Regulation Minister David Seymour says that red tape is giving Kiwis serious headaches, and the Red Tape Tipline has received over 750 submissions. “A submitter to the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline has complained that the threshold for probate has not kept up with inflation. This means that more Kiwis have to go through the tedious legal process that is probate, while they are mourning,” Mr Seymour says. “The maximum value for distributing an estate without probate is $15,000. This has not changed in over 15 years. In that time, inflation has increased 48 per cent, New Zealand made same sex marriage legal, and the All Blacks have won two Rugby World Cup titles. The Ministry for Regulation found that if the probate threshold were inflation adjusted it would be about $22,000. “The submitter said that the most frustrating part of the probate process was that he had to apply to the High Court to administer his estate. This clogs up the courts and means probate takes much longer than necessary, for estates which are of a value lower than the value intended to require probate. In the submitters case the whole process took over six months,” Mr Seymour says. “The Ministry for Regulation’s investigation found that this is an easy fix. The Administration (Prescribed Amounts) Regulations 2009 set the probate threshold. The responsible Minister can amend the regulations with Cabinet’s approval. “I have written to the Minister of Justice, Hon Paul Goldsmith with the Ministry for Regulation’s findings. He is responsible for the regulation.” The probate threshold is the amount at which those executing a will are forced to go through a more formal legal process requiring court approval. Below the threshold there is no court approval needed to disburse estates, saving time and money. The Ministry for Regulation have published a case study on the issue which can be found here: Relief for grieving families | Ministry for Regulation
SEATTLE – Attorney General Nick Brown today filed a civil rights lawsuit against Toppenish-based Cornerstone Ranches and its affiliates, alleging the hops and apple grower discriminated against local and female farmworkers by unlawfully terminating them and replacing them with foreign H-2A agricultural workers.
Cornerstone fired local workers after holding them to unfair productivity standards and other requirements not applied to H-2A workers, laid off local workers while H-2A employees continued to work, and regularly reduced local workers’ hours and schedules.
During the fall harvest season of 2021, local workers performed about 91% of farm labor hours at Cornerstone Ranches. By the same period two years later, their share of the work had shrunk to 59% of farm labor hours. Cornerstone more than doubled the number of H-2A workers that it hired from 2021 to 2023, all the while telling local workers that no work was available.
These actions dramatically reduced Cornerstone’s female workforce in violation of the Washington Law Against Discrimination. The average weekly hours worked by females in Cornerstone’s farm labor workforce dropped by 39%, when comparing June 2022 to April 2023 with the same period a year later. All of the H-2A agricultural workers that replaced them were male.
Additionally, the lawsuit says Cornerstone violated the Consumer Protection Act by, among other things, misleading local job seekers by telling them there was no work available and by failing to disclose the pay rate and hours of H-2A contract jobs to local workers, as required by law.
“The H-2A program was never intended to be a back-door source of labor when there are qualified workers here in Washington eager to take on the jobs, but that’s exactly how Cornerstone has used it,” Brown said. “The Attorney General’s Office is committed to fighting for the rights of local farmworkers and ensuring that employers follow the law.”
The federal H-2A program is meant to address temporary labor shortages by allowing employers to hire seasonal agricultural workers from other countries. To be eligible for the H-2A program, employers must certify that there is a shortage of U.S.-based workers who are willing, qualified, and able to work.
As part of the program, employers must offer local workers the same benefits, wages, guarantee of hours, and working conditions offered to foreign H-2A workers, which Cornerstone failed to do.
Cornerstone Ranches, Cornerstone Orchards, and Cornerstone Farm Management, collectively referred to as Cornerstone, produce more than 1 million pounds of hops and 30 million pounds of apples every year. Despite displacing the local workforce, the grower presents itself on its website and on social media as an independent farm that cares deeply about the Yakima Valley community and local workers, describing its employees as “family” and praising its “amazing team.” And after Cornerstone praised a specific local worker on its public Facebook account, it later fired that person while continuing to employ H-2A workers.
The Attorney General’s Office wants to hear from people who worked at Cornerstone since 2020. Contact the Civil Rights Division by emailing cornerstone@atg.wa.gov or by calling 1-833-660-4877 and selecting Option 6.
In the lawsuit, filed in Yakima County Superior Court, the state asks the court to declare that Cornerstone violated the Washington Law Against Discrimination and the Consumer Protection Act, permanently block the employer from continuing its unlawful practices, and provide relief for Washingtonians who were harmed.
Assistant Attorneys General Alyson Dimmitt Gnam and Alexia Diorio, Investigator Jennifer Sievert, and Paralegal Anna Alfonso are handling the case for Washington state.
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The Wing Luke Civil Rights Division works to protect the rights of all Washington residents by enforcing state and federal anti-discrimination laws. It is named for Wing Luke, who served as an Assistant Attorney General for the state of Washington in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He went on to become the first person of color elected to the Seattle City Council and the first Asian American elected to public office in the Pacific Northwest.
Media Contact:
Email: press@atg.wa.gov
Phone: (360) 753-2727
General contacts: Click here
Media Resource Guide & Attorney General’s Office FAQ
ROSEMONT, Ill., June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wintrust Financial Corporation (“Wintrust”) (Nasdaq: WTFC) today announced it will release second quarter and year-to-date 2025 earnings results after the market closes on Monday, July 21, 2025 and host a conference call on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. (CDT).
For individuals wanting to listen to a simultaneous audio-only web cast, this may be accessed at Webcast Link.
Individuals interested in participating in the call by addressing questions to management should register for the call at Conference Call Link to receive a dial-in number and unique PIN to access the call seamlessly. It is recommended that you join 10 minutes prior to the event start (although you may register and dial in at any time during the call).
An accompanying slide presentation will be available on the Company’s web site at http://www.wintrust.com, Investor Relations link.
A replay of the audio-only webcast and an accompanying slide presentation will subsequently be available at http://www.wintrust.com, Investor Relations, Investor News and Events, Presentations & Conference Calls link. The text of the second quarter and year-to-date 2025 earnings release will be available at http://www.wintrust.com, Investor Relations, Investor News and Events, Press Releases link.
About Wintrust
Wintrust is a financial holding company with approximately $66 billion in assets whose common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Guided by its “Different Approach, Better Results” philosophy, Wintrust offers the sophisticated resources of a large bank while providing a community banking experience to each customer. Wintrust operates more than 200 retail banking locations through 16 community bank subsidiaries in the greater Chicago, southern Wisconsin, west Michigan, northwest Indiana, and southwest Florida market areas. In addition, Wintrust operates various non-bank business units, providing residential mortgage origination, wealth management, commercial and life insurance premium financing, short-term accounts receivable financing/outsourced administrative services to the temporary staffing services industry, and qualified intermediary services for tax-deferred exchanges. For more information, please visit www.wintrust.com.
Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Investors are cautioned that such statements are predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. Wintrust’s expected financial results or other plans are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” and the forward-looking statement disclosure contained in Wintrust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year and in Wintrust’s subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and Wintrust undertakes no duty to update the information.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy S. Crane, President & Chief Executive Officer David A. Dykstra, Vice Chairman & Chief Operating Officer (847) 939-9000 Website address: www.wintrust.com
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang held talks with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Lacson in Beijing on Friday.
Li Qiang said that in the current chaotic international environment, strengthening strategic communication and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation between China and New Zealand is of great significance to both sides.
As the Premier of the State Council noted, this morning, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister K. Lacson, during which they outlined guidelines for the development of interstate relations at the next stage. The Chinese side is ready to jointly develop traditional friendship with the New Zealand side, strengthen political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation in order to more effectively promote the common development of the two countries and bring greater prosperity to their peoples, Li Qiang said.
The head of the Chinese government noted that the economies of China and New Zealand have a high degree of complementarity. The Chinese side is ready to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with the New Zealand side, identify new points of convergence of interests, improve the quality and effectiveness of cooperation in all areas, achieving mutual benefit and common gain at a higher level, Li Qiang added.
He called on the parties to further expand the scale of trade, continuously promote the liberalization and simplification of trade and investment procedures, expand cooperation in emerging areas, and more effectively promote regional economic integration.
The Chinese side, Li Qiang noted, is willing to increase imports of high-quality agricultural and food products from New Zealand, will continue to encourage investment by Chinese companies with relevant capabilities in the New Zealand economy, and also expresses the hope that the New Zealand side will create a fair and open business environment for Chinese enterprises.
China welcomes New Zealand’s selection as the guest of honor of the 2025 China International Education Annual Conference and Expo, and is willing to deepen exchanges with New Zealand in areas such as education, tourism, think tank exchanges and regional exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, the premier said.
At present, Li Qiang continued, the global trade and economic architecture is undergoing profound transformations and adjustments. The Chinese side is willing to strengthen communication and interaction with the New Zealand side within the framework of the UN, the World Trade Organization, APEC and other multilateral platforms, jointly uphold the rules-based multilateral trading system, form an open, inclusive and non-discriminatory environment for international economic cooperation, thereby bringing more stability and certainty to the turbulent world, the head of the Chinese government added.
K. Lacson, for his part, assured that the New Zealand side firmly adheres to the one-China policy, is ready to maintain high-level contacts with the Chinese side, deepen mutual understanding and mutual trust, develop exchanges and cooperation in such areas as trade and economy, agriculture, tourism and education, promoting common development.
The New Zealand side is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with the Chinese side in areas such as climate change mitigation and green development, jointly contribute to safeguarding the international order, and promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, Lacson added.
Following the talks, the heads of government of the two countries jointly witnessed the signing of a package of bilateral documents covering areas of cooperation such as customs, food safety, organic certification, climate change and cultural heritage. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
TOKYO, June 20 (Xinhua) — A delegation of the Communist Party of China led by CPC Central Committee member Qu Qingshan visited Japan from June 18 to 20.
