Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
GLADSTONE, Australia — Sailors from the Royal Australian Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy and the U.S. Navy embarked the Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary sea base USS John L. Canley (ESB 6) to conduct integrated mine countermeasures operations during exercise Talisman Sabre, July 13-19, 2025
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who are in China for the 25th China-EU Summit, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)
BEIJING, July 24 (Xinhua) — As China and the European Union mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, Chinese President Xi Jinping has made new propositions on how the two sides can navigate a fast-changing and turbulent world through partnership, cooperation and multilateralism.
China-EU relations have come to another critical juncture in their history, Xi said on Thursday, calling on Chinese and European leaders to once again demonstrate vision and leadership, and to provide more stability and certainty for the world through sound, steady China-EU relations.
The Chinese leader made the remarks when meeting with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, both of whom are in Beijing to attend the 25th China-EU Summit.
For the future development of China-EU relations, Xi made three proposals: The two sides should uphold mutual respect and consolidate the positioning of China-EU relations as partnership; uphold openness and cooperation and properly manage differences; practice multilateralism and uphold international rules and order.
On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang co-chaired the summit with Costa and von der Leyen, with both sides pledging to promote cooperation on the economy, trade and investment.
After the summit, Li and von der Leyen attended the China-EU Business Leaders Symposium, at which some 60 business leaders were present.
UPHOLDING MUTUAL RESPECT
Xi said that China and the EU should uphold mutual respect and consolidate the positioning of China-EU relations as partnership.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who are in China for the 25th China-EU Summit, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
The current challenges facing the EU do not come from China, and there are no fundamental conflicts of interest or geopolitical contradictions between China and the EU, Xi said. The fundamentals and prevailing trend of China-EU relations featuring cooperation over competition and consensus over differences have remained constant.
China has regarded the EU as an important pole in a multipolar world, and consistently supported European integration and the strategic autonomy of the EU, he said, voicing hope that the EU will respect the path and system chosen by the Chinese people, respect China’s core interests and major concerns, and support its development and prosperity.
He called on both sides to deepen strategic communication, enhance understanding and mutual trust, and foster a correct perception of each other.
Echoing the Chinese leaders’ remarks, the EU side affirmed its commitment to deepening EU-China relations, managing differences in a constructive manner, and achieving more positive outcomes in bilateral cooperation that is balanced, reciprocal and mutually beneficial.
ADHERING TO OPENNESS, COOPERATION
China and the EU should uphold openness and cooperation, and properly manage differences and frictions, Xi said, adding that history and reality show that interdependency is not a risk, and convergent interests are not a threat.
He said that “reducing dependency” should not lead to reducing China-EU cooperation, and the bilateral economic and trade relationship, which is by nature complementary and mutually beneficial, can indeed achieve dynamic equilibrium through development.
China’s high-quality development and opening-up will provide new opportunities and potentials for China-EU cooperation, Xi noted.
It is hoped that the EU can remain open in trade and investment market, refrain from using restrictive economic and trade tools, and foster a sound business environment for Chinese enterprises investing and operating in the EU, he stressed.
China welcomes more European businesses to invest and pursue long-term operations in China, Premier Li said, calling on the EU to provide a fair, equitable and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese enterprises investing in Europe.
Li said both sides can forge an “upgraded version” of the China-EU export control dialogue mechanism to ensure the stability of industrial and supply chains between China and Europe.
The EU side noted that the EU does not seek “decoupling and severing supply chains” and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in Europe.
Feng Zhongping, director of the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that China-EU cooperation aligns with the fundamental interests of both sides, carries profound global significance, and will provide certainty and stability for the world.
PRACTICING MULTILATERALISM
Confronted with the critical choice between war and peace, competition and cooperation, or seclusion and openness, multilateralism and solidarity-based cooperation remain the only viable approach, Xi said.
He said that China and the EU should practice multilateralism, and uphold international rules and order.
Xi said China and the EU should jointly uphold the international rules and order established after World War II, advance a more just and equitable global governance system in keeping with the times, and work together to address global challenges such as climate change.
He said China stands ready to strengthen coordination with the EU to ensure the success of this year’s UN Climate Change Conference in Belem (COP30), and contribute more to global climate response and green transition.
The EU leaders called on the two sides, faced with a turbulent and uncertain world, to uphold multilateralism, safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, address global challenges such as climate change, facilitate resolutions to regional hotspot issues, and safeguard world peace and stability.
On the same day, leaders of China and the EU issued a joint statement on climate change, in which they recognized that strengthening China-EU cooperation on the issue will impact the well-being of people on both sides, and is of great and special significance to upholding multilateralism and advancing global climate governance.
Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University of China, said that China-EU relations go beyond mere bilateral ties and are of great importance to safeguarding international law and order, and to upholding the international system with the UN at its core.
Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing
Four real estate agencies have pleaded guilty to breaking Victoria’s rental laws, following an investigation by Consumer Affairs Victoria’s renting taskforce.
The agencies admitted they failed to advertise a fixed rental price for properties listed on realestate.com.au and domain.com.au. The businesses are:
Consumer Affairs Victoria initially issued infringements to the agencies, but all chose to contest the penalties. They were taken to court as a result.
Director Nicole Rich described the breaches as serious, warning that not using a fixed price can promote illegal rental bidding.
“Our renting taskforce is committed to holding agents accountable if they break Victoria’s rental laws. We’ll continue to pursue those who fail to meet those standards, including taking them to court where necessary.
“Real estate agents are part of a licensed profession with clear legal obligations to understand and follow property sales and renting laws. This includes using their management systems correctly and ensuring staff are properly trained.
“Price transparency is vital. Renters have the right to know how much they can expect to pay for a rental property.”
Rental bidding, where renters compete to offer higher amounts to secure a property, has been banned in Victoria since 2021. It was outlawed as part of the introduction of 130 new rental law reforms.
Since the taskforce was established, more than 50 agencies have been fined for failing to advertise fixed rental prices.
As well as ensuring agents comply with renting laws, Consumer Affairs Victoria is also working with property listing websites to change their pricing parameters, to ensure properties can only be advertised with a fixed price.
Barry Plant Werribee, Ray White Point Cook and YouSales were fined. White Lotus Property Group received a 12-month court order prohibiting further offending.
A fifth case, involving Smart Six Corporation Pty Ltd (trading as PRD, Mildura) will be heard at the Mildura Magistrates’ Court on 19 August.
If you think a rental property hasn’t been advertised properly, report it to Consumer Affairs Victoria.
Consumer Affairs Victoria is a part of the Department of Government Services.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato
According to the Global Organised Crime Index, international criminal activity has increased over the past two years. And the politically fractured post-pandemic world has made this even harder for nations to combat.
New Zealand is far from immune. According to official advice in late March to Minister of Customs and Associate Minister of Police Casey Costello:
The threat posed by organised crime in New Zealand has increased substantially in the last five years. Even with the best of will, New Zealand is losing the fight.
New criminal groups are becoming active here – from Burma via Malaysia, to the Comancheros and Mongols gangs. Each brings new networks, violent tactics and the potential to corrupt institutions in New Zealand and throughout the Pacific.
As of October 2024, the national gang list contained 9,460 names. While there is debate about the accuracy of the figures, gang membership has grown considerably. This is fuelled by the global trade in illegal drugs, with local criminal profits conservatively estimated at NZ$500–600 million annually.
The one relative bright spot is that New Zealand hasn’t yet seen the levels of firearms-related violence driven by organised crime overseas. For example, European research shows the illegal trade in guns and drugs becoming increasingly intertwined.
But waiting to catch up with those trends should not be an option. New Zealand already has a lot firearms. In the past six years, police conducting routine patrols have reportedly encountered 17,000 guns, or nearly ten every day, nationwide.
In 2022, official figures showed, on average, approximately one firearms offence had been committed daily by gang members since 2019.
The risk had become apparent much earlier, in 2016, with the discovery of fourteen military assault-grade AK47s and M16s in an Auckland house being used to manufacture methamphetamine. This year, another firearms cache, including assault rifles and semiautomatics, was found in Auckland.
On the legal front, the main avenues New Zealand gangs use to obtain illegal firearms are being closed off. Under the Arms Act, members or close affiliates of a gang or an organised criminal group cannot be considered “fit and proper” to lawfully possess a firearm.
These people may have specific firearms prohibition orders added against them, which allow the police additional powers to ensure firearms don’t fall into the wrong hands.
The firearms registry is key to this. There are now more than 400,000 firearms fully accounted for, making it harder for so-called “straw buyers” to onsell them to gangs.
Despite the progress, several challenges remain. In particular, the nature of the gun registry has been politicised, with the ACT and National parties disagreeing over a review of the system’s scope.
Arguments over the types of firearms covered and which agency looks after the registry risk undermining its central purpose of preventing criminals getting guns.
Theft of firearms from lawful owners needs more attention, too. Making it a specific offence – not just illegal possession – would be an added deterrent.
Accounting for all the estimated 1.5 million firearms in New Zealand will be very difficult – especially with the buy-back and amnesty for prohibited firearms after the Christchurch terror attack likely being far from complete.
There are also tens of thousands of non-prohibited firearms in the hands of unlicensed but not necessarily criminal owners.
Given all firearms must be registered by the end of August 2028, there should be another buy-back (at market rates) of all guns that should be on the register. This might be expensive, but the cost of opening a large pipeline to criminals would be worse.
There needs to be greater investment in staff, education and technology within intelligence services and customs. This will help inform evidence-based policy, and support targeted law enforcement. A recent European Union initiative to track gun violence in real time is an example of how data can help in this way.
New Zealand is a party to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (and its two protocols on people trafficking and migrant smuggling). But it is not a party to a supplementary protocol covering the illicit manufacturing and trafficking of firearms and ammunition.
That should change. Amendments to the Arms Act since 2019 mean New Zealand law and policy fit the protocol perfectly. By joining, New Zealand could strengthen regional cooperation and increase public safety, given the scale of the problem and its potential to get worse.
Alexander Gillespie is a member of the Ministerial Arms Advisory Group (MAAG). He is also the 2024 recipient of the Borrin Justice Fellowship, and is researching revision of the NZ Arms Act. His views and opinions here are independent of both the MAAG and the Borrin Foundation.
– ref. Gangs are going global and so is the illegal gun trade – NZ can do more to fight it – https://theconversation.com/gangs-are-going-global-and-so-is-the-illegal-gun-trade-nz-can-do-more-to-fight-it-261827
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 25, 2025.
