I am pleased to represent the Secretary-General at this important celebration. I will now read his remarks.
Excellencies, Distinguished guests, Friends,
I am honoured to share a message of profound respect and heartfelt congratulations to this year’s laureates of the United Nations Population Award.
The work we celebrate today – from advancing population science to protecting reproductive rights – is central to sustainable development.
Because when every person can make informed decisions about their body and their future, we unlock opportunities, strengthen communities, and accelerate progress for all.
I thank Dr. Natalia Kanem for her dedication and leadership, as Secretary of the United Nations Population Award Committee and Executive Director of UNFPA.
I also salute the Chair, Ambassador Sidi Mohamed Laghdaf, of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, along with the committee members, for selecting this year’s honourees.
In the individual category, we celebrate Ms. Varsha Deshpande of India.
In a village in Maharashtra, young girls once faced futures decided for them.
Child marriage.
No education.
No choice.
But Varsha Deshpande stood up and said no.
For over 30 years, she has been a force for change.
Preventing hundreds of child marriages.
Providing legal aid to over 10,000 women.
And transforming the simple phrase “Lek Ladki Abhiyan”, “the cherished girl child”, into a movement of hope.
Halfway around the world in France, the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population, has spent nearly a century bridging the gap between data and dignity.
Every four years, they gather global experts to take a deep look at some of our most pressing population challenges, including migration, aging societies, and climate displacement.
The IUSSP ensures lives are not only counted – but understood and supported.
On behalf of the Secretary-General and the United Nations, congratulations.
We are all inspired by the work of today’s honourees and the future they help to shape.
A future of dignity, equality, and opportunity, for every woman, every child, and every person, everywhere.
Researchers from NASA and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) recently tested a scale model of the X-59 experimental aircraft in a supersonic wind tunnel located in Chofu, Japan, to assess the noise audible underneath the aircraft. The model can be seen in the wind tunnel in this image released on July 11, 2025. The test was an important milestone for NASA’s one-of-a-kind X-59, which is designed to fly faster than the speed of sound without causing a loud sonic boom. When the X-59 flies, sound underneath it – a result of its pressure signature – will be a critical factor for what people hear on the ground. This marked the third round of wind tunnel tests for the X-59 model, following a previous test at JAXA and at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. The data will help researchers understand the noise level that will be created by the shock waves the X-59 produces at supersonic speeds. Image credit: JAXA
NASA will provide live coverage of the undocking and departure of the Axiom Mission 4 private astronaut mission from the International Space Station. The four-member astronaut crew is scheduled to undock from the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft at approximately 7:05 a.m. EDT Monday, July 14, pending weather, to begin their return to Earth and splashdown off the coast of California. Coverage of departure operations will begin with hatch closing at 4:30 a.m. on NASA+. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media. Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, and HUNOR (Hungarian to Orbit) astronaut Tibor Kapu of Hungary, will have spent about two weeks in space at the conclusion of their mission. The Dragon spacecraft will return with more than 580 pounds of cargo, including NASA hardware and data from over 60 experiments conducted throughout the mission. NASA’s coverage is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations): Monday, July 14 4:30 a.m. – Hatch closing coverage begins on NASA+. 4:55 a.m. – Crew enters spacecraft followed by hatch closing. 6:45 a.m. – Undocking coverage begins on NASA+, Axiom Space, and SpaceX channels. 7:05 a.m. – Undocking NASA’s coverage ends approximately 30 minutes after undocking when space station joint operations with Axiom Space and SpaceX conclude. Axiom Space will resume coverage of Dragon’s re-entry and splashdown on the company’s website. A collaboration between NASA and ISRO allowed Axiom Mission 4 to deliver on a commitment highlighted by President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send the first ISRO astronaut to the station. The space agencies participated in five joint science investigations and two in-orbit science, technology, engineering, and mathematics demonstrations. NASA and ISRO have a long-standing relationship built on a shared vision to advance scientific knowledge and expand space collaboration. The private mission also carried the first astronauts from Poland and Hungary to stay aboard the space station. The International Space Station is a springboard for developing a low Earth orbit economy. NASA’s goal is to achieve a strong economy off the Earth where the agency can purchase services as one of many customers to meet its science and research objectives in microgravity. NASA’s commercial strategy for low Earth orbit provides the government with reliable and safe services at a lower cost, enabling the agency to focus on Artemis missions to the Moon in preparation for Mars while also continuing to use low Earth orbit as a training and proving ground for those deep space missions. Learn more about NASA’s commercial space strategy at: https://www.nasa.gov/commercial-space -end- Claire O’SheaHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1100claire.a.o’shea@nasa.gov Anna SchneiderJohnson Space Center, Houston281-483-5111anna.c.schneider@nasa.gov
Researchers from NASA and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) recently tested a scale model of the X-59 experimental aircraft in a supersonic wind tunnel located in Chofu, Japan, to assess the noise audible underneath the aircraft. The test was an important milestone for NASA’s one-of-a-kind X-59, which is designed to fly faster than the speed of sound without causing a loud sonic boom. When the X-59 flies, sound underneath it – a result of its pressure signature – will be a critical factor for what people hear on the ground. The X-59 is 99.7 feet long, with a wingspan of 29.7 feet. The JAXA wind tunnel, on the other hand, is just over 3 feet long by 3 feet wide. So, researchers used a model scaled to just 1.62% of the actual aircraft – about 19 inches nose-to-tail. They exposed it to conditions mimicking the X-plane’s planned supersonic cruising speed of Mach 1.4, or approximately 925 miles per hour. The series of tests performed at JAXA allowed NASA researchers to gather critical experimental data to compare to their predictions derived through Computational Fluid Dynamics modeling, which include how air will flow around the aircraft. This marked the third round of wind tunnel tests for the X-59 model, following a previous test at JAXA and at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Ohio. The data will help researchers understand the noise level that will be created by the shock waves the X-59 produces at supersonic speeds. The shock waves from traditional supersonic aircraft typically merge together, producing a loud sonic boom. The X-59’s unique design works to keep shock waves from merging, will result in a quieter sonic thump. The X-59 was built in Palmdale, California at contractor Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and is undergoing final ground tests en route to its historic first flight this year. NASA’s Quesst mission aims to help change the future of quiet supersonic travel using the X-59. The experimental aircraft allow the Quesst team to gather public feedback on acceptable sound levels for quiet supersonic flight. Through Quesst’s development of the X-59, NASA will deliver design tools and technology for quiet supersonic airliners that will achieve the high speeds desired by commercial operators without creating disturbance to people on the ground.
Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Foreign Operation Appropriations, introduced the “Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act,” legislation to prevent the unnecessary destruction and waste of foreign assistance commodities—including food, medicine and medical devices—by ensuring that they are delivered to intended recipients before they spoil or expire. The bill would prohibit the destruction of any such commodities unless all efforts to sell or donate them have been exhausted and requires reporting to Congress on any destroyed goods.
Specifically, the “Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act” seeks to prevent the State Department’s planned destruction of $9.7 million in family planning commodities instead of donating them to intended beneficiaries. It would also impose requirements to prevent the imminent spoilage of emergency food commodities in warehouses, including a USAID warehouse in Houston, Texas.
“This bill will save lives and prevent the wasting of taxpayer dollars by ensuring that already paid-for life-saving commodities, like food and medicine, are delivered to people in need instead of being pointlessly trashed,” said Ranking Member Shaheen. “At a moment when the Trump Administration has made devastating cuts to foreign assistance it is disappointing that the State Department would sign off on spending money to actually destroy paid-for commodities that would save lives and are waiting to be deployed. Food and family planning commodities are desperately needed in conflict affected countries, like Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo where famine is taking hold. Women are at high risk for sexual violence in conflict settings. This is sadly yet another example of how Elon Musk and the DOGE boys have simultaneously managed to cost lives and undercut America’s influence abroad without saving the taxpayer a single cent.”
“Intentionally destroying health care products or letting food and medication that the United States government has already paid for as part of our foreign assistance efforts rot and expire in warehouses is absurd. It’s a total waste of taxpayer dollars and is needlessly costing lives around the world,” said Ranking Member Schatz. “Our bill requires the administration to follow common-sense and distribute foreign assistance commodities before they expire.”
Last week, Ranking Member Shaheen sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging him to reverse the State Department’s decision to destroy more than $9 million dollars in family planning commodities intended to support women in crisis settings globally. U.S. family planning assistance reaches 47.6 million women and couples every year, preventing 8.1 million unintended pregnancies, 5.2 million unsafe abortions and 34,000 maternal deaths.
Full text of the bill can be found HERE.
The “Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars Act” would:
Require that foreign assistance commodities, including food, medicine, and medical devices be made available to intended beneficiaries before the commodities spoil or expire.
Prevent the destruction of any commodity procured or held by the United States unless every effort has been made to sell or donate the commodity before the applicable spoilage or expiration date.
Require reporting to Congress on any destroyed commodities, including the market value of any product or commodity destroyed; and the cost incurred to destroy the commodity.
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
KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday, saying that under the strategic guidance of the two leaders, bilateral relations have embarked on the right track of improvement and development.
Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, said the two sides should return to the original intentions of the strategic partnership, grasp the general trend of win-win cooperation, adhere to the principle of mutual respect, properly manage differences and live up to the expectations of all circles in the two countries.
Recalling that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II, the Chinese diplomat stressed that as co-authors of the post-war world order and permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and the UK should also jointly fulfill their international obligations, safeguard the fruits of that victory, uphold the free trade system and make new contributions to world peace and development.
D. Lammy, in turn, said that the current trends of improvement and development of British-Chinese relations are positive, and exchanges at all levels are becoming more frequent. The diplomat added that the British side expects further strengthening of communication with the PRC, the adoption of more significant measures and the promotion of cooperation in such areas as the economy and trade.
The UK Foreign Secretary assured that the UK adheres to the one-China policy and is committed to developing stable and mature relations with China.
The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional hot spots such as the Iranian nuclear issue and the Ukrainian crisis. –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.
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
KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Xinhua) — China hopes to more actively promote the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday.
Wang Yi said China is willing to work with Australia to prepare for the next stage of high-level exchanges, maintain the momentum of improving bilateral relations, and properly manage differences between the two countries.
The Chinese Foreign Minister made the remarks during a meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in the Malaysian capital on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and other meetings.
As Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, noted, over the past three years, China-Australia relations have stabilized, returned to normal and achieved positive results.
According to the Chinese diplomat, this proves that if the two countries adhere to the correct positioning of partnership, interstate relations can develop steadily and continuously produce results.
The Chinese Foreign Minister noted that Australia’s rational and pragmatic policy towards China meets the interests of both countries and is in line with the trends of the times.
P. Wong, for her part, said Australia was committed to developing positive and pragmatic relations with China.
Both sides are making every effort to prepare for high-level exchanges and hope to achieve positive results, she continued, adding that dialogue and cooperation between Australia and China in trade, tourism and other fields have consistently made progress, and people-to-people exchanges have become more active.
P. Wong assured that Australia remains firmly committed to the one-China policy and does not support “Taiwan independence”.
She said Australia looks forward to frank communication with China and deepening cooperation to promote sustainable and positive development of interstate relations.
P. Wong noted that Australia supports the central role of ASEAN and is committed to upholding regional peace and stability.
The sides also exchanged views on issues such as the South China Sea and the Ukrainian crisis. –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.
Olympic-level athletes, coaches and officials will take to the track at the Edmonton Athletics Invitational on July 13. With athletes from 15 countries travelling to Edmonton’s Foote Field, the invitational is expected to bring more than 3,000 spectators and generate about $1.1 million for Edmonton’s economy as participants book hotels, shop and dine at local businesses and restaurants.
Through the Major Sport Event grant program, Alberta’s government is supporting the Edmonton Athletics Invitational with $150,000 in funding. This grant program provides financial assistance to support organizations in planning and hosting national and international sporting events in Alberta. Hosting major sporting events like these helps highlight Alberta’s reputation as a premier destination for major sport events.
“I’m thrilled to welcome athletes from Alberta, across Canada and around the world to the Edmonton Athletics Invitational. Hosting this event in our backyard offers Albertans a chance to see elite competition up close. I will be cheering on our Albertan athletes as they pursue success on the World Athletics Silver Continental Tour.”
The Edmonton Athletics Invitational is the 34th stop on the World Athletics Silver Continental Tour, providing athletes with an opportunity to earn World Athletics ranking points and increased visibility. Sherwood Park’s Amanda Rummery, a Podium Alberta grant recipient, and Calgary’s Noah Vucsics – who performed at the 2023 Para Athletics World Championships and won silver in the men’s T20 long jump, setting a new Canadian record – will be among the 13 Albertan athletes competing.
Other competitors include athletes from countries around the globe such as the United States, Mexico, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Ukraine.
“We are very proud and honoured to be part of this athlete experience and to continue the rich legacy of track and field events in Edmonton. This is very exciting for the city and the Athletics community, and it showcases Alberta as a premier sporting event host in Canada. We appreciate the support from Minister Boitchenko and the MSE program.”
Related information
Major Sport Event Grant Program
Edmonton Athletics Invitational
Podium Alberta
Related news
Alberta is set for a championship season (May 12, 2025)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, continued his European visit in Rome, Italy, on July 10 (Rome time) to promote and strengthen co-operation between Hong Kong and the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) and to promote Hong Kong’s unique advantages under “one country, two systems” to the local legal and business sectors.
Mr Lam first visited UNIDROIT and had lunch with the Secretary-General of UNIDROIT, Professor Ignacio Tirado. Mr Lam thanked UNIDROIT for its support of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and the secondment of local legal professionals to UNIDROIT. They also discussed opportunities for UNIDROIT to participate in the Academy’s capacity-building programme and the relevant work of organising the 2026 Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit in Hong Kong. During his visit to UNIDROIT, Mr Lam also officiated at the opening ceremony of the Asian Transnational Law Centre.
Mr Lam then attended a seminar co-organised by the Department of Justice (DoJ) and UNIDROIT entitled “Hong Kong as a Gateway to the Asia Pacific” and delivered a keynote speech. Mr Lam said that, as Hong Kong is a legal hub, the DoJ has been strengthening co-operation with renowned international legal and dispute resolution organisations and securing their presence in Hong Kong. Recently, in addition to the International Organization for Mediation that will be headquartered in Hong Kong, the DoJ, with the support of the Central Government, has also been exploring with the UNIDROIT Secretariat the proposal to set up a liaison office in Hong Kong. The DoJ thanked the UNIDROIT Governing Council for their support of the proposal to be considered by the UNIDROIT General Assembly. The proposal, if passed by the General Assembly, will help promote the work of UNIDROIT in the Asia-Pacific region and further enhance Hong Kong’s position as a regional centre for international legal and dispute resolution services, Mr Lam added.
In the evening, Mr Lam had dinner with the former Minister of Justice of Italy and recipient of the 2024 Chinese Government Friendship Award, Professor Oliviero Diliberto, to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.
Mr Lam attended a networking lunch and meeting hosted by the Italy China Council Foundation and supported by the Italian confederation of small and medium private industries today (July 11, Rome time) and elaborated to local legal and business sectors Hong Kong’s unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland while being closely connected to the world under the “one country, two systems” principle. He also learned more about the developments in local enterprises and legal services and explained to them how Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution services are conducive to international investment and trade.
In the evening, Mr Lam will call on the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Italy, Mr Jia Guide, to brief him on the exchanges and co-operation between the DoJ and UNIDROIT, and the latest work progress on dispute resolution services.
Mr Lam will leave Rome tomorrow (July 12, Rome time) and arrive in Hong Kong on the morning of July 13.
Secretary-General António Guterres said empowering young people in a fair and hopeful world reaffirms the UN promise that every person has the right to make informed choices about their lives and futures.
While many young people face economic uncertainty, gender inequality, health challenges, the climate crisis and a spike in conflicts – they are still leading with courage, conscience and clarity, “calling for systems that uphold their rights and support their choices,” he said in his message.
“Let’s listen to what young people want and support them in exercising their rights, making their own choices and enjoying a hopeful future,” said Natalia Kanem, Director of the UN sexual and reproductive rights agency, formally known as the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
An inclusive future
“Young people are not just thinking about their future children – they are thinking about the world those children will inherit,” one youth activist told UNFPA.
Mr. Guterres urged countries to invest in policies that will ensure young people have access to education, healthcare, and promoting the protection of reproductive rights.
“Let us stand with young people and build a future where every person can shape their destiny in a world that is fair, peaceful and full of hope,” he said.
2025 award winners
Each year, the Committee for the UN Population Award honours an individual and/or institution in recognition of outstanding contributions to population and reproductive health questions and to their solutions.
On this World Population Day, the 2025 recipients were recognised for their groundbreaking work in empowering women and addressing critical challenges facing demographic growth.
The winner in the individual category, Varshan Deshpande who founded Dalit Mahila Vikas Mandal, tirelessly works to empower women at the community level in India, by building vocational skills, connecting them to vital resources and services, and fostering financial independence.
The winner in the institutional category, the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP), has played a pivotal role in advancing population science and policy, notably by helping establish regional population associations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Watch our interview with Natalia Kanem who is stepping down as UNFPA’s Director after more than eight years.
Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Ranking Member of the SASC Subcommittee on Seapower, applauded committee passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes key provisions Kaine secured to advance U.S. national security, support servicemembers and their families, boost Virginia’s defense industry, and strengthen relations with allies and partners:
“I’m proud to have worked with my colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee to pass out of committee this year’s defense authorization bill. The bill includes several provisions I secured to strengthen our national security, support Virginia’s military installations and defense community, invest in our nation’s shipbuilding programs, and most importantly, improve quality of life among servicemembers and their families. I’m especially glad the bill includes a provision I pushed for to require Defense Department aircraft that operate near commercial airports to have broadcast positioning technology following the deadly collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a regional commercial jet that took 67 lives in January. I urge the full Senate to take it up as soon as possible.”
Kaine successfully secured the following provisions:
Pay Raises, Allowances, and Workforce Recruitment:
Authorizes a 3.8 percent pay raise for military personnel.