Qu Qingshan, who also heads the Institute of Party History and Documentation of the CPC Central Committee, attended the launch of the Japanese version of a collection of excerpts from Chinese President Xi Jinping’s discourses on Chinese-style modernization and a seminar on Chinese solutions to global development.
During the visit, Qu Qingshan also met with Hiroshi Moriyama, Secretary-General of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, Tetsuo Saito, Chief Representative of the Komeito Party, and Makoto Nishida, Secretary-General of the Komeito Party, former Prime Minister of Japan Yukio Hatoyama, and Speaker of the Kyoto Prefectural Assembly Ryuzo Aramaki. The two sides held in-depth discussions on China-Japan relations and party-to-party exchanges between the two countries.
The two sides assured that they would implement the important agreements reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and comprehensively advance the strategic relationship of mutual benefit between China and Japan. –0–
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Colin Gavaghan, Professor of Digital Futures, University of Bristol Law School, University of Bristol
KieferPix/Shutterstock
British MPs’ approval of the assisted dying bill made history – and revealed a rare kind of parliamentary debate. While the bill must still pass through the House of Lords, it is now widely expected to become law in England and Wales.
What stood out even more than the result was the tone of the debate. Despite passionate disagreement, MPs conducted themselves with respect and thoughtfulness – a striking contrast to today’s often polarised political climate. That, in itself, felt like a moment of democratic maturity.
Unsurprisingly, MPs in favour of the bill made familiar arguments, focusing on choice, dignity and the desire to avoid unbearable suffering at the end of life. What stood out, though, was how little opposition there was to the principle of assisted dying.
Gone were the sweeping religious or philosophical arguments that once dominated such debates. Very few MPs spoke about the sanctity of life or raised moral objections to the idea of assisted dying itself.
Instead, many of those who voiced concerns focused on this particular bill, especially its safeguards. Their worry wasn’t whether we should allow assisted dying, but whether the law goes far enough to protect the vulnerable. It’s a valid concern, and one likely to shape scrutiny as the bill heads to the Lords.
So, how safe is the bill as currently drafted? Does it protect against the risks of coercion, misdiagnosis, or vulnerable people being pushed toward ending their lives? As a researcher of end-of-life issues and an expert witness in Seales v Attorney General, the leading New Zealand case on assisted dying, I believe the choice that the bill will introduce in England and Wales seems a lot less vulnerable to pressure and coercion than the sorts of life-ending choices the law has long allowed.
As Kim Leadbeater pointed out in her speech, no decision involving people near the end of life is ever entirely without risk. Diagnoses can be wrong. External influences, both subtle and overt, are impossible to eliminate completely.
But what’s important is that the safeguards around assisted dying, as proposed, are stricter than those in many other medical decisions that the law already permits.
For instance, adults in the UK currently have the legal right to refuse life-saving treatment. That includes cases where the treatment could restore them to full health.
This remains true even if the person’s situation arises from a previous suicide attempt. The central legal question is not why they want to die, but whether they are mentally capable of understanding and weighing their options.
The assisted dying bill sets a far narrower scope. It only applies to people with an “inevitably progressive illness or disease which cannot be reversed by treatment” and which is likely to lead to death within six months. In other words, people who are already extremely ill.
Yes, doctors might occasionally misjudge a prognosis. But the law will still only apply to those facing certain death in the near future, a very different group from those currently allowed to refuse care.
Pressure or coercion
No major life decision happens in a vacuum. We are all influenced by people around us: family, friends, culture, religion. But legally, coercion only becomes a problem when someone’s ability to choose freely is overwhelmed.
In medical law, that’s not always easy to determine. Is a devout patient refusing treatment out of genuine belief or pressure from their religious community? Is someone declining chemotherapy being subtly manipulated by family members with ulterior motives?
These grey areas are familiar – and they already exist. But the safeguards proposed in the assisted dying bill are arguably stronger than those surrounding many current end-of-life choices.
Two doctors will be required to independently assess whether the person is making the request voluntarily and without coercion. A multi-disciplinary panel will also need to confirm this.
On top of that, the bill introduces serious new criminal offences: up to 14 years in prison for anyone who pressures someone into requesting assisted dying, and a life sentence for those who unlawfully administer the drugs.
Self-coercion
Some MPs raised concerns about “self-coercion”: the idea that someone might choose assisted dying not because they genuinely want it, but because they feel like a burden to others.
It’s a deeply human worry. Most of us would be horrified to think an elderly parent or terminally ill partner felt they had to die to make life easier for us.
One proposed amendment tried to address this, suggesting that people should only be allowed access to assisted dying if their motivation was “for their own sake rather than for the benefit of others.”
It’s easy to understand the intent behind that. But ultimately, I would argue it’s probably right that the amendment was rejected.
UK courts have long upheld the principle that patients don’t need to justify their values. The test is whether they are mentally competent: whether they understand the information and can weigh it up to make a decision.
Judges and doctors don’t need to agree with the beliefs behind that decision. They don’t need to endorse a Jehovah’s Witness’s refusal of a transfusion. Nor must they accept that a life without “sparkle” is not worth living, as one woman once described her own situation before legally refusing treatment.
The assisted dying bill won’t remove all risk. No law could. But in many ways, it introduces a choice that is less open to abuse and pressure than decisions we’ve already accepted as legal for decades.
The debate isn’t over, and the House of Lords will no doubt return to these issues. But today’s vote was more than a political milestone. It was a moment of thoughtful, measured debate – and perhaps, a sign that we can tackle the hardest moral questions without descending into division.
Colin Gavaghan is a member of ‘Lawyers for End of Life Choice’ and a board member of ‘Yes for Compassion’. He was an expert witness for the plaintiff in Seales v Attorney General.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Chernyshenko held a plenary session entitled “AI Science: A New Path to Leadership.” Leading Russian and foreign scientists discussed how AI science and innovation are shaping Russia’s new technological path to global leadership.
At the session, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the expected effect of introducing AI into the economies of the BRICS countries by 2030 will be around 2–3 trillion dollars:
“According to various estimates, the expected effect of using AI technologies in the BRICS countries is between 2 and 3 trillion dollars. There is something to fight for – the share of advanced generative AI systems in this market is currently about 20%. Those who are the first to see the “golden” directions in the development of AI will discover a new Klondike, and if we conduct exploratory research in all areas, we will increase our chances of getting there.”
The Deputy Prime Minister recalled that in December 2024, at the AI Journey conference, President Vladimir Putin proposed holding an international foresight in Russia – a strategic session on the future of artificial intelligence – in order to determine the directions of technology development together with scientists from around the world.
The foresight is being implemented by the International AI Alliance Network, an organization that unites industry associations from 14 countries. The Russian part of the foresight is supervised by the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia and the Strategic Agency for Support and Formation of AI Developments (SAPFIR), a project office created on the basis of the Skolkovo Foundation, on behalf of the President of Russia.
“In Russia, the President has set a national goal – ‘Technological Leadership’. One of the tasks is to form a new AI market for Russia. We are building a complete system – a foundation for Russia’s long-term leadership in AI science. At the same time, we understand that scientific leadership in AI is impossible without international cooperation and coordination of efforts. The future of AI should be built in cooperation, taking into account various scientific schools, cultures and approaches. For this reason, the results of the foresight are published openly, and every scientist in the world can make a contribution. The alliance plans to present the results to the UN and to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the annual AI Journey conference before November this year. This is our manifesto of openness, accessibility and trust for every member of the global AI community,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
Last year, Russian experts identified 10 key areas of fundamental scientific research in the field of AI. They formed the basis for discussion at this year’s international foresight. Several sessions of the scientific dialogue on the global prospects of AI have already been held in Morocco, the UAE, Serbia and China. One of the foresight iterations took place at the Sber tech hub in St. Petersburg.
Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized that the state’s task is to ensure the completeness of research and competencies in the field of AI. To this end, within the framework of the federal project “Artificial Intelligence”, the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia is holding a grant competition among research centers, according to the results of which 13 teams were selected.
“Investments in research centers have already demonstrated their success and effectiveness: 13 centers provide half of Russia’s entire scientific reserve in AI,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.
Dmitry Chernyshenko noted that the issue of personnel with knowledge of AI is also being addressed systematically.
“Studying the effects of AI on humans, including dependence on AI decisions, is a meaningful scientific task, where major research is ahead. We are faced with a challenge: to provide not just education, but to cultivate a new type of thinking. To this end, a strategy for the development of education is being developed in Russia, which provides for the creation of a digital environment, individual educational, upbringing, career trajectories and assistants,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
An important topic of the session was international foresight – a joint initiative aimed at identifying priority areas of research and development of AI at the global level. Participants also discussed current issues of artificial intelligence development, consolidation of efforts at the international level, tools for accelerating scientific progress and new forms of financing.
The discussion was attended by Professor Ajit Abraham from India, who created a unique network of machine intelligence laboratories, uniting more than 1,000 researchers from 100 countries.
Another participant was the CEO of the AIRI Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Ivan Oseledets, one of the leading experts in the field of machine learning, the second most cited Russian mathematician, professor at the Russian Academy of Sciences, and laureate of the Russian Presidential Prize.
The speakers also included First Deputy Chairman of the Board of Sberbank PJSC Alexander Vedyakhin, Vice-Rector for Research at Serbia’s Singidunum University Nebojsa Bakanin, Professor at China’s Anhui University Ye Tian, Rector of Innopolis University Alexander Gasnikov, and Skoltech Professor Anhui Fan from Vietnam.
Speakers focused on the role of fundamental science and support for research initiatives, including issues of task-oriented machine learning algorithms (narrow AI), as well as computation and data for AI, fundamental and generative models, human-machine interactions, optimization and mathematics.
The results of the discussions at the session will form the basis of a foresight study to identify fundamental scientific problems in the field of AI.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko greeted those gathered at the opening of the exhibition of portraits of leading Russian scientists “Science in Faces” as part of the XXVIII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2025).
