rio gathering.
The United Nations, the African Union (AU) and International Organisations will also participate.
Leaders of all BRICS members are confirmed for the Rio Summit with President Putin participating virtually and China represented by Premier Li Qiang.
President Ramaphosa is supported by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola; Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni; Deputy Minister of Finance Dr David Masondo and Deputy Minister of Trade Industry and Competition Zuko Godlimpi. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
RIO DE JANEIRO, July 6 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang said Saturday that China is willing to work with Brazil to leverage the complementary advantages of both countries and expand cooperation in areas such as the digital economy, green economy, scientific and technological innovation and aerospace.
Li Qiang made the remarks during a meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who arrived in Rio de Janeiro to attend the 17th BRICS summit.
He conveyed warm greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to L. I. Lula da Silva, noting that China-Brazil relations are at their best stage. Both sides are committed to building a China-Brazil community with a shared future and a more just and sustainable world.
Li Qiang recalled that during Lula da Silva’s visit to China in May, the two heads of state reached an important consensus on moving towards the creation of a China-Brazil community with a shared future and supporting multilateralism.
China is willing to continue to work with Brazil to expand bilateral relations and achieve more concrete results in cooperation so as to bring more tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries, Li added.
He stressed that China is willing to deepen cooperation with Brazil in trade, finance and infrastructure within the framework of high-quality construction of the Belt and Road.
In addition, the Premier called for successfully holding the China-Brazil Culture Year in 2026, strengthening cooperation in education, youth, health care and other fields, promoting further people-to-people and cultural exchanges, so as to strengthen public support for China-Brazil friendship and cooperation.
Calling both countries staunch supporters of multilateralism and free trade, Li Qiang said China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Brazil within multilateral frameworks such as the UN, BRICS and G20, and work with developing countries to promote an equitable and orderly multipolar world and universal, beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, bringing greater certainty and stability to the world.
China supports Brazil in hosting the 30th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) in Belem this year, he added. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Steve Smith’s magnificent 71 guided Australia to 221 for seven at stumps on day three of the second test against West Indies in Grenada on Saturday, helping the tourists to build a commanding 254-run lead despite late wickets and persistent rain interruptions.
Australia, who began the day two wickets down after losing Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja on Friday, made it to lunch at 69 for three and appeared vulnerable on a pitch offering variable bounce and seam movement.
Nathan Lyon’s nightwatchman role lasted 33 balls and yielded eight runs before he fell to Alzarri Joseph, with John Campbell taking the catch at third slip.
At that point, Australia were crying out for some heroics, and up stepped Smith and Cameron Green, who combined for a crucial 93-run partnership that turned the tide inexorably in the visitors’ favour.
Green contributed a vital 52, his highest score batting at number three, before falling immediately after reaching his half-century when he chopped a Shamar Joseph delivery on to his stumps.
Smith, back in the side after missing the first test with a finger injury, found his rhythm after a cautious start, smashing a six off Roston Chase and hitting seven boundaries in a patient knock that spanned 119 balls.
The veteran looked in complete control as he guided Australia through the middle sessions but his masterful innings ended when he was given out lbw to Justin Greaves after an unsuccessful review.
“We’re in a nice spot,” Smith said. “I don’t think the wicket is going to get any better, it will probably do a few more tricks.
“The new ball is going to be pretty crucial for us. Hopefully we can get up to somewhere around 300 and then we’ll see how it goes.”
Travis Head provided explosive support with 39 from 60 balls, including four boundaries, before being bowled by a Shamar Joseph delivery that nipped back sharply and caught him completely off guard.
Beau Webster managed just two runs before edging Greaves to slip, but Alex Carey helped to avert a mini-crisis with an unbeaten 26 that included some aggressive strokeplay.
The pitch continued to pose challenges through the day, with balls keeping low at times and offering variable bounce that troubled the batsmen.
West Indies’ bowlers toiled hard on the surface, with Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph and Greaves claiming two wickets apiece, but their efforts were undermined by Australia’s patient accumulation of runs.