Directs the Secretary of Defense to ensure that pay statements for military servicemembers include clear descriptions for each type of pay, allowance, and deduction.
Directs the Secretary of Defense to assess how current salaries of Department of Defense civilian employees are calculated under the locality pay system.
Provides the Secretary of Defense with direct hiring authority for up to 60 graduates of the Defense Civilian Training Corps (DCTC) every calendar year and requires a report to Congress on the use of this hiring authority. The DCTC is a pilot program that recruits and trains college students for careers as Department of Defense civilians.
Shipbuilding Investments:
Authorizes investments and procurement of naval ships, including Columbia-class submarines and Medium Landing Ships.
Directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a report to Congress on the Navy’s progress since 2015 in implementing the 90 recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to improve naval shipbuilding.
Requires the Secretary of the Navy to expedite the investigation, qualification, and integration of 23 advanced technologies and processes into Navy surface ship maintenance to improve readiness, reduce costs, and address delays.
Directs the Secretary of the Navy to provide a report to Congress on the status of the recommendations made by the GAO to ensure the Marine Corps has a fleet of 31 operational ships.
Requires the Secretary of the Navy to move leadership for surface ship maintenance at private shipyards to Type Commanders and directs a new contracting strategy that emphasizes workforce stability and collaborative planning.
Aviation Safety: Requires that all aircraft of the Department of Defense that operate near commercial airports be equipped with broadcast positioning technology. Requires that the Department of Defense improve how it shares aviation safety data with the Federal Aviation Administration. This comes in response to the January 29, 2025 collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines flight 5342 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) that took the lives of 67 people.
Army Futures Command and Training and Doctrine Command: Requires a report on the Army’s proposed plan to integrate Army Futures Command and Training and Doctrine Command.
Military Construction: Authorizes $993,660,000 for military construction (MILCON) in Virginia.
$380,000,000 for Public-Private Venture (PPV) unaccompanied housing at Naval Station Norfolk
$188,000,000 for Dry Dock 3 modernization at Norfolk Naval Shipyard
$93,300,000 for Electric Distribution System upgrades at Naval Station Norfolk
$85,000,000 for operations center at the Pentagon
$71,700,000 for weapons magazines at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown
$63,500,000 for a Water Treatment Plant at Marine Corps Base Quantico
$49,000,000 for fuel system maintenance dock at Joint Base Langley-Eustis
$20,400,000 for MQ-25 facilities at Naval Station Norfolk
$15,500,000 for an Aircraft Maintenance Hangar at Virginia Army National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility in Sandston
$12,360,000 for a Child Development Center at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story
$11,700,000 for a Child Development Center at Naval Station Norfolk
$3,200,000 for the planning and design of a new headquarters for the 192nd Wing at Langley Air Force Base
Military Housing:
Authorizes increased funding to construct, repair, and improve enlisted barracks across the services.
Requires the Secretary of Defense to publish a clear, accessible document that explains how Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates are determined.
Requires the Secretary of Defense to develop an alternative methodology for calculating BAH based on the typical cost of housing units by number of bedrooms, conduct a pilot program using the new methodology, and brief Congress on the findings.
Requires the Secretary of Defense to include additional oversight mechanisms for any renegotiation of the contract under the Global Household Goods Contract or negotiation of a new contract under the Global Household Goods Contract of any successor program or contract.
Health Care:
Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the impact of behavioral and mental health staffing shortfalls at military treatment facilities.
Requires a briefing on the Department of Defense’s implementation of the self-initiated referral process for mental health care.
Requires the establishment of a demonstration program to expand partnerships between the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities for the purpose of increasing case volume for graduate medical education programs.
Requires Department of Defense to review its policies for credentialing health care workers to remove barriers to accessing mental health care.
Requires the Department of Defense to better define its criteria for reimbursing children’s hospitals.
Military Families:
Requires the Secretary of Defense to improve staffing of special education teachers and staff and improve special education offerings at Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools.
Requires an update to existing DODEA regulations on the student use of portable electronic mobile devices in DODEA schools to prohibit disruption in the learning environment.
Authorizes funding for Impact Aid, including funding to support military children with severe disabilities. Impact Aid reimburses school districts for the cost of educating children who reside on military installations or have a parent that works on a military installation or federal property. Because military families may not pay certain state or local taxes where they are stationed, Impact Aid helps offset these costs to support schools.
European Security, NATO, and Ukraine:
Prohibits a reduction in U.S. military posture in Europe or relinquishment of U.S. command of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe position until the Secretary of Defense assesses the impact on U.S. and NATO and certifies to Congress that such action is in the national interest.
Authorizes funding for the NATO Security Investment Program.
Extends and authorizes funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
Requires the Secretary of Defense to deliver a report on acceleration options for the JUMPSTART initiative, which allows European partners to purchase weapons for Ukraine from U.S. defense companies.
Requires the Secretary of Defense to work with Ukraine to create a depot-level maintenance plan to ensure that western-transferred military equipment can be sustained and provide the plan to Congress.
Requires the Secretary of Defense to continue to provide intelligence support, including information, intelligence, and imagery collection to the Government of Ukraine.
Australia-U.K-U.S. (AUKUS) Partnership: Directs further collaboration between the AUKUS countries on IT infrastructure and directs the DoD to provide an update on who it has assigned to be the senior civilian defense official to lead the U.S. work on this agreement and continue the updates required by the Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA.
Taiwan: Authorizes funding for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative and directs the Department of Defense to engage with Taiwan to develop a joint program to codevelop and coproduce uncrewed and counter-uncrewed capabilities.
U.S. Posture in Indo-Pacific:
Authorizes funding for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI), which enhances U.S. force posture, infrastructure, readiness, capacity, and capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.
Prohibits a reduction in U.S. military posture on the Korean Peninsula or a change in wartime operational control over the Combined Forces Command until the Secretary of Defense certifies to Congress that such action is in the national interest.
Directs an initiative to strengthen security cooperation across the respective defense industrial bases of U.S. allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific.
Uncrewed Aircraft Systems:
Requires the Department of Defense to develop a roadmap for the small, unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) industrial base to support existing sUAS programs.
Requires a briefing on the plan for installation commanders to engage UAS on U.S. military installations by both kinetic and non-kinetic means.
The global cancer antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) market represents one of the most dynamic and rapidly advancing areas in oncologic therapy. ADCs combine the precision targeting of monoclonal antibodies with potent cytotoxic agents, delivering effective treatment directly to cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. As of July 2025, nineteen ADCs have been approved worldwide, underscoring both clinical acceptance and regulatory momentum.
Key approved ADCs include Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan), which generated over US$ 3.75 billion in 2024 sales, led by its strong performance in HER2-positive cancers. Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine) also continues to deliver blockbuster revenue, with approximately US$ 2.3 billion in sales in 2024. Other top-performing ADCs include Adcetris (US$ 1.91 billion), Padcev (US$ 1.59 billion), Trodelvy (US$ 1.32 billion), and Polivy (US$ 1.30 billion). The commercial success of these therapies reflects their differentiated clinical value and growing adoption across multiple oncology indications.
The market outlook remains strong, with forecasts projecting the ADC segment to surpass US$ 50 billion by 2030, driven by indication expansion, global market penetration, and sustained innovation. The clinical pipeline features over 500 ADC candidates utilizing diverse payloads, bispecific constructs, and next-generation linker technologies. Trials are being conducted globally, with leadership from US and European pharmaceutical companies and rising activity across the Asia-Pacific region—particularly in China, where domestic ADCs such as Aidixi (disitamab vedotin) have gained approval.
Approved ADCs have demonstrated significant impact across different tumor targets. Enhertu and Kadcyla underscore the potential of HER2-directed therapy, while agents like Trodelvy (Trop-2), Polivy (CD79b), and Padcev (Nectin-4) exemplify ADC effectiveness in other solid and hematologic malignancies. Patent protection varies across the field, with many agents maintaining extended market exclusivity through novel payload-linker innovations and optimized delivery mechanisms.
The ADC clinical pipeline reveals deep innovation. Over 500 molecules are in development, with trials mapped by company, geography, indication, and phase. This breadth enables stakeholders to track development trends across solid and hematologic cancers, with indications expanding into lung, urothelial, ovarian, and beyond. Company-level insights spotlight R&D activity, with several early-stage ADCs progressing into pivotal trials.
Commercially approved ADC brands are profiled thoroughly in our report. Enhertu, Kadcyla, Adcetris, Padcev, Polivy, Trodelvy, and newer agents such as Datroway (datopotamab deruxtecan) and Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine) are explored in-depth, analyzing mechanisms, development history, regulatory milestones, and indication-specific adoption. This provides a tactical overview of competitive positioning and licensing trends—especially in Asia-Pacific, where local players are launching biosimilar or region-specific ADCs.