The event was also attended by the Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, the head of the Talent and Success Foundation Elena Shmeleva, and the Chairman of the Board and General Director of Sibur LLC Mikhail Karisalov.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the exhibition traditionally starts on the sidelines of the SPIEF, takes place in the regions of Russia and ends at the Congress of Young Scientists.
“Russian science is not faceless – it is in faces. It is extremely important that such projects popularize our science through remarkable people – physicists, biologists, geneticists, mathematicians, who through their discoveries contribute to achieving technological leadership. This is a national goal set by President Vladimir Putin. We have excellent positions in the world, we see them,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko.
The head of state instructed that Russia be among the top ten countries in terms of volume of scientific research, the Deputy Prime Minister added. Another task set by the President is to increase investments in science to 2% of GDP. The role of technology customers and enterprises is significant in this.
In the fourth season of the exhibition “Science in Faces” the exposition included 23 portraits of laureates of key scientific awards. The heroes of the project represent 14 regions of the country: Moscow and the Moscow region, St. Petersburg, Belgorod, Voronezh, Murmansk, Nizhny Novgorod, Sverdlovsk, Tomsk, Tyumen regions, the Republic of Dagestan, the Republic of Tatarstan, Krasnodar Krai, the federal territory “Sirius”. The exhibition “Science in Faces” is held with the grant support of the Ministry of Education and Science as part of the Decade of Science and Technology announced by President Vladimir Putin, and is part of the “Science Nearby” initiative.
“Behind every scientific victory there is a specific person who is in love with a particular discipline, a scientific field. It is important to have an idea of what attracted him to this work, to get acquainted with his biography. It is also important to talk about our contemporaries who are currently engaged in an amazing type of human activity – research and development,” said the head of the Ministry of Education and Science Valery Falkov.
Dmitry Chernyshenko also assessed the stands of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Sports, the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, St. Petersburg and the regions of the Volga Federal District.
The Ministry of Education and Science’s stand demonstrates the ministry’s priority areas of activity. Interactive panels provide details about the national project “Youth and Children”, the Decade of Science and Technology, the development of human resources, and much more. Three agreements on cooperation in science and higher education were signed in the presence of Dmitry Chernyshenko. On the sidelines of the SPIEF, the head of the Ministry of Education and Science, Valery Falkov, concluded strategic partnerships with businesses and the government of the Altai Republic.
The Ministry of Sports stand features the GTO and Sports Museum zones, a 3D avatar of the famous hockey player Alexander Ovechkin. The exhibits include awards, cups and sports uniforms. At the stand, Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev and President of the Russian National Badminton Federation Andrey Antropov discussed cooperation in the field of sports with the Chairman of the Indonesian Badminton Association Mohammad Fadil Imran. As a reminder, on the eve, June 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with the President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto.
In addition, Dmitry Chernyshenko, together with the head of Rosmolodezh Grigory Gurov, assessed the stand “Rosmolodezh. Entrepreneurship”. The space is divided into three thematic zones: “Past” (clothing and accessories with historical motifs), “Present” (products reflecting modern trends) and “Future” (developments in the field of robotics and medical technologies). The stand presents products of more than 45 participants of the “Youth Market” project from 18 regions of the country. One of the brands of the “Youth Market” was the Center for Prosthetics and Rehabilitation “Dinamika”, it specializes in the creation of modern prostheses of hands and feet.
Deputy Prime Minister and Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of Russia in the Volga Federal District (VFD) Igor Komarov inspected the stands of five regions of the VFD: Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, Kirov, Penza and Samara regions.
At the St. Petersburg stand, Dmitry Chernyshenko was presented with information about the products of the company “Bionika 2.0” and the tourist cluster “Gorskaya”.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The first months of any administration are often dedicated to setting the tone of what constituents can expect for the next four years. For Trump’s second term, that message is clear: let it all burn.
Drastic agency cuts, reckless executive orders, and blatant industry giveaways promise devastating immediate and long-term consequences for our oceans, our climate, and our communities.
Dismantling climate defense
NOAA, the nation’s premier science agency for understanding, monitoring, and protecting our oceans, atmosphere, and climate, plays an essential role in safeguarding ecosystems and communities. Its data, forecasts, scientific expertise, and stewardship also support major sectors like tourism, transportation, food, and retail that rely on NOAA’s services to operate safely, efficiently, and sustainably.
Yet the Trump Administration has moved aggressively to gut NOAA’s capacity–firing scientists, defunding critical research, and shutting down its extreme weather database, a vital tool that has tracked the financial toll of climate disasters since the 1980s. These cuts come as extreme weather events are becoming more intense and frequent. In 2024 alone, Americans faced at least $182.7 billion in damages from 27 weather and climate disasters. Undermining NOAA’s ability to forecast threats, inform the American and global public, and support disaster response endangers lives while ensuring greater loss and damage, higher costs, and deep suffering as the climate crisis accelerates.
Among NOAA Fisheries’ vital programs is the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP), the nation’s primary line of defense against seafood linked to fraud,forced labor, and environmental harm. With more than 80% of the seafood consumed in the U.S. imported and the global seafood supply chain riddled with these problems, SIMP plays a crucial role in ensuring the integrity of what ends up on American plates. Cuts to NOAA directly harm domestic fisheries as well, which rely on the agency to provide weather and pollution alerts.
These efforts have been further supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), whose programs help combat child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking around the world.
So while Americans have made it clear that they want to know where their food comes from and to trust that it is safe, ethical, and sustainable, the Trump administration is undermining the very systems that deliver these safeguards. By weakening SIMP and cancelling $500 million in ILAB grants, it is putting seafood workers at greater risk of abuse and exploitation, and exposing Americans to products tainted by these harms.
Endangering ocean futures
While more countries move towards a ban, moratorium, or pause on deep sea mining, the Trump Administration is charging in the opposite direction– reviving a cold war-era law, the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act, to launch an unnecessary industry that threatens irreversible harm to fragile ecosystems we are only beginning to understand.
Trump’s executive order “Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources” directs federal agencies to fast-track permits for seabed mining in both U.S. and international waters. Widely condemned as environmentally reckless and politically explosive, the move is a direct attempt to sidestep the International Seabed Authority (ISA)—the UN body charged with protecting the deep ocean as the “common heritage of humankind.” In doing so, it threatens to unravel global cooperation, weaken environmental oversight, and set a dangerous precedent for the exploitation of one of Earth’s last untouched frontiers. The order, while lining up another ‘get richer scheme’ for the billionaire broligarchy, also ignores calls from over 35 countries for a moratorium, disregards the voices of Pacific Island communities, and pushes forward despite overwhelming ecological, legal, and moral objections.
The push is further reinforced by a pair of sweeping executive orders that aim to bulldoze environmental safeguards in the name of “energy dominance.” One declares a so-called “national energy emergency,” suspending key regulatory safeguards under bedrock environmental laws like the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act, and the Clean Water Act.
Together, these orders will not just fast-tack deep sea mining but also accelerate offshore drilling, fracking infrastructure, and fossil fuel exports. This isn’t just deregulation—it’s a declaration of open season on the ocean.
All this comes as cobalt and nickel prices are plummeting, further undermining the already shaky economic case for mining the seafloor. Meanwhile, safer, cleaner, and more cost-effective alternatives, such as mineral recycling and domestic refining efforts, many of which are backed by the U.S. Department of Defense, are gaining momentum. But instead of investing in these sustainable solutions, the White House is reaching into the past to gamble with the future of our oceans and our planet.
‘Unleashing’ America’s fishing industry into collapse
At the same time, the earlier-mentioned cuts to NOAA will also hurt domestic fishing by leaving fishers without vital scientific insight needed for planning and responding to changing ocean conditions. This approach paves the way for overfishing and fishery collapse–again, directly contradicting the Trump Administration’s stated goal of supporting American fishing communities.
Scientists agree that protecting at least 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030 is essential to help marine ecosystems recover and thrive. When fish populations collapse, so do fishing jobs and fishing communities. Yet with these actions, the Trump Administration is again steering the US in the wrong direction—sidelining science, sustainability, and long-term economic resilience by jeopardizing the entire industry and the coastal communities it supports.
At the same time, the Administration issued yet another executive order, accompanied by a 36-page report, aimed at “bringing America back” to plastic straws. So, while more Americans struggle to make ends meet, they can be sure of one thing: there will be plenty of microplastics to go around.
Plastics are not just a pollution problem; they are a public health crisis. Over 3,200 chemicals in plastics have been linked to a host of serious health conditions, including cancer, hormone disruption, reproductive problems, metabolic changes, obesity, premature births, neurological disorders, and learning disabilities. Toxic chemicals in plastic already cost Americans nearly $250 billion in healthcare expenses each year.
And that burden is not shared equally. BIPOC and low-income communities face disproportionate exposure to pollution from plastic production, disposal, and incineration infrastructure, which are often located in or near their communities. These facilities poison the air, the water, and their bodies. While oil and gas companies rake in record profits and their billionaire CEO’s grow richer, these communities and working families across America are left paying the price.
Voters across the political spectrum – Democrats and Republicans alike– support strong action to reduce plastic pollution and protect public health. Yet, without pause at the staggering irony, the Trump Administration is slashing Medicaid, gutting personnel and budget from the Department of Health and Human Services, and increasing our exposure to toxic plastic— all while touting a “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. But even in an era of “alternative facts” and the attempted erasure of diversity, equity, and inclusion, the truth is impossible to ignore. There is nothing left to sacrifice.
Time to resist
While the pace and scale of recent changes can seem overwhelming, it is worth remembering that part of this administration’s strategy is to flood the zone and try to get ahead of legal challenges and other obstacles to their agenda. The Trump Administration, like the “tech bros” who fell in line behind the President, is moving fast and breaking things. But there is growing resistance to their actions. In the last few weeks, especially, the number of new and successful legal challenges has been growing, with some law firms and academic institutions pushing back against the administration’s demands. This includes EarthJustice, Greenpeace, and allies in a joint litigation against Trump’s attempt to continue offshore drilling.