With Carey and Pat Cummins at the crease overnight, Australia’s imposing advantage leaves West Indies facing an uphill battle.
Sunday promises to be decisive, with Australia needing a few more runs to set an even more daunting target, while West Indies require early wickets to keep alive their hopes.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following are the opening remarks by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung kwok-kwan, at the International Symposium on Global Corporate Restructuring Center today (July 6):
The Honourable Professor Leung (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Deputy to the National People’s Congress, Member of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Member of the Legislative Council, Professor Priscilla Leung) , Dr Sun Jin (Director-General of the International Organization for Mediation Preparatory Office), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is my honour to join this International Symposium on Global Corporate Restructuring Centre. We all know that today’s global economy is interconnected yet volatile. In order to maintain financial stability and investor confidence, we must keep abreast with market changes and cope with the need of cross-border businesses.
Corporate restructuring is inherently a crucial strategic tool wielded in financial distress, which is vital for survival, renewal and resilience of the businesses. Indeed, successful restructuring preserves value of the businesses. Successful restructuring protects jobs of the employees. Successful restructuring instills confidence of the creditors. In short, successful corporate restructuring allows businesses to navigate adversity and becomes stronger for sustainable growth.
Hong Kong is unique in the sense that it is the only common law jurisdiction in China and is deeply integrated with the Mainland market. It is therefore ideally positioned as a global centre for corporate restructuring. Now, I would like to outline how Hong Kong’s legal system delivers unparalleled advantages for business and investment, corporate restructuring and dispute resolution across Asia and beyond.
The Foundation: “one country, two systems” and Common Law
Hong Kong’s distinctiveness lies in the framework of “one country, two systems”, which preserves the common law system which is highly regarded by international community and reinforce our unique position to bridge the East and the West. This is not just theoretical – it translates into tangible expertise through our 13 000 solicitors and barristers, 560 Hong Kong lawyers licensed to practice in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), as well as 1 500 registered foreign lawyers, many of whom are multilingual and qualified in multiple jurisdictions. The accounting profession also plays a crucial role in corporate restructuring. We currently have over 6 500 establishments providing accounting, auditing and tax consultancy services. The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants boasts a membership of over 47 000, who are recognised globally in such diverse places as Australia, Canada, England and Wales, South Africa etc.
What does this mean? When international investors face cross-border restructuring or insolvency, they can count on our professionals who master common law principles and international standard as well as the complexities of the Mainland market.
Connectivity: Mutual Legal Assistance
Such expertise is amplified by Hong Kong’s unmatched connectivity with the Mainland, offering effective pathways through nine mutual legal assistance arrangements in civil and commercial matters.
Consider this: a European investor restructuring a Mainland-based joint venture could gain critical tools simply by choosing Hong Kong.
Firstly, in assets preservation, businesses may obtain Mainland court orders to freeze assets or preserve evidence — a relief which is not available for arbitration seated in common law jurisdiction other than Hong Kong.
Secondly, in direct enforcement: Businesses may enforce Hong Kong arbitral awards and court judgments in the Mainland, the coverage of which is the widest globally, including judgments on intellectual property rights which are not covered in international conventions.
Thirdly, streamlined restructuring and liquidation: A Hong Kong-appointed liquidator can access Mainland courts in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Xiamen to take control of the company’s assets and records in the Mainland, facilitating an effective corporate restructuring or at times, winding up.
This seamless integration makes Hong Kong the optimal choice for business and investment and also cross-border restructuring with Mainland elements.
Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and the New Era of Mediation
Our advantages also extend to dispute resolution. The evidence is compelling — Hong Kong ranked globally number two as an arbitration seat under the 2025 Queen Mary University of London and White & Case International Arbitration Survey; last year, over 76 per cent of the cases handled by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre were international, with claims averaging HK$375 million, reflecting international trust in Hong Kong’s role in high-stakes cases.