Our Global Cancer ADC Market Report delivers a comprehensive, data-driven foundation for stakeholders. It includes sales performance and patent analysis for 19 approved ADCs, pricing strategy insights and dosage regimens, pipeline tracking of 500+ clinical ADCs by indication and trial phase, and brand-by-brand commercial intelligence. This resource empowers pharmaceutical executives, biotech investors, and clinical researchers with the insights needed to navigate a sector poised for exponential growth. As ADC therapy evolves, our report is the strategic compass for development prioritization, portfolio building, and market entry planning—at the frontline of oncology innovation.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak made a working visit to the Republic of Tatarstan. He held a meeting with the head of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, spoke at the Oil Summit, visited the republic’s infrastructure and educational facilities, and met with participants in regional industry competitions and school Olympiads.
Alexander Novak visited the Tatneft scientific and educational center, the Higher School of Oil, where he met with schoolchildren who won the Sustainable Development Goals competition, the environmental Olympiad, and the leaders of the School Biolaboratories program. “New industries require engineers and scientists of a new format, for whom imaginative thinking, research skills, and the ability to make effective decisions come to the fore. Therefore, in addition to the specialized knowledge that you receive here, it is important that you learn to communicate, be a leader, and work in a team. All the necessary conditions are in place for this – modern laboratories, comfortable classrooms, and experienced teachers,” said Alexander Novak.
He visited the exhibition of oil and gas equipment as part of the Oil Summit, and also spoke at the panel session “Tatneft – 75 years of technological leadership and contribution to the development of the Russian fuel and energy complex: a look into a sustainable future.” The Deputy Prime Minister spoke about the implementation of tasks to achieve technological sovereignty. “As part of the energy strategy until 2050, in order to achieve technological sovereignty and ensure technological leadership, it is proposed to form an ecosystem that will allow developing economic incentives for investment in technology and equipment while removing administrative barriers, and create a domestic pool of serial technologies for the fuel and energy complex. Also key elements are the digital transformation of the industry, attracting and retaining qualified personnel, ensuring professional development of personnel,” said Alexander Novak.
Answering a question about the future of oil and gas production over the next 20-30 years, he said that global demand for oil is expected to grow at least until 2035 amid the growing number of cars in the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America and Africa. “The key factors in the dynamics of demand will be an increase in transportation and a change in the structure of the vehicle fleet towards electric transport and increased efficiency of internal combustion engines. A significant increase in demand will be observed in petrochemistry. At the same time, competition in the global oil market will increase. As a result, although the share of oil in the global energy balance will decrease from 37 to 33% by 2050, the volume of demand for oil in absolute figures will increase from 102 to 114 million barrels per day,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.
Alexander Novak awarded the representatives of the Tatneft team with the Order “For Valiant Labor” for their great contribution to the development of the oil and gas industry and their labor successes. The Deputy Prime Minister thanked the veterans and employees of the company for their effective work for the benefit of the country’s fuel and energy complex.
The Deputy Prime Minister held a working meeting with the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov. The parties discussed the socio-economic development of the republic, as well as updating the conditions for the modernization of the Naberezhnye Chelny TPP. The implementation of the project is an effective solution for covering the growing demand for electricity and ensuring reliable heat supply to a city with a population of over 500 thousand people.
The Deputy Prime Minister took part in the opening ceremony of the XI Republican Open Field Olympiad of Young Geologists, which is held for schoolchildren from Russian regions and friendly countries. “The children’s geological movement, which has existed in Tatarstan for over 40 years, is an example of how to effectively contribute to the achievement of national goals at the regional level, to prepare personnel for the country’s economy from the school bench. The movement covers about 1.5 thousand children. I am sure that similar projects should be implemented in other regions. Such initiatives are in line with the national goal of the President to realize the potential of each person, develop their talents, and educate a patriotic and socially responsible person,” said Alexander Novak.
During the trip, the Deputy Prime Minister visited Tatneft’s Taneko oil refining complex, familiarized himself with its operations, and launched the second hydrocracking unit.
“With the launch of the new unit, the Tatneft Taneko oil refining complex will become the only refinery in Russia that has two hydrocracking units in its configuration. This will further increase the depth of raw material processing and the volume of production of the most valuable oil products, including high-quality Euro-6 fuels. It is important that domestic equipment and Russian catalysts were used as much as possible during the project’s implementation,” emphasized Alexander Novak.
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: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)
July 11, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11), the co-chair of the Research and Development Caucus and only Ph.D. physicist in Congress, and Congressman Dusty Johnson (SD-AL), a senior member of the Agriculture Committee, introduced the Strengthening Science Through Diplomacy Act,legislation that would strengthen U.S. science and research partnerships by extending appropriate privileges and immunities to CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research.
“Strengthening international partnerships between European and U.S.-based scientists will pave the way for ground-breaking advances in the coming years,” said Congressman Castro. “The Strengthening Science Through Diplomacy Act will reduce barriers between the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and American research institutions while maintaining our leadership in physics and nuclear research. I’m proud to introduce this bill with Congressmen Foster and Johnson, and I look forward to our continued collaboration and advancement within the global scientific community.”
“The exchange of knowledge and ideas across borders not only promotes peace, but also serves as a powerful instrument to address urgent global challenges. As a physicist, I spent more than two decades working with colleagues from around the globe at Fermilab in Illinois, where scientific collaboration transcended national boundaries and helped us better understand the world around us,” said Congressman Foster. “I’m proud to join Reps. Castro and Johnson in introducing this bipartisan legislation, which is an important step in solidifying our partnership with CERN and maintaining our nation’s role as a leader in scientific research.”
BACKGROUND
The International Organization Immunities Act, enacted in 1945, governs how the United States extends the rights and treaties to international organizations like CERN. The U.S. typically extends automatic privileges and immunities to international organizations to which it belongs (e.g. the UN, NATO), but a special act of Congress is needed to extend recognition to international organizations where the United States is not a member. The Strengthening Science Through Diplomacy Act would amend the International Organizations Immunities Act to extend necessary privileges and immunities to CERN. If passed, the legislation would protect the independence of CERN researchers, ease travel to the United States for CERN officials, and support research and development cooperation between CERN and U.S.-based scientists.
CERN currently partners with six U.S. National Laboratories, including Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab in Illinois, Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory in California, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. The partnership, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and CERN, enables researchers employed by American universities and national laboratories to work on the international high energy physics experiments hosted at CERN. These experiments contribute to innovations in computing, medicine, radiation sensing, cryogenic cooling, superconducting materials, and other fields that are critical to U.S. security, technological capability, and economic development.
Congressman Castro previously reintroduced the PARTNER with ASEAN Act and Strengthening U.S.-Caribbean Partnership Act, similar legislation to extend diplomatic privileges and immunities to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), respectively.
The full text of the Strengthening Science Through Diplomacy Act can be found here.
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
SPC AC 111729
Day 2 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1229 PM CDT Fri Jul 11 2025
Valid 121200Z – 131200Z
…THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED OVER EASTERN LOWER MICHIGAN AND OVER SOUTHWEST TEXAS…
…SUMMARY… Scattered damaging winds are possible across northeast Indiana, northwest Ohio, and eastern Michigan on Saturday. Large hail and damaging gusts are possible over much of southwest Texas into southeast New Mexico during the afternoon and evening.
…Synopsis… A shortwave trough will eject northeastward out of the upper MS Valley, while a separate weaker system drifts east across the central to southern Plains. Meanwhile, weak ridging will remain over the Southeast, with a stronger upper high over southern CA.
At the surface, low pressure will move across Lower MI, with drying across the upper MS Valley as winds veer. A diffuse boundary will extend southwestward into parts of MO, KS, and OK, providing a focus for storms.
…Great Lakes Region… Strong heating will occur ahead of a cold front, with upper 60s F dewpoints over IN, OH, and much of Lower MI. Little cooling aloft is forecast with the glancing upper wave, but MLCAPE will likely exceed 2000 J/kg. Convergence within the surface trough will lead to scattered storms along the wind shift, with a few severe gusts and marginal hail possible. Low-level shear will be strongest over northern Lower MI, and an isolated supercell cannot be ruled out. Some uncertainty exist regarding overall storm coverage, as midlevel subsidence moves in late in the day.
…OH/Mid MS Valleys to the southern Plains… Ongoing storms with outflow may exist from parts of the South Plains into OK Saturday morning. Any associated boundaries may provide a focus for redevelopment during the afternoon, as 2000-3000 J/kg MUCAPE develops. Aside from that, moist easterly low-level flow through a deep layer will be favorable for thunderstorms across almost all of Southwest TX, including the Big Bend area. While shear will be weak, lightly veering winds with height along with steep lapse rates and strong instability should lead to a few robust, slow-moving storms with localized damaging hail and downburst potential.
..Jewell.. 07/11/2025
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NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 2 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 0600Z
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
Moscow, July 11 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview with NBC on Thursday that U.S. NATO allies would pay for American weapons that the alliance would later send to Ukraine. He also said he was “disappointed in Russia” and would make a “major statement on Russia” on Monday.
Since the beginning of this month, Russia has stepped up its attacks in Ukraine, and D. Trump has again changed his position on Russia. After another phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin in early July, D. Trump said he was “unhappy” with the lack of progress in resolving the conflict in Ukraine. Then he even publicly spoke harshly about V. Putin, noting that the Russian leader’s words “sound good, but ultimately meaningless.”