Meanwhile, millions of Americans—across generations, faiths, races, genders, and political ideologies—have been hitting the streets to defend their human rights, their environment, and their democracy. These peaceful protests have made one thing clear: We will not be silenced. We won’t back down. We won’t stop defending our communities in the face of government corruption and corporate greed.
London, UK, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Behind this market boom, investors are not only paying attention to price fluctuations, but are also looking for a more robust and sustainable way to participate – a path to achieve daily passive income with XRP as the underlying asset. This is also the key to JA Mining’s widespread attention and rapid growth.
JA Mining: Building an intelligent and compliant XRP cloud mining platform
JA Mining is a global digital asset mining service provider, focusing on providing users with low-threshold and high-efficiency cloud mining solutions. The platform has specially launched the XRP native cloud mining service, allowing users to participate in the global computing power network by holding XRP without mining machines and technical background, thereby obtaining stable daily income.
Different from the traditional crypto investment model, JA Mining has optimized both the user experience and the financial model at the mining level, and is committed to making “digital asset interest” simple, controllable and sustainable.
Three major advantages help users obtain stable passive income
Native support for XRP and multi-currency mining
JA Mining is one of the few platforms in the industry that supports XRP native mining. Users can directly recharge XRP to start computing power without currency exchange or complicated operations. At the same time, it supports mainstream assets such as BTC, ETH, DOGE, etc., providing investors with diversified choices.
Global layout
Data centers are located in Northern Europe, Southeast Asia, and North America. They are driven by green energy and combined with an AI computing power scheduling system to ensure maximum mining efficiency.
Zero threshold experience + real-time income distribution
Supports XRP, DOGE, USDT and other mainstream currencies to top up, or choose the $100 trial computing power given by the platform for experience.
Select the appropriate contract and start mining
Users can choose the corresponding cloud mining contract according to funds and cycles. The platform will automatically allocate the optimal computing power and output income every day, truly realizing “assets remain unchanged, income continues”.
(The above are some examples of contracts. For more contracts, please refer to the official website: https://jamining.com/)
Let XRP not just be held, JA Mining opens the door to steady value-added
XRP is at the critical intersection of ecological explosion and institutional recognition. For investors, instead of passively waiting for prices to rise, it is better to let XRP actively create value. With its mature technology, platform compliance, and flexible products, JA Mining has become one of the few solutions in the current market that can effectively integrate “holding coins” and “mining”.
In this ever-changing market, making digital assets work for you is the key ability of future investment. JA Mining is becoming an important bridge for global crypto users to achieve this goal.
Disclaimer:The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or trading recommendations. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks and the possibility of losing funds. It is strongly recommended that you perform due diligence before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities, including consulting a professional financial advisor.
Reacting to the sentencing to lengthy prison terms of seven media workers in the “Abzas Media case” in Azerbaijan, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director, said:
“The case against Abzas Media is an example of how Azerbaijan’s judicial system is being weaponized to muzzle independent journalism and calls for a strong international response. By pressing fabricated economic charges against journalists who exposed high-level corruption, the Azerbaijani authorities are sending a chilling message to anyone in the country who dares to challenge them. A strong international reaction should make clear that this is unacceptable.
“The political repression in Azerbaijan today is staggering, yet we lack a united, principled stand against it from the international community, in defence of human rights. In stark contrast, major actors like the European Union persist in actively courting President Ilham Aliyev in search of lucrative gas deals.
The political repression in Azerbaijan today is staggering, yet we lack a united, principled stand against it from the international community
Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director
“The international community must exert real pressure on the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately release the Abzas Media journalists, imprisoned media workers from Toplum TV, Meydan TV and Kanal 13, and all other government critics imprisoned solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression, and to put an end to the Azerbaijani government’s systemic campaign against dissent.”
Background
On 20 June, the Baku Court of Serious Crimes sentenced seven media workers affiliated with the independent investigative outlet Abzas Media – including director Ulvi Hasanli, editor-in-chief Sevinc Vagifgizi, investigative journalist Hafiz Babaly, reporters Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasymova, translator Muhammad Kekalov, and economist and Radio Free Europe correspondent Farid Mehralizade – to prison terms ranging from seven and a half to nine years. The charges included “currency smuggling,” “money laundering,” “tax evasion” and forgery of documents.
Their prosecution and imprisonment are widely believed to be in retaliation for the media organization’s investigations into corruption among President Ilham Aliyev’s family and inner circle. These include reports on post-war reconstruction in Nagorno-Karabakh and illicit financial networks tied to state-linked companies. During the hearings, the defence highlighted numerous procedural irregularities, pressure on the defendants and witnesses, and a lack of credible evidence. Witnesses have withdrawn or denied previous statements, and defendants have reported ill-treatment in custody.
At least 25 journalists are currently imprisoned in the country. Azerbaijan has the highest number of imprisoned media workers held on politically motivated charges since it joined the Council of Europe in 2001. Just on 7 May, independent journalist Ulviyya Ali, a contributor to Voice of America, was arrested.
Headline: Members agree on way forward for SPS transparency working group, launch mentoring system
New working group on transparency
In adopting the Report of the Sixth Review of the SPS Agreement at its last meeting in March, members endorsed a recommendation to establish a Transparency Working Group for a two-year period. The Committee followed up by agreeing to initiate working group discussions in November to focus on how to improve SPS notifications, track how comments are taken into account, and examine possible enhancements to the ePing SPS&TBT Platform. The working group will also consider revisions of key SPS transparency documents.
The Chair of the Committee, Ms Maria Cosme (France), noted that New Zealand and Chile volunteered to be stewards of the working group, which will be guided by the agreed operational guidelines. The Transparency Working Group will hold its first meeting back-to-back with the November Committee meeting.
Launch of mentoring system
In line with another recommendation in the Sixth Review, the Committee launched a new SPS mentoring system to assist developing and LDC members with transparency and timely engagement on SPS matters. The system will start with a pilot phase between June 2025 and June 2026 in which informal, ad hoc supportive relationships will be established between individual mentors and mentees for knowledge-sharing, peer learning and engagement on SPS-related issues.
With the Committee’s agreement, the WTO Secretariat has set up a dedicated mentoring webpage, which includes an online form for interested government officials seeking mentoring during the pilot phase. After this, the Secretariat will select a limited number of requests for the pilot and will launch a call for mentors who could support the selected mentees to achieve their objectives.
Thematic session
On 17 June, the Committee held a thematic session on addressing relevant risks associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through SPS measures in international trade. The recordings of the session are available on the dedicated webpage. The session was based on a proposal submitted by the European Union.
The event focused on steps being taken by members to address relevant risks related to AMR in the context of the SPS Agreement and international trade. It also explored the relationship between AMR and the SPS Agreement, and provided members, international organizations, academia and other stakeholders with an opportunity to share experiences and best practices in addressing relevant AMR-related risks while facilitating safe trade.
Specific trade concerns
Members raised 56 specific trade concerns (STCs) — four for the first time — at the meeting. The new STCs raised by members related to uncertainty regarding coffee beans imports into China; Thailand’s regulation to mitigate aflatoxins in peanut kernels; a ban on imports of aquaculture shrimp in Thailand; and Viet Nam’s procedure for the listing of exporting establishments.
A list of the STCs discussed is available here.
As of early 2025, close to 60% of all STCs raised in the SPS Committee had been reported as resolved or partially resolved.
STDF annual report and updates
The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) shared updates on its work, including the launch of its 2024 Annual Report, which highlights project results, lessons learned and reflections on its 20th anniversary. The report also covers monitoring, evaluation, learning and Trust Fund financing, aligning with the STDF 2025–2030 Strategy.
Next meeting
The next regular meeting of the Committee is scheduled for 5-7 November 2025.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
​Hong Kong Customs today (June 20) conducted an enforcement operation at the Jewellery & Gem ASIA Hong Kong (JGA) being held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), seizing about 50 pieces of suspected counterfeit jewellery with a total estimated market value of about $150,000.
Customs received information alleging that counterfeit jewellery was displayed for sale at some booths at the JGA which began yesterday (June 19) and will last for four consecutive days.
After an in-depth investigation and with the assistance of the trademark owners, Customs officers today conducted test-buy operations and seized about 50 pieces of suspected counterfeit jewellery, with a total estimated market value of about $150,000, from three booths.
During the operation, three men and two women, aged between 28 and 48, were arrested for being suspected of contravening the Trade Descriptions Ordinance. Three of them are persons-in-charge and two of them are staff members. An investigation is ongoing and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
Customs attaches great importance to combating infringing and counterfeiting activities and will deploy officers to different exhibitions to conduct inspections from time to time. Customs will contact the relevant trademark or copyright owners immediately to confirm the authenticity of the goods when suspected infringing or counterfeit goods are found. The department will also take enforcement action after investigations and with the assistance of the trademark or copyright owners.
Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action. Booth exhibitors are reminded to respect intellectual property rights and not to sell counterfeit goods.
Under the Ordinance, any person who sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong, today (June 20) in Hong Kong, met with representatives of the commercial and financial sectors, and learned about Hong Kong’s major tourism development projects.
At an engagement session, Mr Xia interacted with representatives of Hong Kong’s commercial and financial sectors, including those from major chambers of commerce and enterprises. The session was also attended by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee; the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; and the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan.
In the afternoon, Mr Xia visited Ocean Park in the company of Mr Lee; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Chairman of the Board of the Ocean Park Corporation (OPC), Mr Paulo Pong; and the Chief Executive of the OPC, Mr Ivan Wong.
Afterwards Mr Xia took a boat trip to Lamma Island with Mr Lee, Mr Wong and the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, to gain an understanding of the ex-Lamma quarry site’s development plan. Mr Xia also received briefings en route on major tourism development projects.
nion Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated the newly constructed headquarters of the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA) in Mumbai today. The event also featured a state-level cooperative industrial conference, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol, and other dignitaries in attendance.