Gangs are going global and so is the illegal gun trade – NZ can do more to fight it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato According to the Global Organised Crime Index, international criminal activity has increased over the past two years. And the politically fractured post-pandemic world has made this even harder for nations to combat. New Zealand is far from immune. According
Historic ICJ climate ruling ‘just the beginning’, says Vanuatu’s Regenvanu
By Ezra Toara in Port Vila Vanuatu’s Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Ralph Regenvanu, has welcomed the historic International Court of Justice (ICJ) climate ruling, calling it a “milestone in the fight for climate justice”. The ICJ has delivered a landmark advisory opinion on states’ obligations under international law to act on climate change. The
3 reasons young people are more likely to believe conspiracy theories – and how we can help them discover the truth
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jean-Nicolas Bordeleau, Research Fellow, Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies, Flinders University Conspiracy theories are a widespread occurrence in today’s hyper connected and polarised world. Events such as Brexit, the 2016 and 2020 United States presidential elections, and the COVID pandemic serve as potent reminders
Waiting too long for public dental care? Here’s why the system is struggling – and how to fix it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Santosh Tadakamadla, Professor and Head of Dentistry and Oral Health, La Trobe University Just over one-third of Australians are eligible for public dental services, which provide free or low cost dental treatment. Yet demand for these services continues to exceed supply. As a result, many Australian adults
Butter wars: ‘nothing cures high prices like high prices’ – but will market forces be enough?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Renwick, Professor of Agricultural Economics, Lincoln University, New Zealand RobynRoper/Getty Images The alarming rise of butter prices has become a real source of frustration for New Zealand consumers, as well as a topic of political recrimination. The issue has become so serious that Miles Hurrell, chief
Ultrafast fashion brand Princess Polly has been certified as ‘sustainable’. Is that an oxymoron?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Harriette Richards, Senior Lecturer, School of Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University Carol Yepes/Getty Images Last week, the ultrafast fashion brand Princess Polly received B Corp certification. This certification is designed to accredit for-profit businesses that provide social impact and environmental benefit. Established on the Gold Coast in
AI will soon be able to audit all published research – what will that mean for public trust in science?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Kaurov, PhD Candidate in Science and Society, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Jamillah Knowles & Digit/Better Images of AI, CC BY-SA Self-correction is fundamental to science. One of its most important forms is peer review, when anonymous experts scrutinise research before it is
Columbia’s $200M deal with Trump administration sets a precedent for other universities to bend to the government’s will
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Cantwell, Associate Professor of Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education, Michigan State University Students at Columbia University in New York City on April 14, 2025. Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images Columbia University agreed on July 23, 2025, to pay a US$200 million fine to the federal government
Miles Franklin 2025: Siang Lu’s Ghost Cities is a haunting comedy about tyranny. Is it the funniest winner ever?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joseph Steinberg, Forrest Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, English & Literary Studies, The University of Western Australia Siang Lu David Kelly/UQP The Miles Franklin judges described Siang Lu’s Ghost Cities, winner of the 2025 award, as “a grand farce and a haunting meditation on diaspora”. To my mind, it
Keep fighting for a nuclear-free Pacific, Helen Clark warns Greenpeace over global storm clouds
Asia Pacific Report Former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark warned activists and campaigners in a speech on the deck of the Greenpeace environmental flagship Rainbow Warrior III last night to be wary of global “storm clouds” and the renewed existential threat of nuclear weapons. Speaking on her reflections on four decades after the bombing
Business coalition calls for 25% cut in the cost of red tape by 2030
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Business, universities, and investors have jointly urged the federal government to commit to cutting the cost of red tape by 25% by 2030, in a submission for next month’s Economic Reform Roundtable. The push to reduce regulation is in line
Grattan on Friday: net zero battle has net zero positives for Sussan Ley
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra There’s no other way of looking at it: Sussan Ley faces a diabolical situation with the debate over whether the Coalition should abandon the 2050 net zero emissions target. The issue is a microcosm of her wider problems. The Nationals,
The Murray–Darling Basin Plan Evaluation is out. The next step is to fix the land, not just the flows
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Stewardson, CEO One Basin CRC, The University of Melbourne Yarramalong Weir is one of many barriers to the passage of fish in the Murray-Darling Basin. Geoff Reid, One Basin CRC A report card into the A$13 billion Murray–Darling Basin Plan has found much work is needed
The Murray–Darling Basin Plan Evaluation is out. The next step is to fix the land, not just the flows
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Stewardson, CEO One Basin CRC, The University of Melbourne Yarramalong Weir is one of many barriers to the passage of fish in the Murray-Darling Basin. Geoff Reid, One Basin CRC A report card into the A$13 billion Murray–Darling Basin Plan has found much work is needed
Reserve Bank says unemployment rise was not a shock, inflation on track
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Head, Canberra School of Government, University of Canberra Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock has fleshed out the central bank’s thinking behind its surprise decision to keep interest rates on hold this month. In a speech today to the Anika Foundation, Bullock said there has been:
Reserve Bank says unemployment rise was not a shock, inflation on track
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Head, Canberra School of Government, University of Canberra Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock has fleshed out the central bank’s thinking behind its surprise decision to keep interest rates on hold this month. In a speech today to the Anika Foundation, Bullock said there has been:
Israel waging ‘horror show’ starvation campaign in Gaza, says UN chief
This is Democracy Now!. I’m Amy Goodman. More than 100 humanitarian groups are demanding action to end Israel’s siege of Gaza, warning mass starvation is spreading across the Palestinian territory. The NGOs, including Amnesty International, Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders, warn, “illnesses like acute watery diarrhea are spreading, markets are empty, waste is piling up, and
Israel waging ‘horror show’ starvation campaign in Gaza, says UN chief
This is Democracy Now!. I’m Amy Goodman. More than 100 humanitarian groups are demanding action to end Israel’s siege of Gaza, warning mass starvation is spreading across the Palestinian territory. The NGOs, including Amnesty International, Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders, warn, “illnesses like acute watery diarrhea are spreading, markets are empty, waste is piling up, and
Historic ruling finds climate change ‘imperils all forms of life’ and puts laggard nations on notice
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacqueline Peel, Professor of Law and Director, Melbourne Climate Futures, The University of Melbourne Hilaire Bule/Getty Climate change “imperils all forms of life” and countries must tackle the problem or face consequences under international law, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has found. The court delivered its
Jet ski accidents are tragic but preventable. Here’s how to reduce the risk
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne Richard Hamilton Smith/Getty Two teenage boys were thrown from a jet ski during a ride on the Georges River in Sydney’s south this week. One died at the scene. The other
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Strong, Associate Professor, Music Industry, RMIT University
On July 26, Triple J will broadcast the Hottest 100 Australian Songs, as voted by the public. While predictions for winners and even preemptive complaining about the shortlist are taking up column space and social media posts, there is an underlying question: what we mean when we talk about “Australian songs”?
Do these songs sound a particular way? Do they express something about what it means to be Australian? Or is it purely about where the artist was born?
Importantly, how will each of these factors influence voting?
Musical cultures with their own unique sounds have existed on this continent for tens of thousands of years. The sound of the didgeridoo is often used as a shorthand to signify Australianness in films, television and, to a lesser extent, popular songs.
However, the history of dispossession and genocidal practices that have accompanied settlement in Australia means much has been lost from these musical traditions. Indigenous performers have been actively excluded from the same music-making spaces where other songs we think of as “Australian” have been created.
Since British colonisation in the late 18th century, Australian music has also been part of global music flows. Settlers arrived with songs and musical influences from their own cultures. Jazz, country, rock and pop inspired local versions of these genres.
But is there anything truly Australian about such music, or is it just imitation? And this conundrum connects to wider issues of Australia’s identity debated during the 20th century: was it a country, or still just a colony?
Back in the 1970s, this question was also on then prime minister Gough Whitlams’s mind. After his election in 1972, Whitlam gave a huge boost to funding for cultural and creative activities to “help establish and express an Australian identity through the arts”, as part of a suite of nation-building activities.
The dirty guitar sounds of the pub rock scene of the 1970s, with its associated subcultures, are sometimes said to be Australia’s first distinct offering in post-rock ‘n’ roll music.
This was followed by the rise of bands such as Midnight Oil and Cold Chisel, who found success not just by drawing on more local sounds, but also by referencing Australian places, politics and cultures.
The Whitlam government’s broadcasting reforms meant this music had homes on community radio and the new youth station 2JJ (now Triple J).
The bands from this era have come to make up what might be described as the Oz rock canon – a collection of works seen to make up the “best” of the art form. Canons exert a strong influence over how we assess music, meaning these bands will probably appear in the tomorrow’s countdown.
This idea of the rock canon is almost perfectly reflected in the ten entries by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to tomorrow’s countdown. His selection of almost 100% white male musicians encapsulates the exclusionary nature rock of this period.
The fact that our last two prime ministers, despite being from opposite sides of politics, produced very similar lists, gives us insight into the persistence of this canon, and what ideas about “Australian culture” circulate in the halls of power.
It’s questionable whether any of the bands or songs on Albanese’s list could be said to have a coherent “Australian” sound, yet they have come to hold a place in the national imagination.
Triple J’s Hottest 100 of All Time in 2009 was seen as a surprising recapitulation of the (male) rock canon, especially given the station’s otherwise diverse playlists.
However, the highest-placed Australian song on the list was The Nosebleed Section by Hilltop Hoods, representing the recent and rapid rise of Aussie hip-hop.
The 2011 Hottest 100 Australian Albums of All Time (the closest forerunner to the current poll) further updated the canon, with Powderfinger’s Odyssey Number Five (2000) in the top spot, and other top ten entries by electronic groups The Presets and The Avalanches.
Nonetheless, the canon remained male dominated, with the highest woman-fronted album being Missy Higgins’s The Sound of White (2004) at number 29.
The past decade has seen a boom in Indigenous representation on Australian airwaves and stages, with artists such as Thelma Plum, Barkaa, A.B. Original and Baker Boy.
These artists use a range of genres and styles to express pride in their Indigeneity, and critique Australian identity. A.B. Original’s song January 26 was number 17 in 2016’s Hottest 100 countdown. This was also the last year Triple J chose this date for its annual broadcast, speaking to the power of music to reflect – and even inform – popular sentiment.
Given recent national debates, a strong contender for the upcoming poll is Treaty (Radio Mix) by Yothu Yindi (which ranked number 11 of all time in 1991). These shifts show how canons can be unsettled over time.
Recently, Creative Australia came under fire for trying to stifle Khaled Sabsabi’s politically-informed art in the interests of “social cohesion”.
But others pointed out art provides crucial space for challenging prevailing ideas, and that social cohesion in a democracy is not about reaching complete agreement, but being able to handle disagreement.
A Hottest 100 that reflects the diversity and even the tensions in Australian society may provoke arguments, but it is in these spaces that we can reflect on what it means to live on these lands.
Ben Green receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Australasian Performing Right Association.