Russia took D. Trump’s change of position on Russia and his tough rhetoric very “calmly”. The press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov recalled D. Trump’s statement that the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict turned out to be much more difficult than he initially thought. “We expect to continue our dialogue with Washington and our line on repairing the badly broken bilateral relations,” D. Peskov noted.
It is worth noting that the dialogue between the US and Russia was not stopped by D. Trump’s statements.
On July 10, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. According to statements from both sides after the talks, although the US side expressed disappointment with Russia’s “insufficient flexibility” on the Ukrainian issue and expressed a desire to see a “road map” for ending the conflict in Ukraine, it also showed interest in the “new proposals” voiced by the Russian side for resolving the Ukrainian crisis. The Russian side, in turn, stated that both sides reaffirmed their shared desire for dialogue and cooperation at the meeting.
Analysts cite three reasons why Russia is “calm” about D. Trump’s change in position.
Firstly, Russia has become accustomed to the whims of the American president. According to D. Peskov, “we are quite calm about this… D. Trump, in general, has a rather tough style in the phrases he uses and so on.” According to Maria Butina, a member of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, D. Trump’s opinion “changes five times a day.” Columnist Yevgeny Umerenkov also wrote in his article that D. Trump “should snap back at accusations of weakness.”
Secondly, Russia’s fundamental demands and strategic goals in the Ukrainian issue have not changed. Russia has always opposed further Western aid to Ukraine and strives to ensure that Ukraine no longer becomes a geopolitical threat to Russia’s security. V. Putin has repeatedly stated that Russia does not need a short-term ceasefire without sufficient guarantees, but a complete elimination of the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis.
Thirdly, Russia has always maintained strategic clarity in the regulation of Russian-American relations. During the second presidential term of D. Trump, that is, since the beginning of this year, the leaders of Russia and the United States have repeatedly held telephone conversations, and high-level negotiations between the two countries have also resumed. At the same time, the deception over NATO expansion to the East and the geopolitical pressure exerted by the West on Russia in the past few decades have already forced Russian political and strategic circles to soberly realize that the United States has never truly abandoned the policy of containing Russia.
According to the “Concept of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation” of 2023, Russia considers the United States “the main inspirer, organizer and executor of the aggressive anti-Russian policy of the collective West, the source of the main risks to the security of the Russian Federation, international peace, balanced, fair and progressive development of mankind.” In order to facilitate the adaptation of the world order to the realities of a multipolar world, Russia intends to prioritize “eliminating the vestiges of dominance of the United States and other unfriendly states in world affairs, creating conditions for any state to abandon neocolonial and hegemonic ambitions.” –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.
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
KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Friday.
As Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, noted, the development of the Asia-Pacific region has benefited from the peaceful and stable environment in the region, and this should be cherished.
Noting that the ARF, as an important multilateral security platform in the region, bears significant responsibility for maintaining regional peace and stability, Wang Yi said that China welcomes the proposal to strengthen the role of the ARF and enhance confidence-building measures.
Wang Yi stressed the need to ensure the stable development of the Asia-Pacific region and ensure that the ARF continues to play its due role. China’s position is to adhere to the concept of joint, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, promote the construction of a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture, actively build an Asian security model based on the principle of indivisible security, seeking common ground while maintaining differences, dialogue and consultation, so as to pursue a new type of security based on dialogue, partnership and win-win rather than confrontation, alliance-building and zero-sum games, the Chinese Foreign Minister added.
Wang Yi noted that creating division and confrontation through a zero-sum mentality is contrary to the goal of maintaining security, calling for addressing both the symptoms and root causes of conflicts and wars.
The Chinese Foreign Minister pointed out that Asia calls on Eastern wisdom, which regards harmony as the highest value and envisages harmonious coexistence. It is necessary to draw wisdom from the “Bandung spirit”, find common ground and overcome differences, paying attention to the legitimate security concerns of all parties, Wang Yi added.
China hopes to work with regional countries to smooth over and resolve differences through dialogue and consultation, and inject new vitality into confidence-building measures and preventive diplomacy in all aspects of ARF activities. –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.
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
KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Xinhua) — The 15th East Asia Summit (EAS) foreign ministers’ meeting was held in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. Speaking at the summit, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on all parties to enhance mutual understanding and trust, maintain peace and stability, and promote development and prosperity.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the East Asia Summit. Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, put forward three proposals on behalf of the Chinese side:
First, return to dialogue. Wang Yi expressed hope that all parties would respect each other, communicate in good faith, and focus on strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation. China supports the adoption of a commemorative declaration on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the summit, which will determine the vector of its future development.
Second, return to development. The best choice for all parties is to expand the cooperation “pie” and share the benefits of development. China is ready to cooperate with all participating countries to implement the action plan of the East Asia Summit and stimulate the growth of regional dynamics, the Chinese diplomat assured.
Third, return to openness. China supports the ASEAN-led regional cooperation framework, firmly upholds the multilateral trading system, builds a regional network of high-level free trade areas, and promotes regional integration. China opposes the introduction of a Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation in the region, and the establishment of closed and exclusive “small circles,” Wang Yi emphasized.
On the Taiwan issue, the Chinese Foreign Minister stressed that the root cause of tension in the Taiwan Strait is the increasingly active separatist actions in favor of “Taiwan independence” and the support and connivance of external forces. The Chinese diplomat said that genuine concern for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait requires resolute opposition to the spread of “Taiwan independence” forces.
Wang Yi noted that safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity is the sacred mission of every country. He expressed the hope that all countries will unswervingly adhere to the one-China principle, oppose any form of support for “Taiwan independence,” and support China’s efforts to achieve complete national reunification.
At the summit, the Chinese Foreign Minister also explained China’s tough stance on the South China Sea issue. –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.
Jamaica has officially acceded to the Establishment Agreement of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), becoming the 13th Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member State of the African Multilateral Financial Institution. The historic signing took place on the sidelines of the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community.
Jamaica’s accession marks a major achievement in the growth of Global Africa: an intercontinental partnership committed to economic transformation and self-determination for African nations and their diaspora. The move unlocks an additional US$1.5 billion financing for Jamaica and other Caribbean economies, raising Afreximbank’s total approved facility for the region to US$3 billion, contingent upon full CARICOM membership.
Commenting at the signing ceremony, Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, emphasised the mutual benefits to both parties:
“We are thrilled to welcome Jamaica into the Afreximbank family. Jamaica’s accession to the Partnership Agreement marks a pivotal step towards realising the vision of our forefathers—a united and prosperous Global Africa, built on a platform of South-South cooperation. The Partnership Agreement unlocks Afreximbank’s financing solutions, trade facilitation tools, and investment opportunities, empowering Jamaican businesses to access African markets while fostering reciprocal trade.
Dr. The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, expressed his optimism for Jamaica’s membership of the Bank:
“This is a significant and strategic step that strengthens Jamaica’s ability to access increased trade financing, investment support, and technical assistance. The agreement creates real opportunities for Jamaica to benefit from Afreximbank’s expanding suite of financial instruments, including trade guarantees, project financing, and capital support tailored to the needs of developing economies. It positions Jamaica to tap into new sources of funding for critical sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, and the creative industries, while laying the foundation for deeper collaboration between African and Caribbean businesses.”
This historic signing builds on the momentum of the inaugural AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF), held in Bridgetown, Barbados in September 2022, where Caribbean nations reaffirmed their commitment to closer Africa-Caribbean cooperation. Since then, Afreximbank has hosted successive ACTIFs in Guyana (2023) and The Bahamas (2024), with the fourth forum scheduled for 28–29 July 2025 in Grenada.
Since establishing its regional office, Afreximbank has approved over US$700 million in financing across the Caribbean, with a pipeline exceeding US$2 billion. Investments have supported key sectors such as energy, tourism, education, and small business development across Barbados, St. Lucia, Suriname, Grenada, and The Bahamas. The Bank also provided over US$4.3 million in pandemic-related assistance through the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) to The Bahamas, Antigua & Barbuda, and Trinidad & Tobago.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.
Media Contact: Vincent Musumba Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations) Email: press@afreximbank.com
About Afreximbank: African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa1), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB-). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.
So-called professional enablers of grand corruption are increasing service provision out of jurisdictions where they can act without similar restraints.WaitForLight / Shutterstock
During an interview one of us (Ricardo Soares de Oliveira) carried out in 2017, an African high net-worth individual said he was told by an executive whose business had long served him out of London: “Come meet us in Dubai”. This is part of a large but still misunderstood shift.
In response to the hardening of rules for foreign money of dubious origins in traditional financial centres, sensitive business has been moving toward new, more permissive jurisdictions. This offshoring of services is giving corrupt strategies a new lease of life, while also making the fightback more difficult.
For every corrupt dealing that materialises as legitimate wealth, a trail of service provision is indispensable. Bankers, lawyers, real estate executives, accountants, management consultants and PR agencies have acted as facilitators in western financial centres.
Western governments have long indulged kleptocracy, a system where business success and political power are inextricably entwined. They have done so by condoning lax law enforcement and promoting deregulation, often through risible mechanisms of professional self-regulation.