Shah reflected on the enduring legacy of Seth Walchand, a pioneering industrialist whose contributions have continued to benefit Maharashtra and the nation. Shah emphasized that institutions celebrating a centenary must not only take pride in their legacy but also use the occasion for introspection and renewal.
He remarked that in the century since MACCIA’s founding, the global and national economic landscape has undergone transformative changes. With globalization reshaping commerce, industry, and agriculture, Shah called on Chambers of Commerce across the country to adapt their methods and reassess their relevance. He urged them to engage professional institutions to align operations with the evolving economic and policymaking frameworks of both state and central governments.
Highlighting India’s economic trajectory, Shah said that the country has emerged as the world’s fourth-largest economy, overtaking former colonial powers. He credited policy reforms and their robust implementation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for this significant progress, including the rising global standing of the Indian passport.
Shah said that Maharashtra has become a symbol of India’s industrial growth, hosting the country’s financial capital and contributing 39% of India’s total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). He cited that the state also leads in startups, tourism, income tax filings by women, and infrastructure development — including the upcoming Vadhavan Port and the bullet train project.
Addressing the development of Mumbai and its surrounding areas, Shah revealed that the central and state governments, operating under a “double-engine” governance model, are investing over ₹7 lakh crore in transformative projects. This effort, he said, is infusing Maharashtra with new energy and fostering long-term development.
Drawing a comparison between two decades, Shah stated that Maharashtra received ₹1.91 lakh crore in central devolution and grants between 2004 and 2014, whereas this amount increased to ₹7.82 lakh crore during the Modi government’s tenure from 2014 to 2024.
Emphasizing the importance of cooperative federalism, Shah said that Prime Minister Modi’s vision of “Team India” is central to the nation’s development. He added that the joint efforts of the Centre and the States, along with a constructive mindset, are driving the country’s rapid progress.
MACCIA’s role, he added, remains crucial as it continues to raise demands for policy changes, infrastructure upgrades, and solutions for issues in trade, industry, and agriculture. Shah called upon all Chambers of Commerce to evolve with the times and continue contributing meaningfully to India’s economic journey.
The world is set to celebrate the 11th International Day of Yoga on June 21, 2025, with the theme Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” emphasizing the unifying power of yoga in fostering global well-being and environmental harmony.
In India, the celebrations will witness enthusiastic participation across various institutions and iconic locations. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will lead a mass yoga session with Members of Parliament and staff in the Parliament premise tomorrow morning at 6:30 am. This continues the annual tradition of the Speaker promoting holistic health and wellness among public representatives through the ancient practice of yoga.
Birla will take part in another significant yoga session at the Red Fort courtyard, underscoring the deep cultural and historical roots of yoga in India.
A major event will also be organized by the Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, known for its focus on spiritual wellness. The mass yoga practice at this event will include prayers for world peace and harmony, reflecting yoga’s message of unity and collective consciousness.
Celebrated annually since 2015, the International Day of Yoga continues to grow in scale and impact, uniting millions around the globe in the pursuit of physical health, mental clarity, and spiritual balance.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sagtec Global Limited (NASDAQ: SAGT) (“Sagtec” or the “Company”), a next-generation provider of customizable AI and automation platforms, today announced the signing of a definitive Share Sale Agreement (SSA) to acquire an 80% equity stake in Smart Bridge Technology Limited (“Smart Bridge”), a rapidly scaling agentic AI software company with proven profitability.
The acquisition reinforces Sagtec’s strategic shift into an AI-first, SaaS-driven growth model. Closing remains subject to customary regulatory approvals and conditions.
Profitable AI Acquisition to Fuel SaaS Margin Expansion
Smart Bridge brings a profitable, enterprise-ready AI platform, having reported a net profit of US$2.1 million for FY2024. With successful deployments across fintech, retail, and logistics, its proprietary agentic AI engine offers:
Advanced behavioural analytics and fraud detection
Intelligent decision automation
Real-time pricing, demand forecasting, and optimization tools
These capabilities seamlessly complement Sagtec’s hospitality and point-of-sale (POS) and hospitality infrastructure, enabling immediate integration and monetization through a unified AI stack.
Sagtec expects the acquisition to be immediately earnings-accretive, while accelerating its rollout of high-margin, subscription-based AI modules. Key applications include:
AI-powered upselling engines and dynamic menu optimization
Behavioural anomaly detection and real-time fraud prevention
Predictive inventory automation and demand planning
Modular AI toolkits adaptable for logistics, fintech, and hospitality sectors
This acquisition unlocks access to a combined total addressable market (TAM) exceeding US$130 billion. According to Markets and Markets, the global AI in retail market is projected to reach US$43 billion by 2032, driven by automation and personalized customer engagement. IDC forecasts that the SME-focused AI software segment will surpass US$25 billion as smaller enterprises increasingly adopt cost-effective intelligent tools. Meanwhile, Grand View Research estimates the intelligent point-of-sale (POS) and behavioral analytics market will exceed US$65 billion, fueled by digital transformation and enterprise optimization.
“This acquisition delivers the intelligence layer our platform needed. With Smart Bridge, we can now scale high-margin, cross-vertical AI solutions across our client base and unlock exponential value,” said Kevin Ng, Chairman, Executive Director, and Chief Executive Officer of Sagtec.
Strategic Integration and Product Launch Set for Q3 2025
Following the closure of the transaction, integration will begin immediately. Sagtec plans to launch its first AI-powered SaaS modules in the third quarter of 2025, beginning with the hospitality segment and expanding into fintech and logistics through its existing distribution network.
The transaction supports Sagtec’s commitment to driving scalable, recurring SaaS revenue, executing a disciplined AI-focused M&A strategy, and delivering long-term margin expansion and shareholder value creation.
The Company will provide further updates on its product roadmap, earnings impact, and regional expansion strategy during its upcoming half-year investor call.
About Sagtec Global Limited
Sagtec is a leading provider of customizable software solutions, primarily serving the Food & Beverage (F&B) sector. The Company also offers software development, data management, and social media management to enhance operational efficiency across various industries. Additionally, Sagtec operates power-bank charging stations at 300 locations across Malaysia through its subsidiary, CL Technology (International) Sdn Bhd.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws. These statements are not historical facts, but rather are based on the current expectations, assumptions, and projections of Sagtec Global Limited (the “Company”) regarding future events. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “estimates,” “potential,” or similar expressions, including the negative thereof.
These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the Company’s ability to expand its regional presence, scale its Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offerings, strengthen its AI software and automation infrastructure platforms, and commercialize its AI-powered service robotics; as well as broader risks relating to macroeconomic conditions, geopolitical developments, global health crises, competitive dynamics, and evolving data privacy and cybersecurity regulations.
The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required under applicable law. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements.
Further information on these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact Information:
Sagtec Global Limited Contact: Ng Chen Lok Chairman, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer Phone: +6011-6217 3661 Email: info@sagtec-global.com
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)
June 20, 2025 | Press Releases
View the Video Here SARASOTA – U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R‑Fla.) today released the latest installment in the Veterans History Project Series, honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans from Florida’s 17th District. The interview features Private First Class David Endean, a Vietnam War veteran who served in the U.S. Army from September 25, 1968, to September 25, 1970. “Private First Class David Endean’s service during the Vietnam War is a testament to the courage, perseverance, and camaraderie of our men and women in uniform,” said Rep. Steube. “Through intense combat and heartbreaking loss, his reflections are a moving account of a soldier’s experiences in war. We are honored that he shared his journey so that his fellow citizens may pay tribute to his legacy. Sadly, not all who served in Vietnam were met with the respect and care they deserved when they returned home. PFC Endean’s story reminds us why honoring and preserving the history of our veterans is so important.” In his interview, Endean reflects on the physical and emotional toll of combat, the lasting brotherhood forged with fellow soldiers, and the challenges of returning to a country that didn’t always understand or appreciate their service. “Try going to work one day and carry a 70-pound backpack,” said Endean.“Now imagine walking around with it all day, knowing at any moment you could step on a booby trap or be ambushed. Try doing that for a year. That was our life.” He also shares how his service deepened his faith and taught him lifelong lessons in discipline, respect, and commitment—values that carried over into his civilian life and career in electrical engineering. Please click here to watch the full interview. Be sure to check Congressman Steube’s YouTube channel in the future for upcoming interviews.The Office of Congressman Greg Steube will submit the interview to the Veterans History Project, an initiative of the Library of Congress’s American Folklife Center to collect and retain the oral histories of our nation’s veterans.Initially started in 2000, the Veterans History Project aims to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of the United States military veterans and Gold Star Families so that future generations may hear directly from the veterans and better understand their service. Researchers, scholars, and educators rely upon VHP collections as a primary source. The oral histories, photographs, manuscripts, and other original materials supplement historical texts and valued cultural resources. Veterans from all branches and ranks of the United States military who served in World War I through the more recent conflicts are eligible to participate. For more information on the VHP, please visit https://www.loc.gov/vets/.If you live in Florida’s 17th Congressional district, please visit https://steube.house.gov/services/vhp to participate.
INDIANAPOLIS— Darren Ringenberg, 30, of Louisville, Kentucky, a registered sex offender, was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison, followed by ten years of supervised release, after being convicted of two counts of sexual exploitation of a child while required to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, in 2019, Ringenberg was previously convicted in Kentucky of twenty counts of Possession of Matter Portraying a Sexual Performance by a Minor and was required to register as a sex offender for life.
Then, after his release from the Kentucky offense, in June 2023, Ringenberg, using the Snapchat username “devil_hell6969,” communicated with a nine-year old girl living in Monroe County, Indiana and coerced her to send sexually explicit images and videos, threatening to hack into her social media accounts and remove all her friends if she did not comply. Ringenberg directed her as to what images to send, how to take the photos and told her that they could meet in person in the future. He also falsely claimed to be sixteen years old and would screen-record and save many of the images and conversations without the child’s knowledge.