Catherine Strong does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. What makes a song ‘Australian’? Triple J’s Hottest 100 reignites a bigger question of national identity – https://theconversation.com/what-makes-a-song-australian-triple-js-hottest-100-reignites-a-bigger-question-of-national-identity-261560
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) introduced the bipartisan Recovery of Stolen Checks Act, which would allow American taxpayers who have their paper checks from the U.S. Department of Treasury lost or stolen in the mail to receive their payment by electronic deposit:
“An outdated IRS policy is leaving Tennesseans vulnerable to having their tax refund checks repeatedly lost or stolen in the mail,” said Senator Blackburn. “When those refunds don’t arrive on time, it puts real strain on hardworking families. The Recovery of Stolen Checks Act would allow taxpayers to receive a direct deposit from the Treasury Department rather than another check a criminal could intercept.”
“With check fraud costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, it makes no sense for the federal government to keep reissuing vulnerable paper checks after they have already been stolen or gone missing,” said Senator Warner. “This bipartisan bill offers a smart, secure fix by letting taxpayers opt for direct deposit so they can get their money faster and more safely.”
The Recovery of Stolen Checks Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.).
This legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is sponsored by Representatives David Kustoff (R-Tenn.), Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), and Terri Sewell (D-Ala.).
BACKGROUND
THE RECOVERY OF STOLEN CHECKS ACT
The Recovery of Stolen Checks Act would require Department of the Treasury to establish a secure, streamlined process that allows eligible taxpayers to receive their replacement refunds electronically via direct deposit, helping reduce the risk of theft, delays, and fraud.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who are in China for the 25th China-EU Summit, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)
As China and the European Union mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, Chinese President Xi Jinping has made new propositions on how the two sides can navigate a fast-changing and turbulent world through partnership, cooperation and multilateralism.
China-EU relations have come to another critical juncture in their history, Xi said on Thursday, calling on Chinese and European leaders to once again demonstrate vision and leadership, and to provide more stability and certainty for the world through sound, steady China-EU relations.
The Chinese leader made the remarks when meeting with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, both of whom are in Beijing to attend the 25th China-EU Summit.
For the future development of China-EU relations, Xi made three proposals: The two sides should uphold mutual respect and consolidate the positioning of China-EU relations as partnership; uphold openness and cooperation and properly manage differences; practice multilateralism and uphold international rules and order.
On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang co-chaired the summit with Costa and von der Leyen, with both sides pledging to promote cooperation on the economy, trade and investment.
After the summit, Li and von der Leyen attended the China-EU Business Leaders Symposium, at which some 60 business leaders were present.
UPHOLDING MUTUAL RESPECT
Xi said that China and the EU should uphold mutual respect and consolidate the positioning of China-EU relations as partnership.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who are in China for the 25th China-EU Summit, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
The current challenges facing the EU do not come from China, and there are no fundamental conflicts of interest or geopolitical contradictions between China and the EU, Xi said. The fundamentals and prevailing trend of China-EU relations featuring cooperation over competition and consensus over differences have remained constant.
China has regarded the EU as an important pole in a multipolar world, and consistently supported European integration and the strategic autonomy of the EU, he said, voicing hope that the EU will respect the path and system chosen by the Chinese people, respect China’s core interests and major concerns, and support its development and prosperity.
He called on both sides to deepen strategic communication, enhance understanding and mutual trust, and foster a correct perception of each other.
Echoing the Chinese leaders’ remarks, the EU side affirmed its commitment to deepening EU-China relations, managing differences in a constructive manner, and achieving more positive outcomes in bilateral cooperation that is balanced, reciprocal and mutually beneficial.
ADHERING TO OPENNESS, COOPERATION
China and the EU should uphold openness and cooperation, and properly manage differences and frictions, Xi said, adding that history and reality show that interdependency is not a risk, and convergent interests are not a threat.
He said that “reducing dependency” should not lead to reducing China-EU cooperation, and the bilateral economic and trade relationship, which is by nature complementary and mutually beneficial, can indeed achieve dynamic equilibrium through development.
China’s high-quality development and opening-up will provide new opportunities and potentials for China-EU cooperation, Xi noted.
It is hoped that the EU can remain open in trade and investment market, refrain from using restrictive economic and trade tools, and foster a sound business environment for Chinese enterprises investing and operating in the EU, he stressed.
China welcomes more European businesses to invest and pursue long-term operations in China, Premier Li said, calling on the EU to provide a fair, equitable and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese enterprises investing in Europe.
Li said both sides can forge an “upgraded version” of the China-EU export control dialogue mechanism to ensure the stability of industrial and supply chains between China and Europe.
The EU side noted that the EU does not seek “decoupling and severing supply chains” and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in Europe.
Feng Zhongping, director of the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that China-EU cooperation aligns with the fundamental interests of both sides, carries profound global significance, and will provide certainty and stability for the world.
PRACTICING MULTILATERALISM
Confronted with the critical choice between war and peace, competition and cooperation, or seclusion and openness, multilateralism and solidarity-based cooperation remain the only viable approach, Xi said.
He said that China and the EU should practice multilateralism, and uphold international rules and order.
Xi said China and the EU should jointly uphold the international rules and order established after World War II, advance a more just and equitable global governance system in keeping with the times, and work together to address global challenges such as climate change.
He said China stands ready to strengthen coordination with the EU to ensure the success of this year’s UN Climate Change Conference in Belem (COP30), and contribute more to global climate response and green transition.
The EU leaders called on the two sides, faced with a turbulent and uncertain world, to uphold multilateralism, safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, address global challenges such as climate change, facilitate resolutions to regional hotspot issues, and safeguard world peace and stability.
On the same day, leaders of China and the EU issued a joint statement on climate change, in which they recognized that strengthening China-EU cooperation on the issue will impact the well-being of people on both sides, and is of great and special significance to upholding multilateralism and advancing global climate governance.
Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University of China, said that China-EU relations go beyond mere bilateral ties and are of great importance to safeguarding international law and order, and to upholding the international system with the UN at its core.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Singapore, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SIMPPLE Ltd. (NASDAQ: SPPL) (“SIMPPLE” or “the Company”), a leading technology provider and innovator in the facilities management (FM) sector, today announced that it has received notice from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) notifying the Company that the Company has regained compliance with the Nasdaq Capital Market’s minimum stockholders’ equity requirement and annual shareholder meeting requirement, as required by Nasdaq Listing Rules.
As previously reported in the Company’s Form 6-K dated January 21, 2025, the Company did not comply with the minimum stockholders’ equity of $2,500,000 as required for continued listing on Nasdaq set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1).
The Company has since filed a Form 6-K dated July 7, 2025, stating that the Company had executed a series of securities purchase agreements with investors to raise aggregate gross proceeds of $2.0 million resulting from the sale of 1,333,334 shares through a private investment in public equity (PIPE). As a result of the closing of the private placement on June 30, 2025, the Company’s shareholders’ equity exceeded $2.5 million. SIMPPLE intends to use the net proceeds from the PIPE to advance development of its technologies, extensive pipeline, and global expansion.
On July 22, 2025, Nasdaq notified the Company that the Company complies with the Listing Rule 5550(b)(1), subject to the Company’s disclosure in a Form 6-K no later than July 25, 2025, providing a description of the completed transaction or event that enabled the Company to satisfy the stockholders’ equity requirement for continued listing. Nasdaq will continue to monitor the Company’s ongoing compliance with the stockholders’ equity requirement and, if at the time of its next periodic report, the Company does not evidence compliance, it may be subject to delisting. At that time, Staff will provide written notification to the Company, which may then appeal Staff’s determination to a Hearings Panel.
“We are pleased to have successfully regained compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements and consider this latest notification a key milestone that underscores our broader business objectives” said Norman Schroeder, SIMIPPLE’s chief executive. “We believe it’s an important outcome that goes to SIMPPLE’s credibility, and best interest of our valued investors, partners, and stakeholders, as we continue to invest in our technology advancements and global growth objectives.”
The Company will continue to monitor its ongoing compliance with all applicable Nasdaq listing standards and will provide further updates as and when required.
About SIMPPLE LTD.
Headquartered in Singapore, SIMPPLE LTD. is an advanced technology solution provider in the emerging PropTech space, focused on helping facilities owners and managers manage facilities autonomously. Founded in 2016, the Company has a strong foothold in the Singapore facilities management market, serving over 60 clients in both the public and private sectors and extending out of Singapore into Australia and the Middle East. The Company has developed its proprietary SIMPPLE Ecosystem, to create an automated workforce management tool for building maintenance, surveillance and cleaning comprised of a mix of software and hardware solutions such as robotics (both cleaning and security) and Internet-of-Things (“IoT”) devices.
For more information on SIMPPLE, please visit: https://www.simpple.ai
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time, we or our representatives may make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. We base these forward-looking statements on our expectations and projections about future events, which we derive from the information currently available to us. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future performance, including: our financial performance and projections; our growth in revenue and earnings; and our business prospects and opportunities. You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “plans,” “projected,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “hopes” or the negative of these or similar terms. In evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including: our ability to change the direction of the Company; our ability to keep pace with new technology and changing market needs; and the competitive environment of our business. These and other factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement.
Forward-looking statements are only predictions. The forward-looking events discussed in this press release and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives, may not occur, and actual events and results may differ materially and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions about us. We are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives might not occur.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), in a hearing of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), questioned a Trump Administration nominee about the reckless approach it’s taking to contract and staff reductions at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA). In his exchange with John Bartrum, Nominee to be Under Secretary for Health, King reasoned that it is virtually impossible to make dramatic, across-the-board reductions with thought, care and precision while protecting care for veterans because of the speed in which the reductions are happening.
Senator King began, “I’ve done a little examination, this is full of contracts for nursing services, nursing home services you mentioned prosthetics, probably a dozen prosthetics contracts being canceled. It is hard for me to believe that all of these are unnecessary contracts. $13 billion worth of contracts. It worries me is that there seems to be a pattern of ready, fire, aim at Veterans’ Affairs. You started with hiring freeze applying to everybody, then, oh no, it doesn’t apply to medical people. That was a good decision, but it should not have been, it shouldn’t have been made in the first place. Then it was 83,000 people are going to be fired by the end of the year, now it is 30,000, not fired, but we are going to downsize by 30,000. And I just wonder if upon review, I can’t believe all 16,000 of these contracts, and then the email, of course, lists three or four ones that we would all say, okay, those probably aren’t necessary but prosthetics contracts, nursing contracts, nursing home contracts, it really bothers me. Mr. Bartrum, you mentioned we don’t have a good staffing model. That may well be true, but I think you should start with the staffing model and then decide what the right size of the staff is. Not start with 30,000 or a month ago, it was 83,000 and work backwards. Do you see what I’m saying? Analyze the staff, do the staffing model, determine what you need and then make those decisions instead of starting with what amounts to a quota, and reverse engineering. Give me some thoughts about that.