But in recent years, data leaks and brave championship of reform by politicians, as well as the work of civil society organisations, investigative journalists and academics, have shed light on the role of these so-called professional enablers.
In June 2024, a month before becoming British foreign secretary, David Lammy promised to take aim at professionals who enable corruption through London and the UK’s overseas territories. This, he noted, included the “finest bankers, lawyers, estate agents and accountants that money could buy”.
Lammy’s comments give the impression that the era of risk-free facilitation of corrupt behaviour is at an end. But this optimism is, at least for now, misplaced.
The shift is largely in political discourse and media scrutiny. Enforcement seriously lags everywhere and is now in reverse gear in the US. Professional enablers still face no real sanction for engaging in such practices.
At the same time, many professionals are reacting to a more tightly regulated ecosystem in western jurisdictions by engaging in so-called “jurisdictional arbitrage”. There is evidence that they are increasing service provision out of jurisdictions where they can act without similar restraints.
Jurisdictional arbitrage
Almost all cases of the professional enabling we have studied involve service provision in western hubs and “new” global financial centres.
The professional network around Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of the former president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, was dubbed “the office” by Swiss prosecutors. Karimova was jailed in 2014 for taking bribes for access to the country’s market.
The criminal investigation into her involved 12 jurisdictions, including the UK, US and Uzbekistan as well as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Hong Kong.
Isabel dos Santos, who is Africa’s richest woman and the daughter of former Angolan president José Eduardo dos Santos, also held a maze of global interests. These interests, as in the case of Karimova, spanned western jurisdictions and Asian financial centres such as Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Alternative jurisdictions all offer very similar conditions. They are already well-connected, world-class financial centres that are attractive to international business executives.
Their governments have created regulatory, fiscal and secrecy conditions, sometimes explicitly undercutting older centres such as Switzerland and London. In the latest edition of the Global Financial Centers index, which ranks the competitiveness of financial centres, Dubai rose four places to go above Dublin, Geneva and Paris.
Crucially, they are also mostly authoritarian states where there is no media or civil society pressure regarding business activities. Even the intermittent sort of scrutiny one sees in western financial centres is absent there.
Much activity in these financial centres is legal and based on their legitimate competitive advantages. Business interests are also attracted by their vast capital pools. But they are proving to be especially appealing for the sort of business that can no longer flock to other jurisdictions.
This is the case with servicing clients from states under sanctions such as Russia or Iran. It also applies to regions like Africa and central Asia with high compliance barriers whose high net-worth individuals and firms can no longer get easy access to OECD jurisdictions.
Researchers at the University of Sussex have shown a major shift in dirty money networks away from the west and towards what they call a “Dubai-Kong axis”.
There is no exact portrait of the magnitude of this jurisdictional arbitrage. But our work tells us it is big. Two examples from Switzerland are commodity trading and wealth management.
These sectors have long been under-scrutinised. But they have seen regulatory tightening and greater media attention in recent years. Both have reacted the same way, by sending important parts of their business away from Switzerland.
The UAE has been dubbed the “new Swiss financial mecca”, with the Financial Times reporting in May 2025 that Swiss family offices are moving there “wholesale”. Far from downplaying the “Swiss brand”, they continue to advertise their multi-generational expertise and “old money” mystique, but from more amenable locations.
What can be done?
The many types of legal business involving professional services in these jurisdictions should not be affected. But national and international law must designate the “kleptocratic enterprise” of elites and professionals as a form of serious organised crime.
This would allow prosecutors to target professionals for working with criminal kleptocrats rather than having to prove that the particular asset handled has criminal origin. This move was made by Swiss prosecutors in the Karimova case.
It captures the reality that ill-gotten gains are layered and integrated into assets held overseas, just as enablers do for criminal gangs. It also means that the moving of the family office to Dubai will not prevent prosecution where an asset is held or registered.
Finally, governments could stimulate the market in asset recovery by making it easier for foreign governments and civil society to bring cases, with expert law firms working on a for-profit basis.
Illicit finance is always transnational, so there is no need to declare defeat just because dodgy business is on the move. However, we are entering a new stage in its global dissemination and complexity.
John Heathershaw receives funding from the Governance Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence Programme funded by UK Aid from the UK Government for the benefits of developing countries. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the UK government’s official policies. He is affiliated with the UK Anti-Corruption Coalition.
Ricardo Soares de Oliveira receives funding from the Governance Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence Programme funded by UK Aid from the UK Government for the benefits of developing countries. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the UK government’s official policies.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Liz Breen, Professor of Health Service Operations, School of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences, University of Bradford
Craigyhill bonfire was declared the world’s tallest at a height of 203 feet (63 metres) in 2022. Thousands of pallets were used to build it.Stephen Barnes/Shutterstock
Pallets don’t usually make headlines. But amid fresh controversy around the traditional July bonfires held in Northern Ireland this year, they’ve suddenly become a talking point. Wooden pallets used in these bonfires are popular due to their stacking ability, and also their colours – which include the red, white and blue of Britain.
Ordinarily, pallets are used to transport products from manufacturers to retailers. But their numbers are shrinking due to theft and loss – and of course, they cost money to buy, store, use and replace. A study by one of us (Liz) in 2006 quoted a logistics firm that estimated 14 million pallets were generally missing throughout Europe, costing £140 million. And it’s an ongoing problem: millions of products such as pallets and packaging containers are still stolen each year across the continent.
Just one bonfire in Larne, County Antrim, in July 2021 reportedly used 17,000 pallets in its construction. This year, police are investigating where the pallets used in the same community’s bonfire originated from. Amid speculation that some may belong to Australia-based supply chain firm Chep, that company has stated its pallets can never legally be bought, sold or destroyed.
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Pallet losses can lead to logistical disruptions, delayed orders and bare shelves in supermarkets. And the impact is felt by pallet owners, manufacturers, customers and end-users alike.
Pallets are big business. In the US, around 513 million – mainly wooden, some plastic – are produced each year. In 2021, 48.6 million wooden pallets were produced in the UK, up 8.3% from 2020.
Rental companies can hold high numbers of pallets, which support the movement of “fast-moving” customer goods – including food, drinks and toiletries. North American firm Peco, for example, manages stock of over 20 million distinctive red wooden pallets across its 90 depots.
Manufacturers rely on pallets being available to fulfil orders and distribute them to customers quickly. Also known as “returnable transit packaging”, they are valuable assets as they can be maintained and reused. They are usually owned by a pallet pooling agent, which must absorb the loss when they are not returned from customers.
Why steal pallets?
Good-condition pallets have a resale value. Both wood and plastic pallets can be deconstructed and sold as components to other industries. Some people even use them to create furniture for homes and gardens.
Customers may feel these are legitimate upcycled products and won’t think to check where the pallets came from. However, some do have distinctive identification stamps that may remain in upcycled pallet products.
The organised theft of these products takes its toll on companies. Cargo crime (which includes consumer goods and transportation pallets and containers) is said to cost the UK economy £700 million each year.
If pallets are not available, production lines may be slowed down or stopped. And it may take longer to produce items, potentially leading to unnecessary transportation as well as greater fuel consumption and emissions.
But it can also be challenging to map pallet movements and know, at any given time, how many are in transit, with retailers, or lost. Digital tracking solutions such as radio frequency identification can be expensive to implement and are not foolproof. This can make it easy for pallets to go “missing in action”.
Pallets are a staple mechanism for stock to be received into retailers’ warehouses and distribution centres. Both the size of the pallets and their ownership can be colour-coded – at least some of the blue pallets making headlines this summer in Larne’s red, white and blue tower are thought to be owned by Chep. Warehouse bays are designed with specific pallets in mind – so changes to the pallets can bring extra costs.
Similarly, replacing lost or stolen pallets comes at a price – which could ultimately be felt by consumers if these costs are passed on by retailers.
Reducing theft and loss
Pallet owners cannot afford to continue losing them to theft. Firms that are found using non-compliant or untracked pallets because they have bought them from unauthorised sources can face shipment fines, while other initiatives, such as deposit or voucher schemes or one-for-one exchange plans, could incentivise the return of pallets.
These practices may influence corporate return behaviour, but the theft of pallets by organised crime gangs is increasing. Changing the materials used to construct pallets could reduce their financial attractiveness and resale value.
At first glance, a used pallet might look no more useful than discarded wood and be considered fair game for reuse or selling on. But businesses or individuals who collect, sell or purchase stolen pallets are putting themselves at legal risk. Firms found stockpiling or selling-on pallets without permission have faced legal action and even jail in Europe.
Aside from the legal implications, there are other operational and environmental costs. Each pallet taken out of circulation must be replaced, increasing demand for virgin timber, straining forest resources, and increasing labour costs.
The humble pallet is the backbone of global trading, and businesses rely on a steady and dependable supply. Pallet services function only if they continue to circulate – but theft and losses undermine this. Without this simple product, everyone from producers to retailers and consumers could end up paying more for the goods they take for granted.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Since figures were first recorded in 2018, more than 170,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats, hoping to claim asylum in the UK. Over 20,000 have crossed this year alone, and many dozens have died.