After receiving a tip about his illicit behavior online, law enforcement conducted judicially authorized searches of both Ringenberg’s Snapchat account and his residence in Louisville. Investigators found text messages, many of which were sexual in nature, between Ringenberg and various other unidentified minors, including the nine-year-old girl. Also located on his cell phone camera roll were many Snapchat screen recordings of minor victims engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
“Sex offenders often use manipulation and threats to sexually exploit children with utter disregard for the lasting trauma they inflict. I urge parents and guardians to talk to the children in their lives about what they’re doing online and make sure they have trusted adults they can turn to for help,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “I commend the FBI and the Bloomington Police Department for their work to seek justice for this victim and protect other children from this online predator.”
“This case is a tragic reminder that with today’s technology, predators can reach across state lines with a few clicks. While the distance didn’t help protect this child from harm, it did not stop the offender from being brought to justice,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain committed to protecting children and holding offenders accountable – no matter where they are.”
The FBI and Bloomington Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney MaryAnn T. Mindrum, who prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
If you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood
TORONTO, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Matador Technologies Inc. (“Matador” or the “Company”) (TSXV: MATA, OTCQB: MATAF, FSE: IU3), the Bitcoin Ecosystem Company, announces that it has entered into a media agreement with Flex Ecosystem Holding Ltd. d.b.a DroomDroom (“DroomDroom“) dated effective June 11, 2025 (the “Media Agreement”), to provide investor relations services to the Company. DroomDroom will assist the Company in increasing investor interest and strengthening its strategic positioning in the digital asset space through curated media content and distribution.
The agreement is for a term of three (3) months, commencing on June 20, 2025, and will terminate on September 20, 2025, unless terminated in accordance with the terms of the Media Agreement. In consideration for DroomDroom’s services, the Company will pay DroomDroom compensation as follows:
(i) USD$6,000 cash; and
(ii) 10,824 stock options (the “Options“). The Options vest in quarterly installments over 12 months, have a 36-month term and an exercise price of $1.14.
About DroomDroom
DroomDroom, founded by Ronak Shah, is a media company that provides accessible, thoroughly researched content that demystifies blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, and decentralized finance (DeFi) for enthusiasts and newcomers alike. DroomDroom’s content enables users to make informed decisions in the rapidly evolving web3 space.
Matador Technologies Inc. (TSXV: MATA, OTCQB: MATAF, FSE: IU3) is a publicly traded Bitcoin ecosystem company focused on holding Bitcoin as its primary treasury asset and building products to enhance the Bitcoin network. Matador’s strategy combines strategic Bitcoin accumulation, Bitcoin-native product development, and participation in digital asset infrastructure, driving long-term shareholder value without dilution.
Matador has recently expanded its global footprint by investing in HODL Systems, one of India’s first digital asset treasury companies, securing up to a 24% ownership stake. This investment strengthens Matador’s position as a leading Bitcoin treasury company and underscores its commitment to the worldwide adoption of Bitcoin as a reserve asset.
With a Bitcoin-first strategy, and a clear focus on innovation, Matador is shaping the future of financial infrastructure on Bitcoin.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
NEITHERTHETSXVENTUREEXCHANGENORITSREGULATIONSERVICESPROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
Thisnewsreleasedoesnotconstituteanoffertosellorthesolicitationofanoffertobuyany securities in any jurisdiction.
Forward Looking Statements – Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with the implementation of the Company’s treasury management strategy, receipt of regulatory approvals, and the launch of itsmobileapplicationascurrentlyproposedoratall.Theseforward-lookingstatementsaresubjecttonumerousrisks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including with respect to the potential acquisitionofBitcoinand/orUSdollars,thepricingofsuchacquisitionsandthetimingoffutureoperations.Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth over ₹18,600 crore in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, commemorating the completion of one year of the state’s first BJP-led government. The projects span critical sectors such as drinking water, irrigation, agriculture, health infrastructure, rural roads and bridges, highways, and a new railway line.
Addressing a state-level event marking the anniversary, PM Modi hailed June 20 as a historic day, celebrating not just a government’s milestone but the embodiment of good governance focused on public service and trust. He congratulated Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and his team for their work, which he said has injected fresh momentum into Odisha’s development.
Describing Odisha as a “shining star” of India’s cultural heritage, PM Modi highlighted the state’s historical contribution to Indian civilization. He noted that the combination of development and preservation of heritage has become the cornerstone of India’s growth, with Odisha playing an increasingly vital role.
Coinciding with preparations for the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, the Prime Minister said that spiritual reverence and development are progressing hand in hand. He praised the state government’s prompt action in opening all four gates of the Jagannath Temple and initiating access to the Ratna Bhandar, underscoring the act as a respectful gesture toward millions of devotees. PM Modi also revealed that he declined an invitation from the US President to visit the United States post the G7 Summit in Canada, opting instead to be present in Odisha on this spiritually significant day.
In a sharp critique of previous governments, PM Modi said that earlier models of governance lacked transparency and development was often delayed, obstructed, or derailed. Contrasting that with the BJP’s approach, he stated that the past decade has seen states like Assam and Tripura—formerly riddled with instability and neglect—undergo social and economic transformation. He added that Odisha, too, had long struggled with corruption, poor infrastructure, and neglected rural areas, but is now on a promising developmental path.
The Prime Minister emphasized the strength of a dual model of governance where both Union and state governments work in synergy. Citing the health sector, he noted that nearly 3 crore people in Odisha now benefit from the combined coverage of the Ayushman Bharat and Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojanas, making free treatment accessible even outside the state. Similarly, over 23 lakh senior citizens are now eligible for free treatment up to ₹5 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana.
For farmers, he stated that Odisha’s agricultural community now receives dual benefits under both central and state schemes, including improved procurement prices for paddy. Earlier, many central government initiatives failed to reach the state’s population, but the current administration has ensured their successful implementation across various sectors.
A key focus of PM Modi’s address was the empowerment of Odisha’s tribal population. He lamented that for decades, tribal communities were politically exploited, marginalized, and trapped in cycles of poverty and violence. He noted that in 2014, over 125 tribal-majority districts in the country were affected by Naxal violence, a number that has now dropped to fewer than 20. He credited this to strict action against violence and development initiatives in tribal regions.
PM Modi outlined two major national schemes dedicated to tribal development. The Dharati Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan is bringing infrastructure and services to over 60,000 tribal villages nationwide, including the construction of 40 residential schools in 11 districts of Odisha. The second, the PM Janman Yojana, inspired by Odisha and guided by President Droupadi Murmu, targets the particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs), funding development across remote tribal hamlets.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the government’s attention to Odisha’s fishing communities. For the first time, fishermen are benefiting from the Kisan Credit Card facility under the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana. Additionally, a special ₹25,000 crore central fund will support coastal communities and youth entrepreneurship in the state.
Calling this the era of Purvoday, PM Modi said Eastern India will power 21st-century India’s growth. He pointed to rapid industrial expansion from Paradip to Jharsuguda and large-scale infrastructure investments to boost Odisha’s mineral and port-led economy. Mega projects like a dual-feed cracker unit in Paradip, an oil storage facility in Chandikhole, and an LNG terminal in Gopalpur are turning Odisha into a future petrochemical hub. He noted that nearly ₹1.5 lakh crore has already been invested in these sectors.
PM Modi emphasized the government’s long-term vision beyond five-year targets. He mentioned that a special “Vision 2036” plan has been drafted, marking 100 years of Odisha as India’s first linguistic state, alongside “Vision 2047” for India’s centenary of independence. He expressed confidence in the youth of Odisha to achieve these ambitious goals.
Among the key announcements made during the event, the Prime Minister flagged off new train services connecting Boudh district to the national railway network for the first time and launched 100 electric buses under the CRUT urban transport system. He also released the Odisha Vision Document and launched the ‘Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana’ to preserve the heritage of iconic Odia personalities through living memorials.
Modi also honored several women achievers from Odisha, celebrating more than 16.5 lakh “Lakhpati Didis” as symbols of prosperity and self-reliance.
The event was attended by the Governor of Odisha, Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Ministers Jual Oram, Dharmendra Pradhan, and other dignitaries.
As the war between Israel and Iran enters its eighth day, European foreign ministers are meeting with Iranian officials in Geneva in a last-ditch effort to de-escalate tensions that have already begun to rattle global energy markets and regional stability. The E3 bloc—comprising France, Britain, and Germany—has resumed high-level negotiations with Iran, amid what diplomats are calling the most dangerous security crisis in the region in over a decade.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, addressing the United Nations in Geneva ahead of the talks, strongly condemned Israel’s recent missile attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. He labeled the strikes as “serious war crimes” and “an act of betrayal of diplomacy,” revealing that Iran had been on the verge of finalizing a nuclear agreement with the United States, originally scheduled for June 15. According to Araqchi, the Israeli raids derailed what he described as a “very promising agreement,” and he categorically ruled out any further nuclear discussions with Washington while Israeli attacks continue.
“There is no room for negotiations under the shadow of missiles,” Araqchi declared, asserting that Iran will not return to the table unless Israeli aggression ceases.
The latest surge in violence began when Iran launched missile strikes into northern, central, and southern Israel, including the port city of Haifa, early Friday morning. The attacks triggered air raid sirens across Israel, prompting widespread panic and sending civilians into bomb shelters. In retaliation, Israeli forces carried out overnight airstrikes on multiple Iranian military installations, including missile production centers and a nuclear warhead development site in Tehran.
The conflict has rapidly expanded beyond a military confrontation. In Qatar, emergency meetings are being held with major energy companies after Israeli strikes targeted the South Pars/North Dome gas field—the largest known natural gas reserve, jointly shared by Iran and Qatar. The attacks have raised serious alarms over the stability of regional energy infrastructure, with global oil markets on edge over the possibility of further disruption to Gulf energy supplies.