“Senator King, I don’t disagree with the way using analytics to determine what you need for staffing, building to the staffing, which is why my earlier comment was, I really want to work on our staffing and what the staffing should be. On your question about the contracts, a lot of those we also found that we had multiple contracts in multiple areas for similar things and we could also consolidate into more regional and national contracts. Where you see some contracts that might be terminated on the list, there may be additional contracts expanded out or scope changed to renegotiate it into a regional contract because you have the same contractor in some cases providing service in certain areas,” Bartrum replied.
Senator King replied, “It is hard for me to believe in the time we have had in the last few months, this list of 16,000 contracts has had the kind of careful review that, I will predict, that a month or two from now there will be another memo saying, well, there are a bunch of contracts we are not going to cut or eliminate. I want to see more planning before the decisions are made that could so significantly affect veteran care.”
Representing one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act. Recently, in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, Senator King joined his colleagues in urging for immediate action to secure veterans’ personal information provided by VA or other agencies to Elon Musk and his “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), a measure that would protect millions of veterans’ medical records stored in VA’s computer systems. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families.
Recently, Senator King introduced bipartisan legislation alongside SVAC Chairman Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to improve care coordination for veterans who rely on both VA health care and Medicare. In February, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. Last year, he was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his “outstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.” Senator King also recently joined his colleagues in raising concerns over proposed plans to terminate 83,000 VA employees, and participated in a special investigative SVAC hearing to question witnesses who were terminated due to DOGE cuts. In May, Senators King and Blumenthal wrote again to Secretary Collins demanding an explanation for DOGE cuts to cancel contracts at VA that would impact health care for Maine veterans.
Source:
25 July 2025
New research from the University of South Australia has revealed that tertiary students’ learning habits are deeply connected to how they engage with generative artificial intelligence tools.
Surveying 435 students from Australia and Canada, the study investigated how confidence, motivation, and effort regulation influence perceptions of AI-powered tools such as ChatGPT.
Researchers found that self-regulated learning skills play a significant role in whether students adopt AI as a meaningful learning aid or merely a quick solution for academic tasks.
The findings show that university students who use AI for academic purposes benefit more than those using it for work or personal tasks. They also show that student who feel confident in their abilities are more likely to use Ai to benefit their learning.
Lead researcher, UniSA’s Associate Professor Negin Mirriahi, says that the way students approach AI tools reflects their broader learning strategies.
“Some students see AI as a shortcut, using it to finish assignments more quickly, but our research suggests that those with strong self-regulation skills actually harness it for deeper learning,” Assoc Prof Negin Mirriahi says.
“It’s not just about speed; it’s about how students engage with knowledge.
“When students feel confident in their capabilities, they are more likely to engage with and effectively use technological tools.”
The study highlights a distinction between students who use AI for university studies and those who engage with it for non-academic purposes such as work or entertainment.
Those using AI for learning were more likely to find it useful, reinforcing the connection between structured self-regulation and effective AI adoption.
Assoc Prof Mirriahi says the findings should inform how universities integrate AI into education.
“Artificial intelligence is reshaping higher education, and our study shows that students who are motivated and confident in their learning benefit the most from AI tools,” she says.
“The challenge for universities is to ensure AI fosters independent thinking rather than becoming a crutch for students who lack self-regulation.
“We need to help students develop the skills to critically engage with AI, not just rely on it for convenience.”
The researchers say that universities should model AI use in classrooms, demonstrating ways that students can engage with the technology to strengthen their critical thinking and independent learning.
“We need to see more engagement with AI in university environments, so that teachers can demonstrate how AI can benefit student learning,” Assoc Prof Mirriahi says.
“This might include showcasing how AI can generate ideas, explain complex concepts, or even critique their work.
“Importantly, through direct and guided engagement, students will learn how they can confidently and responsibly engage with AI to enhance their learning experiences, without cheating.”
Study co-author, UniSA’s Associate Professor Vitomir Kovanović, says that while AI adoption is increasing, there is a risk that some students may rely on it superficially, rather than using it to refine study skills and deepen understanding.
“The concern isn’t just whether students use AI, it’s about how they use it,” Assoc Prof Kovanović says.
“If they approach AI critically and actively evaluate its responses, they can enhance their learning.
“But if AI simply becomes a shortcut to completing tasks, we may see gaps in how students develop their problem-solving skills.”
Assoc Prof Kovanović says that universities should focus on fostering self-efficacy and effort regulation in students.
“Students who have confidence in their learning abilities and persist through challenges tend to find AI genuinely useful,” he says.
“Universities must equip students with strategies to use AI effectively so that it enhances their critical thinking, rather than replacing it.
“AI is already embedded in education, and it’s only going to become more prevalent. Our responsibility is to ensure students are equipped with the right strategies to navigate it effectively.”
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
The full paper is available here: Mirriahi, N., Marrone, R., Barthakur, A., Gabriel, F., Colton, J., Yeung, T. N., Arthur, P., & Kovanovic, V. (2025). The relationship between students’ self-regulated learning skills and technology acceptance of GenAI. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Contacts for interview: Associate Professor Negin Mirriahi E: Negin.Mirriahi@unisa.edu.au
Associate Professor Vitomir Kovanović E: Vitomir.Kovanovic@unisa.edu.au
Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 479 182 489 E: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au
Source: New places to play in Gungahlin
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Quarterly Activity Report and Appendix 4C
Quarter ended 30 June 2025 – Intelligent Monitoring Group Limited (“Intelligent Monitoring”, “IMG” or “the Company”) (ASX: IMB) is pleased to provide its Quarterly Market Activity Update.
Highlights
Financial Update
IMG is pleased to report an operating cash flow of $17.0m for 4Q FY25. This result confirms and validates the inherent cash flow strength of IMG.
Cash in the bank grew $11.1m in the quarter.
As expected, Q4 saw a strong step upward, driven by growth in underlying earnings and the cessation of non-recurring costs, including the earlier refinancing, ADT transition, and M&A-related costs and working capital drags.
Unaudited underlying full year EBITDA of $38.6m, whilst around the middle of the guidance range, was a little behind the company’s target as some work under discussion and pending award took longer than expected to be realised. Whilst disappointing, the shortfall is primarily timing related, and this work contributes to a healthy and growing pipeline for FY26. The acquisition of DVL (Dec) and Kobe (March) contributed above expectations.
Underlying earnings growth on FY24 (i.e. before acquisitions and adjusted for prior period capitalisation policies) was 8.2%. The business run rate in Q4, combined with the pipeline in hand, anticipates a strong growth result in FY26.
The company will give further FY26 guidance at its AGM in late October.
The underlying operating cash flow for the year was $32.4m, reflecting a year of investment in new service lines (and related products) and working capital, as DVL and Kobe were acquired and integrated into the IMG fold.
Outside of further inventory or growth investments, EBITDA and operating cash flow are expected to converge closer to each other during FY26.
Investing cashflow for the quarter was $4.0m with the majority (75%) relating to the NZ 4G telephony upgrade program (which was at its peak level during the half and is expected to tail off over the next six months). Other capital expenditures were less than $1m including project-related IT costs of $0.5m.
In light of the strong and reliable cash flows and growing cash balance, the IMG board has determined to put in place the mechanics for an on-market share buyback, with Morgans Financial to be appointed as manager. It will assess the use of this facility against all other capital allocation options over coming periods to maximise shareholder returns and value creation.
Operational and Management Comment
The business remained highly productive during the fourth quarter.
During Q4:
IMG refined its go-to-market strategy in Australia to ADT: Direct, Signature: Industry Partnerships, and IMS: Bureau/Wholesale provider of monitoring services.
Combined its service and installation tech base in Australia under a program #techsunite. Creating one of, if not the biggest, groupings of security technicians across Australia and NZ.
Created a new internal service and operational model in Australia around shared HR, IT, Monitoring, and operations, employing new leaders in HR and Procurement, in particular.
Completed the successful introduction of ADT Guard across the Australian and NZ ADT business. The group has assisted the police in apprehending over 30 criminals in the act, due to this new, highly effective service. It is now protecting over 300 sites around Australia.
We are also immensely proud to announce that, after three years of hard work and platform investment and integration, IMG subsidiary Intelligent Monitoring Solutions (IMS) has achieved an ASIAL certified A1/R1A redundant grading in both its IMS control rooms.
With instantaneous backup in case one room fails, IMS is at the top of the industry and in a position that few will be able to match. This provides a critical advantage to all IMS security partners, and we will seek to utilise this further with the launch of the Signature Security partner program for select partners in August.
IMG has had a remarkable 2025 financial year. With a refinanced balance sheet, positive operational cash flow, clear target markets, and a strong competitive position, IMG is now well positioned to grow and generate increasing returns for shareholders in FY26 and beyond.
We look forward to providing further details at the full-year results release and presentation, scheduled for 26 August 2025.
For more information please visit: https://intelligentmonitoringgroup.com
Quarterly Activity Report and Appendix 4C
Quarter ended 30 June 2025 – Intelligent Monitoring Group Limited (“Intelligent Monitoring”, “IMG” or “the Company”) (ASX: IMB) is pleased to provide its Quarterly Market Activity Update.
Highlights
Financial Update
IMG is pleased to report an operating cash flow of $17.0m for 4Q FY25. This result confirms and validates the inherent cash flow strength of IMG.
Cash in the bank grew $11.1m in the quarter.
As expected, Q4 saw a strong step upward, driven by growth in underlying earnings and the cessation of non-recurring costs, including the earlier refinancing, ADT transition, and M&A-related costs and working capital drags.
Unaudited underlying full year EBITDA of $38.6m, whilst around the middle of the guidance range, was a little behind the company’s target as some work under discussion and pending award took longer than expected to be realised. Whilst disappointing, the shortfall is primarily timing related, and this work contributes to a healthy and growing pipeline for FY26. The acquisition of DVL (Dec) and Kobe (March) contributed above expectations.
Underlying earnings growth on FY24 (i.e. before acquisitions and adjusted for prior period capitalisation policies) was 8.2%. The business run rate in Q4, combined with the pipeline in hand, anticipates a strong growth result in FY26.
The company will give further FY26 guidance at its AGM in late October.
The underlying operating cash flow for the year was $32.4m, reflecting a year of investment in new service lines (and related products) and working capital, as DVL and Kobe were acquired and integrated into the IMG fold.
Outside of further inventory or growth investments, EBITDA and operating cash flow are expected to converge closer to each other during FY26.
Investing cashflow for the quarter was $4.0m with the majority (75%) relating to the NZ 4G telephony upgrade program (which was at its peak level during the half and is expected to tail off over the next six months). Other capital expenditures were less than $1m including project-related IT costs of $0.5m.