Over the years, UK governments have tried a number of tactics – returns agreements, increased law enforcement, deportation schemes, and “smashing” organised smuggling gangs – to try and put an end to this dangerous practice. The latest attempt is the government’s new “one in, one out” pilot migration deal with France, which would see the UK accept some asylum seekers with legitimate claims to life in the UK, while sending an equivalent number back to France.
Campaigners, academics and groups that support asylum seekers have long called for the UK to introduce “safe and legal routes”. They argue that this is the only way to reduce demand for unsafe Channel crossings. The logic is that people seeking protection are turning to smugglers and small boats because, for most, there are no other options to enter the UK and claim asylum.
But what are these routes?
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A safe and legal route is a scheme or journey approved by the UK government that allows people to enter the country without a visa in order to claim asylum. The 1951 refugee convention says that people have the right to claim asylum. But UK law requires someone to be physically present in the country to do so.
A safe and legal route stresses that arriving irregularly – for instance, by crossing the Channel in a small boat – is illegal, even though the UN refugee convention is explicit that refugees should not be penalised for how they arrive to claim refuge.
Most schemes are restricted to certain populations and limited in accessibility. For example, two nationality-specificschemes for Afghans were set up in January 2022, after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban. These have resettled roughly 34,000 Afghans in the UK.
The schemes prioritised those who had worked or assisted UK efforts in Afghanistan, as well as assisting vulnerable people such as women and girls at risk, and minority groups. Both routes are now shut.
The UK also has schemes for Ukrainians and Hong Kongers. The Ukrainian schemes (Homes for Ukrainians and the now-closed Ukrainian Family Scheme), established in March 2022, have resettled 217,000 to the UK. The Hong Kong scheme is only eligible for British National Overseas status holders and their dependants. Most of these are not recognised, and nor do they identify, as refugees. Since opening in January 2021, 179,000 have been granted a visa to live in the UK.
There is also the family reunion pathway for those already granted protection in the UK, who can invite spouses or other dependants to join them. This can be viewed as a safe route, but it is specifically for those already with status (refugee or otherwise) in the country. Importantly, those who gain access this way are not given refugee status in their own right, but granted leave to remain that is connected to their family member’s status.
The UK has also worked closely with UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, since March 2021. The UNHCR identifies vulnerable candidates for resettlement direct from regions of conflict, primarily the Middle East and North Africa. This scheme highlights the value of safe and legal routes and the potential for developing a humane asylum route, but at present it is limited in scope, with only 3,798 people granted safe and dignified resettlement in the UK via this route.
The prime minister, Keir Starmer, has stressed that the new pilot with France will be limited to people “who have not tried to enter the UK illegally” and who have a strong case for asylum in the UK – again highlighting the strict access and eligibility for this “safe and legal” route.
If we look at the map of international conflict today, the majority of people in conflict zones would be ineligible for these schemes. Afghans, Eritreans, Syrians, Iranian and Sudanese are some of the top nationalities arriving via the Channel crossing to the UK, but are provided with no safe or legal routes to sanctuary. Yet, in claiming asylum, 68% of small boat arrivals are ultimately granted status.
Conflicts in Gaza, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan have not led to any bespoke humanitarian refugee protection rights from the UK. In practice, it is legally impossible for most asylum seekers to reach the UK via a safe and legal route as the schemes are so limited in scope.
Smashing the gangs
In January 2025, the Refugee Council, an organisation that supports asylum seekers and refugees in the UK, urged the UK to introduce a safe and legal route – in the form of a limited number of refugee visas – in order to stop deaths in the Channel.
Between 2018 and April 2025, 147 people have died attempting to cross the Channel in small boats, with 2024 being the deadliest year for child migrant deaths.
The UK government’s most recent approach has been to “smash the gangs” to prevent small boat crossings. But evidence shows that a criminal justice approach, while popular, ultimately leads smugglers to change their business practices – often jeopardising people further as they take longer routes or put more people into boats.
More safe and legal routes would, on the other hand, reduce demand for smuggling across the Channel, by giving people another option.
Crucially, even if the UK were to successfully “smash the gangs”, this does not eradicate peoples’ need for protection when fleeing war zones. Safe and legal routes would introduce a compassionate and humane refugee system which adheres with the UK’s obligations under international refugee law.
Gillian McFadyen receives funding from ACE Hub Wales, Public Health Wales for the project ‘A Welsh Pathways to Peace: Digital Storytelling and Forced Migration’ (2025-2026).
When I first watched Girls, I remember marvelling at Lena Dunham’s four twenty-something New Yorkers. Sex and the City it was not. I realised wistfully just how much I wished the series had been around when I was in my twenties.
Dunham’s character Hannah Horvath was like a beacon, illuminating the possibilities of how you could just be yourself in this world – good and bad – without apologising for it. I loved her boldness. Girls was messy, awkward, embarrassing, relatable and real. It was also very funny.
Now Dunham brings her latest, similarly awkward comedy-drama, Too Much, to Netflix. The series follows the trials and tribulations of Jess (the brilliant Megan Stalter) as she flees New York for London with a broken heart.
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An American with a romanticised movie-informed idea of Britain, Jess sees Blighty as some kind of fantasy creation fashioned by Jane Austen with a little help from Richard Curtis.
She spends her days obsessing over her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend on Instagram and trying to fit into London life. And then she meets laconic musician Felix (Will Sharpe), who is determined to demolish her romantic notions of a Notting Hill-esque London. Discovering they have an instant connection, Jess is thrust back into dating again, still reeling from the PTSD of her previous relationship.
Too Much charts the tumultuous experience of becoming an adult, as Jess experiences all the thrills and vulnerabilities of meeting someone new. Mirroring her own relocation to London, Dunham mines a rich seam of fish-out-of-water comedy as Megan navigates a new city and different culture.
Reviewer Jane Steventon finds the show is a hopeful paean to womanhood, a declaration that messiness, failure and fear are all part of becoming a woman just as much as joy, love and intimacy.
The idea of intimacy takes on a much darker and more troubling meaning in David Cronenberg’s latest body horror Shrouds in which the protagonist Karsh (Vincent Kassel) finds that technology can help him with the grieving process.
Discovering that a piece of wearable tech within a shroud can allow him to watch his wife’s corpse decompose via a video link, Karsh believes this can help reclaim her from her illness. But as the plot progresses, lines blur between Karsh’s dreams and reality and the film becomes darker and more ominous.
This deeply disturbing premise, says film expert Laura Flanagan, allows Cronenberg to explore issues of technology, control and grief, and is all the more chilling when you learn that he embarked on the film after the death of his own wife.
Musical autobiography
Simone de Beauvoir, the great feminist French philosopher, once opined: “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.” Meaning, it is down to each woman to articulate and determine her own path and transcend any limits of “femininity” imposed by a patriarchal society.
According to our reviewer Lillian Hingley, the New Zealand singer Lorde unveils that process in her latest album Virgin as she musically explores how her body is changed by what she has been through in her life.
Hingley discovers a multi-layered collection of songs and videos that lead us through a piece of performance art examining identity, sexuality and a female reproductive system that comes fully loaded with both jeopardy and joy.
Last week, the Disney musical Hercules opened in London so we sent along Emma Stafford, professor of Greek culture at the University of Leeds to give us her take.
Despite finding Hercules’ trusty steed Pegasus has been written out of the show and Hades has been somewhat toned down, the innovative role of the five muses has been elevated to a spectacular cross between the chorus of a Greek tragedy and a gospel choir. A terrific cast, impressive visuals, slick stagecraft and magical special effects all mean this high-octane production will delight West End audiences.
The book that won this year’s Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction, The Story of a Heart by Rachel Clarke, has two children at its centre. One is Max Johnson, a healthy nine-year-old whose heart begins to fail, and the other, nine-year-old Keira Ball, a vibrant, pony-mad little girl who is killed in a car accident. Despite their unimaginable grief, Keira’s parents decide to donate her organs. Her precious heart goes to Max, and in that unbearable gift, one child dies, and another child lives.
Leah McLaughlin, a health services researcher who has spent her career working in the emotionally complex and often obscured world of organ donation, found the book a searingly honest account of the hope and despair of this devastating experience.
When I first watched Girls, I remember marvelling at Lena Dunham’s four twenty-something New Yorkers. Sex and the City it was not. I realised wistfully just how much I wished the series had been around when I was in my twenties.
Dunham’s character Hannah Horvath was like a beacon, illuminating the possibilities of how you could just be yourself in this world – good and bad – without apologising for it. I loved her boldness. Girls was messy, awkward, embarrassing, relatable and real. It was also very funny.
Now Dunham brings her latest, similarly awkward comedy-drama, Too Much, to Netflix. The series follows the trials and tribulations of Jess (the brilliant Megan Stalter) as she flees New York for London with a broken heart.
Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.
An American with a romanticised movie-informed idea of Britain, Jess sees Blighty as some kind of fantasy creation fashioned by Jane Austen with a little help from Richard Curtis.
She spends her days obsessing over her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend on Instagram and trying to fit into London life. And then she meets laconic musician Felix (Will Sharpe), who is determined to demolish her romantic notions of a Notting Hill-esque London. Discovering they have an instant connection, Jess is thrust back into dating again, still reeling from the PTSD of her previous relationship.