Qatar now finds itself in a precarious diplomatic position. While it maintains a close strategic partnership with the United States, it also shares vital economic interests with Iran. Balancing these competing pressures will be critical as tensions continue to escalate.
International responses remain cautious but increasingly urgent. The United States has bolstered its military presence in the region, describing the move as a precautionary measure. A third U.S. Navy destroyer has entered the eastern Mediterranean, and the USS Nimitz carrier strike group is en route to the Arabian Sea.
Russia has issued a stark warning, stating it would respond “very negatively” if Israel—particularly with U.S. support—attempts any strike against Iran’s supreme leader.
Inside Iran, mass protests have erupted in Tehran and other cities. Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets, condemning Israeli actions and carrying portraits of Iranian commanders killed in the fighting. The protests reflect mounting domestic pressure on Iranian leadership to respond decisively to Israeli attacks.
The renewed European diplomatic push comes amid growing concern that the conflict could spiral further out of control. The E3 foreign ministers are urging Iran to return to the negotiating table, emphasizing that diplomacy remains the only viable path to de-escalation. However, with both sides entrenched in their positions, the window for diplomatic resolution is narrowing rapidly.
The timing of the Geneva talks is also shaped by a two-week deadline set by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who remains a key political figure and has called for immediate diplomatic movement or face potential military escalation.
With war threatening to destabilize not only the wider West Asian region but also international energy markets, the outcome of the current diplomatic effort may prove critical for global stability.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated the newly constructed headquarters of the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA) in Mumbai today. The event also featured a state-level cooperative industrial conference, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol, and other dignitaries in attendance.
Shah reflected on the enduring legacy of Seth Walchand, a pioneering industrialist whose contributions have continued to benefit Maharashtra and the nation. Shah emphasized that institutions celebrating a centenary must not only take pride in their legacy but also use the occasion for introspection and renewal.
He remarked that in the century since MACCIA’s founding, the global and national economic landscape has undergone transformative changes. With globalization reshaping commerce, industry, and agriculture, Shah called on Chambers of Commerce across the country to adapt their methods and reassess their relevance. He urged them to engage professional institutions to align operations with the evolving economic and policymaking frameworks of both state and central governments.
Highlighting India’s economic trajectory, Shah said that the country has emerged as the world’s fourth-largest economy, overtaking former colonial powers. He credited policy reforms and their robust implementation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for this significant progress, including the rising global standing of the Indian passport.
Shah said that Maharashtra has become a symbol of India’s industrial growth, hosting the country’s financial capital and contributing 39% of India’s total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). He cited that the state also leads in startups, tourism, income tax filings by women, and infrastructure development — including the upcoming Vadhavan Port and the bullet train project.
Addressing the development of Mumbai and its surrounding areas, Shah revealed that the central and state governments, operating under a “double-engine” governance model, are investing over ₹7 lakh crore in transformative projects. This effort, he said, is infusing Maharashtra with new energy and fostering long-term development.
Drawing a comparison between two decades, Shah stated that Maharashtra received ₹1.91 lakh crore in central devolution and grants between 2004 and 2014, whereas this amount increased to ₹7.82 lakh crore during the Modi government’s tenure from 2014 to 2024.
Emphasizing the importance of cooperative federalism, Shah said that Prime Minister Modi’s vision of “Team India” is central to the nation’s development. He added that the joint efforts of the Centre and the States, along with a constructive mindset, are driving the country’s rapid progress.
MACCIA’s role, he added, remains crucial as it continues to raise demands for policy changes, infrastructure upgrades, and solutions for issues in trade, industry, and agriculture. Shah called upon all Chambers of Commerce to evolve with the times and continue contributing meaningfully to India’s economic journey.
Source: US International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
Congratulations to all the U.S. apprentices who competed for a chance to represent their regional area in the 2025 Boilermakers National Apprenticeship Competition. These apprentices are slated to compete for top national honors in August in Statesboro, Georgia:
Great Lakes Area Winner: Cody Rasmussen, L-107 (Milwaukee); Runner-up: Michael Baer, L-374 (Hobart, Indiana)
Northeast Area Winner: Jacob Pappada, L-154 (Pittsburgh); Runner-up: Harrison Johnson, L-237 (Hartford, Connecticut)
Western States Winner: Kyle Brickey, L-242 (Spokane, Washington); Runner-up: Andrew Bronson, L-101 (Denver)
Southeast Area Winner: Nathaniel Loyd L-108 (Bessemer, Alabama); Runner-up: Jeffery Rawson L-667 (Winfield, West Virginia)
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Benedict Morrison, Senior lecturer in Film, Television, Literature, and Queer Studies, University of Exeter
I was not around in 1974 to witness the first television outing of Alan Clarke’s Penda’s Fen. Broadcast only seven years after sex between men was partially decriminalised in England and Wales, this enigmatic film was beamed into the nation’s living rooms with an audacity that remains giddying today.
Some commentators have suggested that the film “seems a world away” from the gritty social commentary of Clarke’s Scum (1977) and The Firm (1989). But Penda’s Fen recognises that unruly desire – manifested within the film in Blakean visions of angels, demons and the pagan King Penda – is political.
Stephen, a classical music-loving, left-wing-despising rector’s son, lives among the green and pleasant Malvern Hills, where he plays at being an impeccably uniformed cadet and struggles to suppress his delirious sexual desire for other boys.
This article is part of a series highlighting brilliant films that should be more widely known and firmly part of the canon of queer cinema .
In his visions, the path of least resistance – that of being the young man everyone wants him to be – is championed by the sinister figures of the Mother and Father of England (modelled on conservative activist Mary Whitehouse and social critic Malcolm Muggeridge). This path would offer him “the right to inherit power”.
But playing the role of the straight, conventional boy weighs heavily on Stephen, and he slips further from the narratives he longs to believe in. Haunted by a series of real and imagined encounters with angels, demons and England’s pagan past, Stephen begins to questions all he knows about himself – his religion, politics and sexuality.
When I finally saw Penda’s Fen after its re-release by the BFI in 2016, it was uncannily familiar. Like Stephen, I grew up as the gay son of a rector in the rural West Midlands, torn between the lures and impossibilities of sexual convention.
The political rhetoric of the LGBT+ community in the 1990s created social impact by speaking in very clear terms about non-straight identities. This rhetoric, for the sake of clarity, often offered narrow definitions of the characteristics and attributes that made someone definitively LGBT+.
But it did lead to progress, featuring in campaigns for the repeal of section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988, which banned any affirmative presentation of homosexuality by local authorities, including schools. It also was used in campaigns that led to the lowering of the age of consent for gay sex to 16, in line with heterosexual sex.
However, this narrow view left me with an uncomfortable sense that my inconsistencies and contradictions meant that I was never quite, never just, gay. Despite being a valuable term as I came out and claimed a social identity and a community, it failed to capture the complexities of my experience in a single word.
These inconsistencies and complexities shine in queer theorist Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick’s not-quite-definition of “queer”: “The open mesh of possibilities, gaps, overlaps, dissonances and resonances, lapses and excesses of meaning when the constituent elements of anyone’s gender, of anyone’s sexuality aren’t made (or can’t be made) to signify monolithically.”
Sedgwick suggests that queerness is a kind of structural messiness; far from being a neat summing-up of someone’s identity, it is where the desires and behaviours which make up a person’s sexuality don’t quite add up, and so escape full understanding.
Loving your own strangeness
For me, the greatest queer films are not those which seek to confirm the myth of stable identity but, instead, open these meshes of possibility. I know of no film which does this better than Penda’s Fen.
When the film begins, Stephen stamps out all his flickering desires. He clings to clear-cut notions of gender, sex and nation, the three pillars that will secure his power as a man in society.
By the end, he has encountered the ghost of the composer Elgar, fantasised about schoolmates in homoerotic rugby scrums, and discovered that he is adopted and less English than he imagined. In this “Gnostic anarcho-punk anti-pastoral visionary work of English art”, as the writer Gary Budden calls it, all Stephen’s certainties shatter.
As he ultimately stands in the hills’ high places, tempted by the Mother and Father of England to repress confusion and embrace their idea of normality in a folk-horror echo of Christ’s temptation in the wilderness, his rejection becomes a radiant queer manifesto:
“I am … nothing pure. My race is mixed. My sex is mixed. I am woman and man. Light with darkness … I am mud and flame!”
Mud and flame is what I was as a teenager living in the shadow of those same hills: the earthy and the fiery, the tangible and the transcendent, the banal and the radical, the secure and the lost. This was – although I didn’t realise it at the time – queerness, a word theorist Lee Edelman writes “can never define an identity; it can only ever disturb one”.
No film that I know captures this sense of slipping, sliding, desiring self so well as Penda’s Fen. Everyone who has ever felt the constituent parts of their own sexuality refusing to align should watch the film and fall in love with their own strangeness.
Penda’s Fen, like queerness, resists specific interpretation. It is telling that the visionary commissioning editor David Rose, who oversaw the BBC Birmingham drama department and greenlit Penda’s Fen, confessed that he “didn’t understand it at all, but that’s as it should be”. This attitude is unimaginable in commissioners today.
Clarke’s film is a blend of folk horror motifs, the politics of society and character-driven drama that cracks open meaning just as the church floor fractures when Stephen plays the organ discordantly.
Viewers new to the film should experience its extraordinary final sequence without spoilers, but I will say that the closing images of Stephen – that
“strange, dark, true, impure, and dissonant” protagonist – offer me the thrill of queerness’s unsettled, unsettle-able politics.
Benedict Morrison does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, on Friday released the fifth edition of the National Time Release Study (NTRS) during the CBIC Conclave held in the national capital. This flagship performance measurement tool, developed by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), offers a quantitative assessment of the time taken for cargo release, enabling evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness of India’s clearance processes.