In light of the strong and reliable cash flows and growing cash balance, the IMG board has determined to put in place the mechanics for an on-market share buyback, with Morgans Financial to be appointed as manager. It will assess the use of this facility against all other capital allocation options over coming periods to maximise shareholder returns and value creation.
Operational and Management Comment
The business remained highly productive during the fourth quarter.
During Q4:
IMG refined its go-to-market strategy in Australia to ADT: Direct, Signature: Industry Partnerships, and IMS: Bureau/Wholesale provider of monitoring services.
Combined its service and installation tech base in Australia under a program #techsunite. Creating one of, if not the biggest, groupings of security technicians across Australia and NZ.
Created a new internal service and operational model in Australia around shared HR, IT, Monitoring, and operations, employing new leaders in HR and Procurement, in particular.
Completed the successful introduction of ADT Guard across the Australian and NZ ADT business. The group has assisted the police in apprehending over 30 criminals in the act, due to this new, highly effective service. It is now protecting over 300 sites around Australia.
We are also immensely proud to announce that, after three years of hard work and platform investment and integration, IMG subsidiary Intelligent Monitoring Solutions (IMS) has achieved an ASIAL certified A1/R1A redundant grading in both its IMS control rooms.
With instantaneous backup in case one room fails, IMS is at the top of the industry and in a position that few will be able to match. This provides a critical advantage to all IMS security partners, and we will seek to utilise this further with the launch of the Signature Security partner program for select partners in August.
IMG has had a remarkable 2025 financial year. With a refinanced balance sheet, positive operational cash flow, clear target markets, and a strong competitive position, IMG is now well positioned to grow and generate increasing returns for shareholders in FY26 and beyond.
We look forward to providing further details at the full-year results release and presentation, scheduled for 26 August 2025.
For more information please visit: https://intelligentmonitoringgroup.com
Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry
The Government is taking the next step in reforming non‑compete clauses that are holding back Australian workers from switching to better, higher‑paying jobs.
Today we are releasing a consultation paper to gather insights and feedback from workers, business and the broader community about how we ban non‑compete clauses to boost productivity and wages across the Australian economy.
Reforming non‑compete clauses is about encouraging aspiration, unlocking opportunity, lifting wages for working people, and making Australia’s economy more dynamic and competitive.
Right now, more than three million Australian workers are covered by these clauses, including childcare workers, construction workers, disability support workers and hairdressers.
Workers should not be handcuffed to their current job when there are better opportunities available for them and that’s what these reforms address.
Research suggests a ban on non‑competes could lift the wages of affected workers by up to four per cent, or about $2,500 per year for a worker on median wages.
Productivity Commission modelling suggests the changes could improve productivity and add $5 billion or 0.2 per cent to GDP annually, as well as reduce inflation.
The Government committed to consult on policy details to support these reforms and to seek views on whether further changes are required to other worker restraints and what these changes could look like.
The consultation paper also seeks views on complementary reforms to close loopholes in Australia’s competition laws that allow businesses to make anti‑competitive agreements that cap workers’ wages or block staff from being hired by competitors.
This important step is just one part of the government’s broad and ambitious competition agenda, including progressing a national licensing scheme for electrical trades people.
Both changes form part of a second tranche of reforms under the Government’s revitalised National Competition Policy.
They are part of the Albanese Government’s economic plan to help workers earn more and keep more of what they earn, and build a stronger and more productive economy.
The feedback we receive from this consultation will be used to inform legislation for these important reforms.
Submissions can be made online on the Treasury consultation hub until 5 September 2025.
Source: New South Wales – News
Two men were arrested last night and weapons seized following investigations into a robbery at Craigmore.
About 5am on Tuesday 22 July, two men threatened the occupant of a house in Craigmore with a sawn-off firearm and machete. The victim was assaulted and had money and cigarettes stolen.
The victim, a 49-year-old man, sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene by paramedics.
Patrols spotted one of the suspects at an Elizabeth Downs service station about 9.20pm on Thursday 24 July and arrested the 31-year-old Craigmore man without incident.
A second suspect was pulled over while driving disqualified in Elizabeth Downs. A search of the 28-year-old’s Elizabeth Downs address allegedly revealed a sawn-off firearm and a machete, believed to have been used in the Craigmore robbery.
The arrested men have both been charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated unlawful threats and firearms offences. They were refused police bail and will appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court later today.
Police wish to reassure the community that this was not a random incident, and the people involved are known to each other.
Anyone with information about illegal weapons in the community is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au
CO2500030418
188274
Source: New places to play in Gungahlin
The ATO Co-chair welcomed members and ATO attendees to the Tax Practitioner Stewardship Group (TPSG) Tax Time 2025 meeting.
We confirmed 2.8 million individual lodgments have been received. This is a 4% decrease from the same time last year. Lodgment numbers for self-preparers have decreased 4% and agent lodged returns are down 7% compared to this time last year. We reminded members these numbers are expected to level out as tax time progresses.
We’ve received on average 22,000 calls from agents each week, totalling 66,000 this tax time. This is 11% down from this time last year.
There were 15,000 returns for accounts with compromised indicators that were tax agent lodged without needing to call the ATO as part of the new process.
In response to a member query from the TPSG Tax Time 15 July meeting around the frequency of PAYGI correspondence to tax agents (which was a courtesy notification of what was sent to the client), we confirmed that notifications default to the existing preference of their client. If a tax agent would like to change the notifications for their client new to PAYGI, they can update the Communication preferences via Online Services for Agents at the client level.
All Tax Time systems are currently operating well and reporting green across the board.
We recently experienced two issues causing a slight degradation to services.
One issue was reported on the evening of Sunday 20 July between 6 pm and 7 pm AEST impacting all online services. Users may have experienced slowness or possible error pages. This issue was resolved shortly after it was reported.
The second issue was reported on Monday 21 July. It related to our internal case management system, where the ability to provide advice over the phone may have been limited due to availability of internal systems used by call centre staff. This issue has also since been resolved and all systems are operating as intended.
We noted that this week there is nothing to report.
In response to a member query from the TPSG Tax Time 15 July meeting around reports of tax agents receiving correspondence for incorrect clients through Practice Mail in OSfA, we provided the following information:
Tax agents have been receiving emails which are part of a Tax Time campaign reminding people to use their myID if they log into ATO Online services. This is part of an online access strength fraud prevention initiative where individuals who create a digital identity and use it to log into ATO Online Services ‘lock in’ the strength of their digital identity so that a fraudster can’t then go in and create a lower-level credential with stolen identity information and access their ATO account.
Under the Digital Identity legislation, digital identity providers like myID are only able to disclose information about the user of a digital identity to government services under specific circumstances. Tax Time messaging doesn’t fall under those circumstances, so we are unable to access the email address the myID owner used when they signed up for their myID. We must rely on the information that it has on the client register for mail campaigns, and in some cases, client’s contact information, including their nominated email address, will be that of their agent.
This feedback has been passed onto the relevant area responsible for the campaign. They have been asked to include the intended recipient’s surname wherever possible.
A key focus for ATO communications is the ATO app with a media release to be issued on Thursday 17 July. It will remind taxpayers to download the ATO app to protect against scammers and fraudsters. The ATO highlighted that the block functionality of the app is having significant outcomes preventing fraud attempts.
As most pre-filled data is now available, our upcoming media release and messaging is focused around ‘the go-ahead’ campaign for taxpayers and tax agents to start lodging their tax returns.
We continue to talk about the importance of getting work-related expenses right.
We are also continuing to develop content for diverse and First Nations communities, which outlines the support options available for these taxpayers, including Tax Help and Tax Clinic services.
Member comments
A member queried whether ATO communications relating to pre-fill includes references to engaging with a registered tax agent. We confirmed that the planned media release does refer to the use of a registered tax agent.
Member comments
Members are interested in receiving insights into employer obligations Single Touch Payroll (STP) finalisations and Taxable Payments Annual Reporting (TPAR), as well as any notable trends in common errors. We confirmed that they intend to share these insights at future meetings.
A member raised a query around whether it is possible for the ATO to include the number of days a taxpayer has had hospital cover in prefill to help taxpayers understand their liability to Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS). We confirmed they will investigate the feasibility for next year’s Tax Time.
Source: United States Coast Guard
07/24/2025 07:56 PM EDT
For breaking news follow us on twitter @USCGHawaiiPac
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Note: The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
SEL1
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 541
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
705 PM EDT Thu Jul 24 2025
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
Southeast Lower Michigan
Far Northwest Ohio
Lake Erie
* Effective this Thursday night from 705 PM until Midnight EDT.
* Primary threats include…
Isolated damaging wind gusts to 65 mph possible
SUMMARY…A line of strong to occasionally severe thunderstorms is
moving eastward across central Lower MI, near the MI/IN/IL border
intersection. This line is expected to continue eastward into the
warm, moist, and strongly unstable airmass downstream across
southeast Lower MI and adjacent far northwest OH. Strong to severe
gusts will be possible with this line. Additional more cellular
development is possible ahead of this line, which could also pose a
risk for damaging water-loaded downbursts.
The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 40
statute miles east and west of a line from 15 miles west northwest
of Mount Clemens MI to 10 miles south southwest of Toledo OH. For a
complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline
update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU1).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
tornadoes.
&&
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 540…
AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
1 inch. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 55 knots. A few
cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector
24035.
…Mosier
SEL1
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 541
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
705 PM EDT Thu Jul 24 2025
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
Southeast Lower Michigan
Far Northwest Ohio
Lake Erie
* Effective this Thursday night from 705 PM until Midnight EDT.
* Primary threats include…
Isolated damaging wind gusts to 65 mph possible
SUMMARY…A line of strong to occasionally severe thunderstorms is
moving eastward across central Lower MI, near the MI/IN/IL border
intersection. This line is expected to continue eastward into the
warm, moist, and strongly unstable airmass downstream across
southeast Lower MI and adjacent far northwest OH. Strong to severe
gusts will be possible with this line. Additional more cellular
development is possible ahead of this line, which could also pose a
risk for damaging water-loaded downbursts.
The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 40
statute miles east and west of a line from 15 miles west northwest
of Mount Clemens MI to 10 miles south southwest of Toledo OH. For a
complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline
update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU1).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
tornadoes.
&&
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 540…
AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
1 inch. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 55 knots. A few
cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector
24035.
…Mosier
Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
SAW1
WW 541 SEVERE TSTM MI OH LE 242305Z – 250400Z
AXIS..40 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..
15WNW MTC/MOUNT CLEMENS MI/ – 10SSW TOL/TOLEDO OH/
..AVIATION COORDS.. 35NM E/W /31NNE DXO – 51SSW DXO/
HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..1 INCH. WIND GUSTS..55 KNOTS.
MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 24035.
LAT…LON 42688232 41448310 41448465 42688389
THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
FOR WOU1.
Watch 541 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.