Too Much charts the tumultuous experience of becoming an adult, as Jess experiences all the thrills and vulnerabilities of meeting someone new. Mirroring her own relocation to London, Dunham mines a rich seam of fish-out-of-water comedy as Megan navigates a new city and different culture.
Reviewer Jane Steventon finds the show is a hopeful paean to womanhood, a declaration that messiness, failure and fear are all part of becoming a woman just as much as joy, love and intimacy.
The idea of intimacy takes on a much darker and more troubling meaning in David Cronenberg’s latest body horror Shrouds in which the protagonist Karsh (Vincent Kassel) finds that technology can help him with the grieving process.
Discovering that a piece of wearable tech within a shroud can allow him to watch his wife’s corpse decompose via a video link, Karsh believes this can help reclaim her from her illness. But as the plot progresses, lines blur between Karsh’s dreams and reality and the film becomes darker and more ominous.
This deeply disturbing premise, says film expert Laura Flanagan, allows Cronenberg to explore issues of technology, control and grief, and is all the more chilling when you learn that he embarked on the film after the death of his own wife.
Musical autobiography
Simone de Beauvoir, the great feminist French philosopher, once opined: “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.” Meaning, it is down to each woman to articulate and determine her own path and transcend any limits of “femininity” imposed by a patriarchal society.
According to our reviewer Lillian Hingley, the New Zealand singer Lorde unveils that process in her latest album Virgin as she musically explores how her body is changed by what she has been through in her life.
Hingley discovers a multi-layered collection of songs and videos that lead us through a piece of performance art examining identity, sexuality and a female reproductive system that comes fully loaded with both jeopardy and joy.
Last week, the Disney musical Hercules opened in London so we sent along Emma Stafford, professor of Greek culture at the University of Leeds to give us her take.
Despite finding Hercules’ trusty steed Pegasus has been written out of the show and Hades has been somewhat toned down, the innovative role of the five muses has been elevated to a spectacular cross between the chorus of a Greek tragedy and a gospel choir. A terrific cast, impressive visuals, slick stagecraft and magical special effects all mean this high-octane production will delight West End audiences.
The book that won this year’s Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction, The Story of a Heart by Rachel Clarke, has two children at its centre. One is Max Johnson, a healthy nine-year-old whose heart begins to fail, and the other, nine-year-old Keira Ball, a vibrant, pony-mad little girl who is killed in a car accident. Despite their unimaginable grief, Keira’s parents decide to donate her organs. Her precious heart goes to Max, and in that unbearable gift, one child dies, and another child lives.
Leah McLaughlin, a health services researcher who has spent her career working in the emotionally complex and often obscured world of organ donation, found the book a searingly honest account of the hope and despair of this devastating experience.
Twice defending champion Carlos Alcaraz tamed the towering Taylor Fritz to reach his third straight Wimbledon final, rediscovering his A-game when it mattered most to battle past the American in a 6-4 5-7 6-3 7-6(6) victory on Friday.
Eyeing a sixth Grand Slam title, the Spaniard was eventually too strong for the metronomically consistent Fritz, whose biggest weapons were still not damaging enough to unsettle the second seed under a fiery sun on Centre Court.
Alcaraz’s victory set the stage for a tantalising final against either world number one Jannik Sinner or 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic, who will duel it out in the second semi-final on Friday.
Fritz broke Alcaraz for the first and only occasion to take the second set as the Spaniard’s intensity levels dropped, but the champion quickly regained the upper hand, breaking twice in the third set and coming through a tense tiebreak to clinch victory.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday distributed cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to 24 artisans whose stalls were damaged in a fire that broke out at Dilli Haat in April.
On the evening of April 30, a devastating fire broke out at Dilli Haat, INA, completely destroying 24 artisan stalls. Following the incident, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced an ex gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh for each affected artisan.
A total amount of Rs 1.20 crore was distributed to 24 artisans who were engaged in displaying handicrafts, jewellery, carpets, woodwork, textiles, and other traditional crafts.
“The newly elected government, blessed by the people of Delhi, stands firmly with the victims. Cheques of Rs 5 lakh each have been distributed to all affected artisans, and six months’ rent for their shops has been waived,” Gupta said.
The Delhi CM assured that the process of justice will no longer face delays and that every rightful claim will be settled on time.
Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra, who was present during the cheque distribution ceremony, said the government is committed to protecting the interests of artisans and extending all necessary support to them. He added that the Delhi government stands with them, and through this ex gratia relief, aims to help them regain their footing.
“Our arts and crafts are the soul of our cultural heritage. Preserving them and supporting their custodians is our collective responsibility,” he said.
The World Health Organization has formally recognized the pivotal role of a number of heads of state and government in securing the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement by the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly in May 2025.
At a special event at WHO Headquarters in Geneva on 10 July 2025, plaques were presented to the representatives of two countries whose former and current presidents, His Excellency Sebastián Piñera, former President of Chile, and His Excellency Kais Saied, President of Tunisia, advocated for the Agreement from the outset. Certificates were also awarded to leaders of 25 other countries for their guidance and commitment throughout the negotiation process.
“The adoption by the World Health Assembly of the Pandemic Agreement was a historic moment in global health,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “But we would not have reached that moment without sustained political advocacy from the highest levels”.
Countries whose current or former presidents or prime ministers were also recognized include Albania, Costa Rica, Croatia, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Political momentum behind the Agreement was galvanized in part by a commentary published in major international outlets in 2021, in which 25 heads of state and international organizations called for a pandemic treaty.
Work has now begun to take forward key elements of the Pandemic Agreement, in particular on pathogen access and benefit sharing. This work is being led by an intergovernmental working group (the “IGWG on the WHO Pandemic Agreement”), which met for the first time this week.
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
KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Xinhua) — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in the country’s administrative capital Putrajaya on Friday. The two sides pledged to advance bilateral ties and cooperation.
The talks took place during Wang Yi’s visit to Malaysia to attend the ASEAN Plus Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Noting that China is a reliable friend and partner of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim said that a friendly attitude towards China is the consensus of both the Malaysian government and people. Cooperation between the two countries in various fields benefits the people of both countries.
At a time when multilateral mechanisms such as BRICS are gaining strength and countries are striving for independence and development, China is playing a leading role and Malaysia highly values its contribution to these processes, the head of the Malaysian government noted.
For his part, Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, said that under the leadership of the two heads of state, bilateral relations have entered the best period in their history.
China is a sincere friend of Malaysia and stands ready to work with it to fully implement the important consensus reached by the two leaders and advance the building of a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future, Wang said.
The Chinese Foreign Minister also expressed China’s full support for Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2025 and its greater role in regional and international affairs. The diplomat added that China hopes to achieve new progress in China-ASEAN cooperation.
According to Wang Yi, China and Malaysia, as developing countries, emerging markets and key players in the Global South, should jointly confront challenges and achieve common development and prosperity.
The US’s unilateral imposition of high tariffs is an irresponsible move that runs counter to global cooperation and common interests, Wang said, adding that China will always adhere to a high level of openness with developing countries and share the advantages of its huge market to expand win-win cooperation.
During the visit, Wang Yi also held talks with Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hassan. –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.
July 11, 2025 – Ottawa, ON – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is deploying approximately 600 personnel to participate in the largest-ever iteration of Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 25 (Ex TS25) from July 13 to August 4, 2025. This exercise will take place in and around Australia and for the first time, in Papua New Guinea.
Hosted biennially by Australia, Exercise TALISMAN SABRE brings together over 30,000 military personnel from 19 nations for advanced multinational training. This year’s iteration will feature large-scale warfighting exercises, including firepower demonstrations, tactical sustainment rehearsals, and joint operations across land, air, sea, space, and cyber domains.
Ex TS25 marks Canada’s largest single deployment of military personnel to the Indo-Pacific region since the launch of Operation HORIZON. It will also be the first major exercise to involve a broad spectrum of Canadian Armed Forces capabilities deployed together, drawing on personnel and assets from the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Canadian Forces Cyber Command (CAFCYBERCOM), 3 Canadian Space Division (3 CSD), and Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM).
The CAF’s contribution includes His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ville de Québec, which will conduct live-fire naval exercises, and RCAF assets providing both strategic and tactical airlift. Together, these forces will demonstrate the CAF’s readiness to conduct integrated and expeditionary operations alongside key partners.
Participation in Ex TS25 strengthens Canada’s defence cooperation with the Australian Defence Force and advances the priorities set out in the Joint Statement on Strengthening the Canada–Australia Defence Relationship. This deployment sends a clear signal: Canada is deepening its commitment to collective security and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.
As global threats evolve, Canada will continue stepping up by investing in strong partnerships and demonstrating its capacity to contribute meaningfully to peace and security around the world.
Mild tremors were felt across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Friday evening after an earthquake struck Haryana’s Jhajjar for the second day in a row.
According to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), a 3.7 magnitude quake hit Jhajjar at 7.49 pm at a depth of 10 km. Jhajjar lies about 60 km from the national capital.
On Thursday morning, a stronger 4.4 magnitude earthquake had jolted the same area around 9 am, causing brief panic among residents.
There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.