We recognise that modern challenges require diverse solutions, which is why we are promoting mediation in the Greater Bay Area. The recent establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) in Hong Kong highlights this commitment, as the city positions itself as the capital of mediation.
In terms of local capacity building, we have generally mandated mediation clauses in government contracts and have been enhancing training of mediators.
For regional integration, we are closely collaborating with our GBA partners to deploy Hong Kong mediation organisations to handle commercial mediation cases as referred to by the GBA courts; export Hong Kong’s best practice to develop GBA standard, including specialised mediation rules; and establish a unified GBA Mediators Panel for cross-border expertise.
The Greater Bay Area: Where Policies Meet Practice
These initiatives reflect Hong Kong’s strategic role in the GBA. Innovative policies have created unprecedented opportunities.
For example, a Shenzhen company with Hong Kong shareholders of any investment ratio can now choose Hong Kong law to govern contracts, and choose Hong Kong as the arbitration seat. And the impact is visible: international investors can benefit from comprehensive legal protection under Hong Kong’s common law regime while navigating in Mainland’s dynamic markets with certainty and efficiency.
In an era of growing complexity, businesses need to anchor in a jurisdiction that offers stability and connectivity. Hong Kong delivers precisely this – a common law system integrated with the world’s second largest economy, powered by world-class professionals conversant in global commerce and a robust and reliable dispute resolution mechanism.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure you would fully explore the China advantages and the international advantages offered by Hong Kong in today’s Symposium. The Government will continue to solidify Hong Kong’s role as the premier global hub for business and investment. We support business ventures at every stage – from set-up, financing, management and operation to disputes resolution and restructuring.
On this note, I wish this Symposium every success. Thank you very much.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following are the opening remarks by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung kwok-kwan, at the International Symposium on Global Corporate Restructuring Center today (July 6):
The Honourable Professor Leung (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Deputy to the National People’s Congress, Member of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Member of the Legislative Council, Professor Priscilla Leung) , Dr Sun Jin (Director-General of the International Organization for Mediation Preparatory Office), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is my honour to join this International Symposium on Global Corporate Restructuring Centre. We all know that today’s global economy is interconnected yet volatile. In order to maintain financial stability and investor confidence, we must keep abreast with market changes and cope with the need of cross-border businesses.
Corporate restructuring is inherently a crucial strategic tool wielded in financial distress, which is vital for survival, renewal and resilience of the businesses. Indeed, successful restructuring preserves value of the businesses. Successful restructuring protects jobs of the employees. Successful restructuring instills confidence of the creditors. In short, successful corporate restructuring allows businesses to navigate adversity and becomes stronger for sustainable growth.
Hong Kong is unique in the sense that it is the only common law jurisdiction in China and is deeply integrated with the Mainland market. It is therefore ideally positioned as a global centre for corporate restructuring. Now, I would like to outline how Hong Kong’s legal system delivers unparalleled advantages for business and investment, corporate restructuring and dispute resolution across Asia and beyond.
The Foundation: “one country, two systems” and Common Law
Hong Kong’s distinctiveness lies in the framework of “one country, two systems”, which preserves the common law system which is highly regarded by international community and reinforce our unique position to bridge the East and the West. This is not just theoretical – it translates into tangible expertise through our 13 000 solicitors and barristers, 560 Hong Kong lawyers licensed to practice in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), as well as 1 500 registered foreign lawyers, many of whom are multilingual and qualified in multiple jurisdictions. The accounting profession also plays a crucial role in corporate restructuring. We currently have over 6 500 establishments providing accounting, auditing and tax consultancy services. The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants boasts a membership of over 47 000, who are recognised globally in such diverse places as Australia, Canada, England and Wales, South Africa etc.
What does this mean? When international investors face cross-border restructuring or insolvency, they can count on our professionals who master common law principles and international standard as well as the complexities of the Mainland market.
Connectivity: Mutual Legal Assistance
Such expertise is amplified by Hong Kong’s unmatched connectivity with the Mainland, offering effective pathways through nine mutual legal assistance arrangements in civil and commercial matters.