Note: Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes
Probability of 2 or more tornadoes
Low (
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
VICTORIA FALLS, Zimbabwe, July 24 — A total of nine Chinese cities were accredited as international wetland cities on Thursday during the opening of the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP15) held in Zimbabwe’s resort city of Victoria Falls, bringing the total number of such cities in China to 22, the highest in the world.
The nine newly accredited cities are Chongming in Shanghai, Dali in Yunnan Province, Fuzhou in Fujian Province, Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, Jiujiang in Jiangxi Province, Lhasa in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province, and Yueyang in Hunan Province.
Johane Chenjekwa, mayor of Kasane in Botswana, commended China for promoting wetland conservation, noting that Africa can benefit from cooperation with China in wetland management.
“We will see, as we interact, what we can learn from them. They are also willing to learn from how we do things here, so it’s really a (great) experience to be mingling (together),” he said.
Chenjekwa added that as the world faces the common challenge of wetland degradation, joint efforts with China can help tackle its impacts.
In his opening remarks, Jay Aldous, deputy secretary-general of the Convention on Wetlands, noted that while urbanization brings tangible development progress, there is a need to ensure that it does not interfere with wetland preservation.
“Unplanned or poorly managed urban expansion has emerged as a global concern, contributing to the degradation of wetlands, loss of biodiversity, disruption of ecological balance, rising greenhouse gas emissions, worsening air and water pollution, and escalating the impacts of climate change,” he said.
In response to these challenges and recognizing the pivotal role of cities and urban wetlands, the Convention on Wetlands launched the Wetland City Accreditation scheme to encourage the protection of urban wetlands and their integration into sustainable urban planning, Aldous said.
“By embracing the convention’s principles of wise use, cities can harness the ecological, social, and economic benefits that wetlands provide, including climate adaptation and mitigation, flood regulation, cultural value, and improved human well-being,” he said.
Held under the theme of “Protecting Wetlands for our Common Future”, the COP15, which will conclude on July 31, has brought together contracting parties to strengthen international commitments to wetland protection.
Source: New South Wales Community and Justice
Fatal crash at Merseylea
Friday, 25 July 2025 – 8:25 am.
Sadly, a man has died following a crash at Merseylea overnight.
Police and emergency services were called to the scene about 3am, after a cement truck crashed while travelling along Railton Road.
Initial inquiries indicate the prime mover was travelling in a north westerly direction, approaching a slight bend, when it has veered off the road and crashed into a bank.
Members of the public stopped and contacted emergency services.
Medical attention was provided to the truck driver and his passenger, but sadly the passenger died at the scene.
The driver was taken to the Launceston General Hospital. His injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
The crash is under investigation and anyone with information or relevant dash cam footage, is asked to contact police on 131 444 and quote ESCAD 21-25072025.
Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of both men. A report will be prepared for the coroner.
July 24, 2025, Vilnius, Lithuania – As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly central to the operations of America’s largest corporations, recent research reveals potential security vulnerabilities that could affect both organizations and their customers.
An analysis by cybersecurity experts at Cybernews examined AI deployments across the S&P 500 and uncovered close to 1,000 potential weak points that may lead to data exposure, theft of proprietary information, and erroneous AI actions.
The study found that 327 S&P 500 companies publicly report using AI tools in their operations in sectors including finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and energy.
While these tools have accelerated innovation and efficiency, safety measures have yet to fully catch up, leaving systems open to misuse or failure. This includes AI outputs that may be inaccurate or misleading, unintended disclosure of confidential data, and risks of corporate secrets being compromised.
Žilvinas Girėnas, head of product at nexos.ai, emphasized, “It’s not enough to deploy AI and hope for the best. Businesses need to develop AI with the same safety standards as airplanes: constant oversight, clear guardrails, and a zero-trust approach. Every AI decision must be considered potentially wrong until proven correct, and every input must be monitored to prevent sensitive data from leaking or trade secrets from escaping.”
The potential vulnerabilities extend across multiple industries. Technology and semiconductor companies are especially vulnerable to data leaks and intellectual property risks. Financial institutions might face challenges protecting client data while ensuring AI does not reinforce unfair bias in lending.
Healthcare providers carry the added responsibility of protecting patients from flawed AI-driven recommendations. Meanwhile, industrial and infrastructure sectors must guard against disruptions that could affect critical services, such as power supply or supply chain operations.
For consumers, the consequences are tangible. Unsecured AI systems risk leaking private details – ranging from medical histories to financial records – while flawed AI judgments could influence decisions that directly affect people’s health and finances.
As AI tools play a larger role in retail, banking, transportation, and other areas, protecting these technologies becomes essential for public protection.
The report highlights past incidents that illustrate these dangers. IBM’s Watson once offered unsafe cancer treatment suggestions. Apple’s credit system faced scrutiny after allegations of gender bias. Zillow’s AI-driven pricing led to substantial financial losses. Additionally, Samsung experienced unintended source code disclosures due to inappropriate use of AI chatbots by employees.
“AI is becoming more deeply embedded in business operations, and the risks are multiplying. The lessons from all these incidents are clear: unchecked deployment without robust security and oversight leads to real-world failures,” said Martynas Vareikis, Security Researcher at Cybernews.
As AI further transforms businesses, past incidents and potential threats show how crucial it is to improve security strategies in parallel.
ABOUT CYBERNEWS
Cybernews is a globally recognized independent media outlet where journalists and security experts debunk cyber by research, testing, and data. Founded in 2019 in response to rising concerns about online security, the site covers breaking news, conducts original investigations, and offers unique perspectives on the evolving digital security landscape. Through white-hat investigative techniques, Cybernews research team identifies and safely discloses cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities, while the editorial team provides cybersecurity-related news, analysis, and opinions by industry insiders with complete independence.
Cybernews has earned worldwide attention for its high-impact research and discoveries, which have uncovered some of the internet’s most significant security exposures and data leaks. Notable ones include:
Cybernews researchers discovered multiple open datasets comprising 16 billion login credentials from infostealer malware, social media, developer portals, and corporate networks – highlighting the unprecedented risks of account takeovers, phishing, and business email compromise.
Cybernews researchers analyzed 156,080 randomly selected iOS apps – around 8% of the apps present on the App Store – and uncovered a massive oversight: 71% of them expose sensitive data.
Recently, Bob Dyachenko, a cybersecurity researcher and owner of SecurityDiscovery.com, and the Cybernews security research team discovered an unprotected Elasticsearch index, which contained a wide range of sensitive personal details related to the entire population of Georgia.
The team analyzed the new Pixel 9 Pro XL smartphone’s web traffic, and found that Google’s latest flagship smartphone frequently transmits private user data to the tech giant before any app is installed.
The team revealed that a massive data leak at MC2 Data, a background check firm, affects one-third of the US population.
The Cybernews security research team discovered that 50 most popular Android apps require 11 dangerous permissions on average.
They revealed that two online PDF makers leaked tens of thousands of user documents, including passports, driving licenses, certificates, and other personal information uploaded by users.
An analysis by Cybernews research discovered over a million publicly exposed secrets from over 58 thousand websites’ exposed environment (.env) files.
The team revealed that Australia’s football governing body, Football Australia, has leaked secret keys potentially opening access to 127 buckets of data, including ticket buyers’ personal data and players’ contracts and documents.
The Cybernews research team, in collaboration with cybersecurity researcher Bob Dyachenko, discovered a massive data leak containing information from numerous past breaches, comprising 12 terabytes of data and spanning over 26 billion records.
The team analyzed NASA’s website, and discovered an open redirect vulnerability plaguing NASA’s Astrobiology website.
The team investigated 30,000 Android Apps, and discovered that over half of them are leaking secrets that could have huge repercussions for both app developers and their customers.
July 24, 2025, Vilnius, Lithuania – As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly central to the operations of America’s largest corporations, recent research reveals potential security vulnerabilities that could affect both organizations and their customers.
An analysis by cybersecurity experts at Cybernews examined AI deployments across the S&P 500 and uncovered close to 1,000 potential weak points that may lead to data exposure, theft of proprietary information, and erroneous AI actions.
The study found that 327 S&P 500 companies publicly report using AI tools in their operations in sectors including finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and energy.
While these tools have accelerated innovation and efficiency, safety measures have yet to fully catch up, leaving systems open to misuse or failure. This includes AI outputs that may be inaccurate or misleading, unintended disclosure of confidential data, and risks of corporate secrets being compromised.
Žilvinas Girėnas, head of product at nexos.ai, emphasized, “It’s not enough to deploy AI and hope for the best. Businesses need to develop AI with the same safety standards as airplanes: constant oversight, clear guardrails, and a zero-trust approach. Every AI decision must be considered potentially wrong until proven correct, and every input must be monitored to prevent sensitive data from leaking or trade secrets from escaping.”
The potential vulnerabilities extend across multiple industries. Technology and semiconductor companies are especially vulnerable to data leaks and intellectual property risks. Financial institutions might face challenges protecting client data while ensuring AI does not reinforce unfair bias in lending.
Healthcare providers carry the added responsibility of protecting patients from flawed AI-driven recommendations. Meanwhile, industrial and infrastructure sectors must guard against disruptions that could affect critical services, such as power supply or supply chain operations.
For consumers, the consequences are tangible. Unsecured AI systems risk leaking private details – ranging from medical histories to financial records – while flawed AI judgments could influence decisions that directly affect people’s health and finances.
As AI tools play a larger role in retail, banking, transportation, and other areas, protecting these technologies becomes essential for public protection.
The report highlights past incidents that illustrate these dangers. IBM’s Watson once offered unsafe cancer treatment suggestions. Apple’s credit system faced scrutiny after allegations of gender bias. Zillow’s AI-driven pricing led to substantial financial losses. Additionally, Samsung experienced unintended source code disclosures due to inappropriate use of AI chatbots by employees.
“AI is becoming more deeply embedded in business operations, and the risks are multiplying. The lessons from all these incidents are clear: unchecked deployment without robust security and oversight leads to real-world failures,” said Martynas Vareikis, Security Researcher at Cybernews.
As AI further transforms businesses, past incidents and potential threats show how crucial it is to improve security strategies in parallel.
ABOUT CYBERNEWS
Cybernews is a globally recognized independent media outlet where journalists and security experts debunk cyber by research, testing, and data. Founded in 2019 in response to rising concerns about online security, the site covers breaking news, conducts original investigations, and offers unique perspectives on the evolving digital security landscape. Through white-hat investigative techniques, Cybernews research team identifies and safely discloses cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities, while the editorial team provides cybersecurity-related news, analysis, and opinions by industry insiders with complete independence.
Cybernews has earned worldwide attention for its high-impact research and discoveries, which have uncovered some of the internet’s most significant security exposures and data leaks. Notable ones include:
Cybernews researchers discovered multiple open datasets comprising 16 billion login credentials from infostealer malware, social media, developer portals, and corporate networks – highlighting the unprecedented risks of account takeovers, phishing, and business email compromise.