Since its inception in 2019, the Time Release Study has covered 15 key locations, including seaports, Air Cargo Complexes (ACCs), Inland Container Depots (ICDs), and Integrated Check Posts (ICPs). A distinguishing feature of India’s TRS is its use of high-quality data sourced directly from the Customs Automated System, managed by the Directorate General of Systems and Data Management.
Over the years, the TRS has evolved in both scope and methodology. Initially limited to assessing release times at gateway ports, it now includes transit cargo, courier shipments, and commodity-specific evaluations. The fifth edition has introduced advanced stage-wise and process-specific assessments, further enhancing the granularity and reliability of its findings. Notably, this year’s edition expanded its geographical reach with the addition of Kochi Seaport, Garhi Harsaru ICD, and Jaigaon Land Customs Station (LCS).
In terms of import performance, the study reported a decline in Average Release Time (ART) between 2023 and 2025 at several major gateways. Seaports saw a reduction of approximately six hours, ACCs by five hours, and ICPs by 18 hours. However, ICDs experienced an increase of around 12 hours. Performance against the National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (NTFAP) 3.0 targets was also evaluated. The data showed that 93.33% of import cargo at ICPs met the 48-hour release target. This was followed by air cargo complexes with 55.03% of cargo released within 24 hours, seaports at 51.76%, and ICDs at 43.70%.
The improvement in timelines is largely attributed to the “Path to Promptness” framework, which promotes advance filing, risk management system (RMS)-based facilitation, Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) accreditation, and Direct Port Delivery (DPD). However, certain bottlenecks were identified, including delays in duty payment, query resolution, Partner Government Agency (PGA) interventions, and post-clearance logistics.
The study also examined export cargo timelines from arrival to final departure. Air cargo complexes and ICPs demonstrated the fastest regulatory clearance times, under four hours and approximately six hours respectively. In contrast, seaports averaged nearly 30 hours for regulatory clearance, with post-Let Export Order (LEO) logistics stretching up to 158 hours. ICDs showed regulatory clearance times of about 30 hours and improved post-LEO logistics to around 100 hours.
Facilitation levels were high across the board, ranging from 87% to 93%. The report noted that cargo characteristics played a key role in determining release times. For example, refrigerated goods moved faster through air cargo facilities, and factory-stuffed containers were cleared more quickly than those stuffed at ICDs.
Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, on Friday released the fifth edition of the National Time Release Study (NTRS) during the CBIC Conclave held in the national capital. This flagship performance measurement tool, developed by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), offers a quantitative assessment of the time taken for cargo release, enabling evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness of India’s clearance processes.
Since its inception in 2019, the Time Release Study has covered 15 key locations, including seaports, Air Cargo Complexes (ACCs), Inland Container Depots (ICDs), and Integrated Check Posts (ICPs). A distinguishing feature of India’s TRS is its use of high-quality data sourced directly from the Customs Automated System, managed by the Directorate General of Systems and Data Management.
Over the years, the TRS has evolved in both scope and methodology. Initially limited to assessing release times at gateway ports, it now includes transit cargo, courier shipments, and commodity-specific evaluations. The fifth edition has introduced advanced stage-wise and process-specific assessments, further enhancing the granularity and reliability of its findings. Notably, this year’s edition expanded its geographical reach with the addition of Kochi Seaport, Garhi Harsaru ICD, and Jaigaon Land Customs Station (LCS).
In terms of import performance, the study reported a decline in Average Release Time (ART) between 2023 and 2025 at several major gateways. Seaports saw a reduction of approximately six hours, ACCs by five hours, and ICPs by 18 hours. However, ICDs experienced an increase of around 12 hours. Performance against the National Trade Facilitation Action Plan (NTFAP) 3.0 targets was also evaluated. The data showed that 93.33% of import cargo at ICPs met the 48-hour release target. This was followed by air cargo complexes with 55.03% of cargo released within 24 hours, seaports at 51.76%, and ICDs at 43.70%.
The improvement in timelines is largely attributed to the “Path to Promptness” framework, which promotes advance filing, risk management system (RMS)-based facilitation, Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) accreditation, and Direct Port Delivery (DPD). However, certain bottlenecks were identified, including delays in duty payment, query resolution, Partner Government Agency (PGA) interventions, and post-clearance logistics.
The study also examined export cargo timelines from arrival to final departure. Air cargo complexes and ICPs demonstrated the fastest regulatory clearance times, under four hours and approximately six hours respectively. In contrast, seaports averaged nearly 30 hours for regulatory clearance, with post-Let Export Order (LEO) logistics stretching up to 158 hours. ICDs showed regulatory clearance times of about 30 hours and improved post-LEO logistics to around 100 hours.
Facilitation levels were high across the board, ranging from 87% to 93%. The report noted that cargo characteristics played a key role in determining release times. For example, refrigerated goods moved faster through air cargo facilities, and factory-stuffed containers were cleared more quickly than those stuffed at ICDs.
In a spirited effort to celebrate over a decade of transformative governance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, in collaboration with MyGov, has launched a nationwide creative campaign titled Badalta Bharat Mera Anubhav. The initiative invites citizens from all walks of life to participate and win exciting prizes across five unique creative challenges, all of which will close on July 9.
The campaign marks 11 years of visionary leadership and seeks to highlight personal stories and creative expressions that capture the remarkable changes India has witnessed across sectors—from digital empowerment and economic growth to social inclusion and infrastructure development. Aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, the campaign serves as a platform for Indians to showcase their experiences and observations of a rapidly evolving nation.
Through this initiative, participants can engage in one or more of the five challenges: Instagram Reel Making, YouTube Shorts Challenge, Blog Writing under BlogBharat, the Viksit Bharat Quiz 2025, and a Short Audio-Visual (AV) Film Competition.
The Instagram Reel Making Competition calls on creators to develop 30 to 60-second videos reflecting themes such as Digital India, Skill India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat. Similarly, the YouTube Shorts Challenge encourages users to capture inspiring stories of change, from revamped public spaces to cultural events, showcasing the spirit of a new India.
Writers, bloggers, students, and journalists can participate in the BlogBharat Challenge by submitting well-crafted articles (800–1200 words) analyzing India’s transformation over the last 11 years. Meanwhile, the Viksit Bharat Quiz offers a knowledge-based challenge for citizens to test their understanding of the country’s development milestones, policy reforms, and infrastructure growth. Top performers stand a chance to win cash prizes, with digital certificates for all participants.
For aspiring filmmakers and storytellers, the Short AV Challenge is an opportunity to present India’s progress through documentaries or cinematic storytelling, with videos of up to 10 minutes capturing grassroots change, innovation, and national pride.
In a spirited effort to celebrate over a decade of transformative governance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, in collaboration with MyGov, has launched a nationwide creative campaign titled Badalta Bharat Mera Anubhav. The initiative invites citizens from all walks of life to participate and win exciting prizes across five unique creative challenges, all of which will close on July 9.
The campaign marks 11 years of visionary leadership and seeks to highlight personal stories and creative expressions that capture the remarkable changes India has witnessed across sectors—from digital empowerment and economic growth to social inclusion and infrastructure development. Aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, the campaign serves as a platform for Indians to showcase their experiences and observations of a rapidly evolving nation.
Through this initiative, participants can engage in one or more of the five challenges: Instagram Reel Making, YouTube Shorts Challenge, Blog Writing under BlogBharat, the Viksit Bharat Quiz 2025, and a Short Audio-Visual (AV) Film Competition.
The Instagram Reel Making Competition calls on creators to develop 30 to 60-second videos reflecting themes such as Digital India, Skill India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat. Similarly, the YouTube Shorts Challenge encourages users to capture inspiring stories of change, from revamped public spaces to cultural events, showcasing the spirit of a new India.
Writers, bloggers, students, and journalists can participate in the BlogBharat Challenge by submitting well-crafted articles (800–1200 words) analyzing India’s transformation over the last 11 years. Meanwhile, the Viksit Bharat Quiz offers a knowledge-based challenge for citizens to test their understanding of the country’s development milestones, policy reforms, and infrastructure growth. Top performers stand a chance to win cash prizes, with digital certificates for all participants.
For aspiring filmmakers and storytellers, the Short AV Challenge is an opportunity to present India’s progress through documentaries or cinematic storytelling, with videos of up to 10 minutes capturing grassroots change, innovation, and national pride.
In a spirited effort to celebrate over a decade of transformative governance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, in collaboration with MyGov, has launched a nationwide creative campaign titled Badalta Bharat Mera Anubhav. The initiative invites citizens from all walks of life to participate and win exciting prizes across five unique creative challenges, all of which will close on July 9.
The campaign marks 11 years of visionary leadership and seeks to highlight personal stories and creative expressions that capture the remarkable changes India has witnessed across sectors—from digital empowerment and economic growth to social inclusion and infrastructure development. Aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, the campaign serves as a platform for Indians to showcase their experiences and observations of a rapidly evolving nation.
Through this initiative, participants can engage in one or more of the five challenges: Instagram Reel Making, YouTube Shorts Challenge, Blog Writing under BlogBharat, the Viksit Bharat Quiz 2025, and a Short Audio-Visual (AV) Film Competition.
The Instagram Reel Making Competition calls on creators to develop 30 to 60-second videos reflecting themes such as Digital India, Skill India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat. Similarly, the YouTube Shorts Challenge encourages users to capture inspiring stories of change, from revamped public spaces to cultural events, showcasing the spirit of a new India.
Writers, bloggers, students, and journalists can participate in the BlogBharat Challenge by submitting well-crafted articles (800–1200 words) analyzing India’s transformation over the last 11 years. Meanwhile, the Viksit Bharat Quiz offers a knowledge-based challenge for citizens to test their understanding of the country’s development milestones, policy reforms, and infrastructure growth. Top performers stand a chance to win cash prizes, with digital certificates for all participants.
For aspiring filmmakers and storytellers, the Short AV Challenge is an opportunity to present India’s progress through documentaries or cinematic storytelling, with videos of up to 10 minutes capturing grassroots change, innovation, and national pride.