Consider this: a European investor restructuring a Mainland-based joint venture could gain critical tools simply by choosing Hong Kong.
Firstly, in assets preservation, businesses may obtain Mainland court orders to freeze assets or preserve evidence — a relief which is not available for arbitration seated in common law jurisdiction other than Hong Kong.
Secondly, in direct enforcement: Businesses may enforce Hong Kong arbitral awards and court judgments in the Mainland, the coverage of which is the widest globally, including judgments on intellectual property rights which are not covered in international conventions.
Thirdly, streamlined restructuring and liquidation: A Hong Kong-appointed liquidator can access Mainland courts in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Xiamen to take control of the company’s assets and records in the Mainland, facilitating an effective corporate restructuring or at times, winding up.
This seamless integration makes Hong Kong the optimal choice for business and investment and also cross-border restructuring with Mainland elements.
Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and the New Era of Mediation
Our advantages also extend to dispute resolution. The evidence is compelling — Hong Kong ranked globally number two as an arbitration seat under the 2025 Queen Mary University of London and White & Case International Arbitration Survey; last year, over 76 per cent of the cases handled by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre were international, with claims averaging HK$375 million, reflecting international trust in Hong Kong’s role in high-stakes cases.
We recognise that modern challenges require diverse solutions, which is why we are promoting mediation in the Greater Bay Area. The recent establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) in Hong Kong highlights this commitment, as the city positions itself as the capital of mediation.
In terms of local capacity building, we have generally mandated mediation clauses in government contracts and have been enhancing training of mediators.
For regional integration, we are closely collaborating with our GBA partners to deploy Hong Kong mediation organisations to handle commercial mediation cases as referred to by the GBA courts; export Hong Kong’s best practice to develop GBA standard, including specialised mediation rules; and establish a unified GBA Mediators Panel for cross-border expertise.
The Greater Bay Area: Where Policies Meet Practice
These initiatives reflect Hong Kong’s strategic role in the GBA. Innovative policies have created unprecedented opportunities.
For example, a Shenzhen company with Hong Kong shareholders of any investment ratio can now choose Hong Kong law to govern contracts, and choose Hong Kong as the arbitration seat. And the impact is visible: international investors can benefit from comprehensive legal protection under Hong Kong’s common law regime while navigating in Mainland’s dynamic markets with certainty and efficiency.
In an era of growing complexity, businesses need to anchor in a jurisdiction that offers stability and connectivity. Hong Kong delivers precisely this – a common law system integrated with the world’s second largest economy, powered by world-class professionals conversant in global commerce and a robust and reliable dispute resolution mechanism.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure you would fully explore the China advantages and the international advantages offered by Hong Kong in today’s Symposium. The Government will continue to solidify Hong Kong’s role as the premier global hub for business and investment. We support business ventures at every stage – from set-up, financing, management and operation to disputes resolution and restructuring.
On this note, I wish this Symposium every success. Thank you very much.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the sacrifices made by Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) emphasise his commitment to righteousness.
“The sacrifices made by Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) emphasise his commitment to righteousness. He inspires people to uphold truth in the face of adversity,” said PM Modi in a post on X.
Currently, the Prime Minister is in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, where he will participate in the 17th BRICS Summit and undertake a state visit.
The solemn observance of Ashoora-e-Muharram marks a poignant day in Islamic history, honouring the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, the revered grandson of Prophet Muhammad, and his companions. This day is synonymous with courage, sacrifice, and steadfastness in the face of tyranny.
Millions gather to pay homage to those who laid down their lives for truth, righteousness, and justice in the Battle of Karbala.
The 10th Muharram, called Ashura, is being observed across the country on Sunday. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. Shia Muslims across the world observe a public mourning.
The 10th day of the first month of Muharram of the Muslim calendar marks the day of martyrdom of Imam Hussain, who was killed by the army of King Yazid in 680 AD on the banks of the Euphrates River in Iraq in the Karbala area. The besieged family of Imam Hussain, his family and companions, were denied drinking water even when they were camped at the bank of the Euphrates. Even the 6-month-old Ali Asghar was denied drinking water by the army of the Yazid. Imam Hussain chose to sacrifice himself and his family and companions rather than accept the supremacy of evil over the truth.