Cybernews researchers analyzed 156,080 randomly selected iOS apps – around 8% of the apps present on the App Store – and uncovered a massive oversight: 71% of them expose sensitive data.
Recently, Bob Dyachenko, a cybersecurity researcher and owner of SecurityDiscovery.com, and the Cybernews security research team discovered an unprotected Elasticsearch index, which contained a wide range of sensitive personal details related to the entire population of Georgia.
The team analyzed the new Pixel 9 Pro XL smartphone’s web traffic, and found that Google’s latest flagship smartphone frequently transmits private user data to the tech giant before any app is installed.
The team revealed that a massive data leak at MC2 Data, a background check firm, affects one-third of the US population.
The Cybernews security research team discovered that 50 most popular Android apps require 11 dangerous permissions on average.
They revealed that two online PDF makers leaked tens of thousands of user documents, including passports, driving licenses, certificates, and other personal information uploaded by users.
An analysis by Cybernews research discovered over a million publicly exposed secrets from over 58 thousand websites’ exposed environment (.env) files.
The team revealed that Australia’s football governing body, Football Australia, has leaked secret keys potentially opening access to 127 buckets of data, including ticket buyers’ personal data and players’ contracts and documents.
The Cybernews research team, in collaboration with cybersecurity researcher Bob Dyachenko, discovered a massive data leak containing information from numerous past breaches, comprising 12 terabytes of data and spanning over 26 billion records.
The team analyzed NASA’s website, and discovered an open redirect vulnerability plaguing NASA’s Astrobiology website.
The team investigated 30,000 Android Apps, and discovered that over half of them are leaking secrets that could have huge repercussions for both app developers and their customers.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Tel Aviv, Israel, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hold Me Ltd. (OTCID: HMELF), an Israeli tech company, today announced the signing of a binding Letter of Intent (LOI) to acquire Synthetic Darwin LLC, a U.S.-based AI research and development studio pioneering the next generation of self-evolving, autonomous AI agents – the DrwinsLab.
Once fully operational, DarwinsLab’s platform would aim to enable AI agents to independently design, test, and refine themselves through recursive self-improvement and genetic algorithms modeled on natural selection, according to Gabriel Fridman of Synthetic Darwin. These agents operate in complex, open-ended simulation environments where they iteratively optimize architectures, objectives, and performance – with no human-in-the-loop. The system represents a powerful step toward fully autonomous, generalizable AI with wide applicability in R&D, algorithmic trading, decentralized coordination, robotics, and AI governance.
Under the LOI, Hold Me will acquire 100% of Synthetic Darwin in a share-based transaction, subject to definitive agreements and customary regulatory approvals. As part of the transaction strategy, Hold Me will raise growth capital, positioning the combined company at the intersection of AI, blockchain, and capital markets innovation – effectively making it the first publicly traded company operating an ecosystem powered by a Solana-based utility token.
“Synthetic Darwin will not just build models – they’re aiming to build meta-models: agents that architect and evolve better agents,” said CEO of Hold Me Ltd. “This is an inflection point in AI, and through this acquisition with a public company, we aim to bring this capability to scale – across sectors ranging from decentralized finance to defense autonomy.”
The post-transaction vision includes deploying evolved AI agents in industrial and defense applications, financial services, healthcare , and on-chain governance environments, as well as integrating blockchain-based compute and reward layers for AI training economies.
Menny Shalom, CEO of Hold Me, expects that this acquisition, would not only increase global visibility to the company but also provide access to institutional investors, enabling significant investment into compute, reinforcement environments, and cross-chain integrations.
About Hold Me Ltd.
Hold Me Ltd. (OTC: HMELF) is an Israeli-listed technology venture company focused on the convergence of artificial intelligence, decentralized systems, and digital infrastructure.
About Synthetic Darwin LLC
Synthetic Darwin LLC is a U.S.-based artificial intelligence company developing self-evolving AI systems through recursive improvement and genetic algorithms. Its autonomous agents are designed to autonomously explore, learn, and improve — unlocking new frontiers in self-directed machine intelligence.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on Hold Me’s current expectations, estimates and projections about the expected date of closing of the proposed transaction and the potential benefits thereof, its business and industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by the parties, all of which are subject to change. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “could,” “seek,” “see,” “will,” “may,” “would,” “might,” “potentially,” “estimate,” “continue,” “expect,” “target,” similar expressions or the negatives of these words or other comparable terminology that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes. All forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and are not guarantees of future results, such as statements about the consummation of the proposed transaction and the anticipated benefits thereof. These and other forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements and, therefore, you should not place undue reliance on any such statements and caution must be exercised in relying on forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that may cause such a difference include but are not limited to: the completion of the proposed transaction on anticipated terms and timing; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the agreement; and the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction. While the list of factors presented here is, will be, considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. Hold Me does not assume any obligation to publicly provide revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.
Contact:
info@holdme.co.il
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary in Australia alongside UK’s Carrier Strike Group – demonstrating government’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
A new 50 year AUKUS treaty will underpin the UK and Australian submarine programmes, support tens of thousands of jobs in the UK and Australia, enhance both nations’ industrial capacity, and deliver the submarines that keep the UK and our allies safe.
The deal demonstrates the Government’s commitment to deliver both security and prosperity, safeguarding jobs across the UK and boosting our defence industry, with new submarine exports amounting to hundreds of millions of pounds a year.
Expected to be worth up to £20 billion to the UK in exports over the next 25 years, this decades-long programme will create over 7,000 new jobs in UK shipyards and across the supply chain, building on the billions of pounds already invested in Barrow, Derby and beyond.
There will be over 21,000 people working on the conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered AUKUS submarine programme (known as SSN-AUKUS) in the UK at its peak, contributing to opportunities and economic growth in local communities across the UK.
AUKUS is one of Britain’s most important defence partnerships, strengthening global security while driving growth at home.
This historic Treaty confirms our AUKUS commitment for the next half century. Through the Treaty, we are supporting high-skilled, well-paid jobs for tens of thousands of people in both the UK and Australia, delivering on our Plan for Change today and for the generations to come. There are people not yet born who will benefit from the jobs secured through this defence deal.
Our deep defence relationship with Australia – from our work together to support Ukraine, share vital intelligence, and develop innovative technology – makes us secure at home and strong abroad.
The UK-Australia relationship is like no other, and in our increasingly volatile and dangerous world, our anchoring friendship has real impact in the protection of global peace and prosperity.
Our new bilateral AUKUS treaty is an embodiment of that – safeguarding a free and open Indo Pacific whilst catalysing growth for both our countries.
This is how our government delivers the Plan for Change – protecting our national security and stability whilst generating jobs for Brits.
This is the latest milestone reached under the AUKUS partnership – our most strategically significant new defence partnership in a generation.
The Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary will travel to Australia as the Carrier Strike Group and more than 3,000 British military personnel take part in the largest military exercise Australia has ever hosted. Their visit follows the exercise’s success where the AUKUS nations worked with Japan on advancing how we use robotics and autonomous systems in our defence systems.
Both ministers will meet their counterparts at the annual “Australia-UK Ministerial”, known as AUKMIN, to drive forward collaboration across the board – generating further trade and investment to our £23 billion per year annual trade relationship with Australia.
Travelling onto Melbourne, the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary will meet with businesses at the forefront of AUKUS – delivering the defence industrial strength needed to protect British, Australian and American interests.
The Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary will visit Darwin to see our commitment to the Indo-Pacific first hand as the Carrier Strike Group docks in the Northern Territory.
This deployment – one of the UK’s largest this century – sends a clear message that the UK alongside our partners stands ready to protect the Indo-Pacific’s vital trade routes and will deter those who undermine global security.
On HMS Prince of Wales, the flagship of the group, the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary will meet the service personnel who have participated in Exercise Talisman Sabre, one of the largest military exercises in the world this year. Bringing together over 35,000 military personnel from 19 nations, this exercise strengthens and tests how key partners can work together to safeguard global trade routes and maintain regional stability.
The Carrier Strike Group deployment this year reinforces the Government’s Plan for Change by strengthening the international partnerships that underpin economic growth and national security, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad. It takes place against the backdrop of the Government’s landmark commitment to increase defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by 2027.
This historic investment underpins the Government’s mission-led approach to securing Britain’s future, providing the economic stability necessary for growth whilst ensuring the UK maintains cutting-edge capabilities such as to meet emerging global threats.
Media enquiries
Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk
Telephone 020 7008 3100
Email the FCDO Newsdesk (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Harriette Richards, Senior Lecturer, School of Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University
Last week, the ultrafast fashion brand Princess Polly received B Corp certification. This certification is designed to accredit for-profit businesses that provide social impact and environmental benefit.
Established on the Gold Coast in 2010, a 50% stake in Princess Polly was acquired by United States-based A.K.A. Brands in 2018.
Since then, it has grown its global reach as a low-cost, high-turnover online retailer.
So can ultrafast fashion ever be sustainable?
Princess Polly distinguishes itself from other fast fashion retailers through a mission to “make on-trend, sustainable fashion accessible to everyone”.
As part of this mission, Princess Polly is a participant of the United Nations Global Compact, which commits them to sustainable procurement. The 2024 Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report placed them in the top 20% of 460 global brands assessed.
Yet, on the sustainability rating website Good On You, Princess Polly receives a “Not Good Enough” grade, due to their lack of action on reducing plastic and textile waste or protecting biodiversity in their supply chains, and the absence of evidence that they pay their workers a living wage.
Regardless of how they make their clothes, Princess Polly produces a lot. At the time of writing, the brand has 3,920 different styles available on their website (excluding shoes and accessories).
Of those, 34% (1,355 styles) are listed as “lower impact,” which means items are made using materials such as organic cotton and linen, recycled polyester and cellulose fabrics. There are also 720 items on the website currently listed as “new”: their daily new arrivals means they are constantly adding fresh items for sale.
Overproduction, no matter what the garments are made from, is inherently wasteful. Even when clothes are purchased (and 10–40% of the clothing produced each year is not sold), the poor quality of fast fashion items means that they end up in landfill faster and stay there for longer, contributing to the ongoing environmental disaster.
In Australia, 1,096 companies are accredited with B Corp status, including 152 fashion businesses.
B Corp assesses the practices of a company as a whole, rather than focusing on one single social or environmental issue. Businesses must score at least 80 out of a possible 250+ points in the B Impact Assessment to achieve accreditation.
Organisations are assessed in five key areas – community, customers, environment, governance and workers – and must meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.
Third-party accreditations such as B Corp, Fairtrade and Global Organic Textile Standard are often used by brands as a marketing tool.