Shia Muslims commemorate the event by taking out processions and chest-beating, but the mourning of Muharram is sacrosanct to both the Shia and the Sunni Muslims alike.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a grand welcome from the Indian community on Saturday (local time) upon his arrival in Rio de Janeiro for a four-day visit to Brazil. During this visit, he will participate in the 17th BRICS Summit and undertake a State Visit.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Members of Brazil’s Indian community gave a very vibrant welcome in Rio de Janeiro. It’s amazing how they remain connected with Indian culture and are also very passionate about India’s development! Here are some glimpses from the welcome…”
Members of the Indian diaspora greeted the Prime Minister with vibrant traditional dances and folk songs. One of the highlights was a dance performance themed on Operation Sindoor, with the patriotic song “Ye Desh Nahi Mitne Dunga” resonating through the venue.
In a gesture of cultural harmony, a Brazilian music group also performed devotional songs, showcasing India’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage.
Prime Minister Modi will attend the 17th BRICS Leaders’ Summit from July 6 to 7. During the Summit, he will exchange views with other leaders on pressing global issues, including peace and security, strengthening multilateralism, the responsible use of artificial intelligence, climate action, global health, and economic and financial matters. According to official sources, the Prime Minister is also expected to hold several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Summit.
As part of the State Visit, PM Modi will travel to Brasilia for bilateral talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Discussions will focus on deepening the Strategic Partnership between the two nations in areas of mutual interest such as trade, defence, energy, space, technology, agriculture, health, and people-to-people ties.
Earlier, members of the Indian community, who had gathered to welcome the Prime Minister, expressed their excitement and pride.
“I am from Gujarat and have been living in Brazil for a long time. We are thrilled and feel privileged and honoured to welcome our Prime Minister today,” said Vijay Solanki, a member of the Indian diaspora.
Another member of the diaspora, Pooja, shared, “I am from Gujarat and have been living in Brazil for the past three years. I am very excited to meet him.”
PM Modi arrived in Brazil after concluding his visit to Argentina, where he held a bilateral meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei.
Following his engagements in Brazil, the Prime Minister will travel to Namibia on July 9, where he is also scheduled to address the Namibian Parliament.
PM Modi is currently on a five-nation, eight-day tour (July 2 to July 9) that began in Ghana. From there, he travelled to the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago, followed by Argentina, and now Brazil.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Order dated July 1, 2025 No. 1768-r
Document
Order dated July 1, 2025 No. 1768-r
The 22nd International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO 2025) will be held in Russia from November 23 to December 2. The order to this effect has been signed.
The federal territory of Sirius will be the venue for the Olympiad. By July 16, the Ministry of Education must approve the composition of the organizing committee for its preparation and holding, as well as the plan of relevant events.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide visas to participants and guests of the event, as well as journalists, without charging fees.
IJSO is an international multidisciplinary Olympiad for schoolchildren under 15 years old. The students are required to have both theoretical knowledge and experimental skills in 3 subjects: physics, chemistry and biology.
The Olympiad has been held annually in December since 2004. In previous years, IJSO was held in Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, Azerbaijan, the UAE, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, India, Iran, South Africa, Qatar, Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Nigeria, and Botswana. Teams from over 70 countries participate in it.
The Russian team has been participating in competitions since the very first Olympiad and is considered one of the strongest – traditionally, Russian schoolchildren bring home several gold medals from tournaments.
The preparation and holding of the Olympiad in Russia will be ensured within the framework of the implementation of the events of the federal project “All the Best for Children”, which is part of the new national project “Youth and Children”.
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Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
RIO DE JANEIRO, July 5 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Saturday that China is to work in unity with developing countries to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.
Li made the remarks during his meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The Chinese premier arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday to attend the 17th BRICS Summit.