These certifications can enhance consumer trust without the need for detailed explanations. For fashion brands, accreditation can help them stand out in a crowded market. They can provide legitimacy, attract ethical fashion consumers and reduce consumer scepticism.
While B Corp aims to provide assurance to consumers, activists have accused it of greenwashing. In 2022, the organisation came under fire for accrediting Nespresso, a brand owned by Nestlé, which has a reputation for poor worker rights and sourcing policies.
B Corp is now facing renewed condemnation for issuing certification to Princess Polly.
Other B Corp certified Australian fashion brands such as Clothing the Gaps and Outland Denim have built their reputations on their ethical credentials. For values-driven fashion-based social enterprises such as these, accreditations can provide valuable guarantees regarding ethical processes.
According to our research, however, there are several barriers fashion-based social enterprises face when pursuing ethical accreditation.
The cost of accreditation, both financial and in terms of time, skills and resourcing, is a significant challenge. And there is no certification that covers all aspects of environmental sustainability and ethical production. As a result, fashion-based social enterprises often require multiple accreditations to fully communicate the breadth of their ethical commitments.
Despite the costs involved, if fashion-based social enterprises don’t acquire certain certifications they risk being ineligible for government grants and tenders, such as social procurement contracts.
Differences between fashion-based social enterprises and fast fashion brands are stark. While Clothing the Gaps, Outland Denim and Princess Polly now all hold B Corp certification, the former score much more highly on the B Impact Assessment.
The value and credibility of the certification is diminished when it extends to unsustainable ultrafast fashion.
The question of whether fast fashion can ever be sustainable has become increasingly heated since the advent of ultrafast fashion, where brands produce on demand and sell directly online.
Fast fashion took seasonal trends from high fashion runways and made them available to consumers at low costs within weeks. Ultrafast fashion takes trends from social media and reproduces them extremely cheaply for mass consumption within days.
Both fast and ultrafast fashion’s low-cost, high-volume models encourage consumers to value quantity over quality. Using permanent sales and discounts, these brands incentivise multiple purchases of items that may never actually be worn. Online “micro trends” and “haul” videos further spur this overconsumption.
Princess Polly may be using more sustainable textiles and engaging in more ethical forms of production than some of its ultrafast fashion counterparts. But this is not enough when the business model itself is unsustainable. Accreditations such as B Corp are unable to account for this nuance.
Princess Polly claims to make sustainable fashion, yet it is also proudly trend driven. As an ultrafast fashion brand, it relies on overproduction and overconsumption. The idea that this can ever be “sustainable” is simply an oxymoron.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Ultrafast fashion brand Princess Polly has been certified as ‘sustainable’. Is that an oxymoron? – https://theconversation.com/ultrafast-fashion-brand-princess-polly-has-been-certified-as-sustainable-is-that-an-oxymoron-261561
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Santosh Tadakamadla, Professor and Head of Dentistry and Oral Health, La Trobe University
Just over one-third of Australians are eligible for public dental services, which provide free or low cost dental treatment.
Yet demand for these services continues to exceed supply. As a result, many Australian adults face long waits for access, which can be up to three years in some states.
So what’s going wrong with public dental care in Australia? And how can it be fixed?
Both the federal government and state and territory governments fund public dental services. These are primarily targeted at low-income Australians, including children, and hard-to-reach populations, known as priority groups.
Individuals and families bear a majority of the costs for dental services. They paid around 81% (A$10.1 billion) of the cost for dental services in 2022–23, either directly through out-of-pocket expenses, or through private health insurance premiums.
The Commonwealth contributed 11% to the cost of dental care, while the states and territories paid the remaining 8% in 2022–23.
Just under half of Australian children are eligible for the means-tested Child Dental Benefits Schedule. This gives them access to $1,132 of dental benefits over two years.
While children from low-income families tend to benefit from this scheme, critics have raised concerns about the low uptake. Only one-third use the dental program in any given year.
Some children access free or low-cost dental care from state and territory based services, such as the Victorian Smile Squad school dental program or the NSW Health Primary School Mobile Dental Program.
Others use their private health insurance to pay for some of the costs of private dental care.
Some Australians aren’t eligible for public dental services but can’t afford private dental care. In 2022–23, around one in six people (18%) delayed or didn’t see a dental professional when they needed to because of the cost.
Some Australians are accessing their superannuation funds under compassionate grounds for dental treatment. The amount people have accessed has grown eight-fold from 2018–19 to 2023–24, from $66.4 million to $526.4 million.
However, concerns have been raised about the exploitation of this provision. Some people have accessed their super for dental treatment costing more than $20,000. This more than what would typically be required for urgent dental care, impacting their future financial security.
The long waits are due to a combination of factors, alongside high levels need:
systemic under-funding by Australian governments. This is exacerbated by federal government funding for public dental services remaining fixed rather than being indexed annually
workforce shortages in rural and remote areas, with dental practitioners concentrated in wealthy, metro areas
poor incentives for the oral health workforce in public dental services
too few public clinics, in part because the initial outlay and ongoing equipment costs are so great.
The federal government is taking action to improve the affordability of dental services through long-term funding reforms only targeting priority populations to bring some dental services into Medicare.
An initial focus is for older Australians and First Nations people.
Cost estimates for a universal dental scheme vary significantly, depending on the population coverage and the number of dental benefits individuals are eligible for, and whether services are capped (as in the case of the Child Dental Benefits Schedule) or uncapped.
The Grattan Institute estimates a capped scheme would cost $5.6 billion annually.
The Australian Parliamentary Budget Office estimates it would cost $45 billion over three years.
When increasing government funding for public dental service, it’s important policymakers ensure the services included are evidence-based and represent value for money.
Meaningful long-term funding reform towards a universal dental scheme requires some foundational policy work.
First, there should be an agreed understanding of what dental services should be government subsidised and provide annual limits for reimbursement to prevent overtreatment. This would avoid some people getting a lot of dental treatment they don’t need, while others could miss out.
Many dental services are routinely offered without any clinical benefit. This includes six-monthly oral health check-ups and cleans for low-risk patients.
Second, resource allocation is best done when we focus on prevention and governments fund cost-effective dental services. Priority-setting is best done using economic evaluation tools.
Third, the federal government should extend its existing decision-making frameworks to include dental services. This would bring dental care in line with medicine and service listings on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), ensuring that safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness inform public funding decisions.
Fourth, the government needs to reform the workforce. This should include funding to support recruitment and training of students from regional, rural and remote areas. These students are more likely to return to their communities to work, balancing the unequal distribution of the workforce.
We also urgently need to attract and retain more people to work in public dental services.
Finally, we need a coordinated national approach to oral health policy and funding. The federal government has an opportunity to do this now as consultations continue through 2025 to develop and implement the National Oral Health Plan 2025–2034.
Santosh Tadakamadla received National Health and Medical Research Council Early Career Fellowship (APP1161659) from 2019-2023. He is Head of Dentistry and Oral Health at La Trobe Rural Health School in Bendigo.
Tan Nguyen receives funding from National Health and Medical Research Council (Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme APP1189802). He is affiliated with Deakin University, Monash University, Oral Health Victoria, Public Association of Australia, National Oral Health Alliance and Dental Board of Australia.
– ref. Waiting too long for public dental care? Here’s why the system is struggling – and how to fix it – https://theconversation.com/waiting-too-long-for-public-dental-care-heres-why-the-system-is-struggling-and-how-to-fix-it-261661
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Santosh Tadakamadla, Professor and Head of Dentistry and Oral Health, La Trobe University
Just over one-third of Australians are eligible for public dental services, which provide free or low cost dental treatment.
Yet demand for these services continues to exceed supply. As a result, many Australian adults face long waits for access, which can be up to three years in some states.
So what’s going wrong with public dental care in Australia? And how can it be fixed?
Both the federal government and state and territory governments fund public dental services. These are primarily targeted at low-income Australians, including children, and hard-to-reach populations, known as priority groups.
Individuals and families bear a majority of the costs for dental services. They paid around 81% (A$10.1 billion) of the cost for dental services in 2022–23, either directly through out-of-pocket expenses, or through private health insurance premiums.
The Commonwealth contributed 11% to the cost of dental care, while the states and territories paid the remaining 8% in 2022–23.
Just under half of Australian children are eligible for the means-tested Child Dental Benefits Schedule. This gives them access to $1,132 of dental benefits over two years.
While children from low-income families tend to benefit from this scheme, critics have raised concerns about the low uptake. Only one-third use the dental program in any given year.
Some children access free or low-cost dental care from state and territory based services, such as the Victorian Smile Squad school dental program or the NSW Health Primary School Mobile Dental Program.
Others use their private health insurance to pay for some of the costs of private dental care.
Some Australians aren’t eligible for public dental services but can’t afford private dental care. In 2022–23, around one in six people (18%) delayed or didn’t see a dental professional when they needed to because of the cost.
Some Australians are accessing their superannuation funds under compassionate grounds for dental treatment. The amount people have accessed has grown eight-fold from 2018–19 to 2023–24, from $66.4 million to $526.4 million.
However, concerns have been raised about the exploitation of this provision. Some people have accessed their super for dental treatment costing more than $20,000. This more than what would typically be required for urgent dental care, impacting their future financial security.
The long waits are due to a combination of factors, alongside high levels need:
systemic under-funding by Australian governments. This is exacerbated by federal government funding for public dental services remaining fixed rather than being indexed annually
workforce shortages in rural and remote areas, with dental practitioners concentrated in wealthy, metro areas
poor incentives for the oral health workforce in public dental services
too few public clinics, in part because the initial outlay and ongoing equipment costs are so great.
The federal government is taking action to improve the affordability of dental services through long-term funding reforms only targeting priority populations to bring some dental services into Medicare.
An initial focus is for older Australians and First Nations people.
Cost estimates for a universal dental scheme vary significantly, depending on the population coverage and the number of dental benefits individuals are eligible for, and whether services are capped (as in the case of the Child Dental Benefits Schedule) or uncapped.
The Grattan Institute estimates a capped scheme would cost $5.6 billion annually.
The Australian Parliamentary Budget Office estimates it would cost $45 billion over three years.
When increasing government funding for public dental service, it’s important policymakers ensure the services included are evidence-based and represent value for money.
Meaningful long-term funding reform towards a universal dental scheme requires some foundational policy work.
First, there should be an agreed understanding of what dental services should be government subsidised and provide annual limits for reimbursement to prevent overtreatment. This would avoid some people getting a lot of dental treatment they don’t need, while others could miss out.
Many dental services are routinely offered without any clinical benefit. This includes six-monthly oral health check-ups and cleans for low-risk patients.
Second, resource allocation is best done when we focus on prevention and governments fund cost-effective dental services. Priority-setting is best done using economic evaluation tools.
Third, the federal government should extend its existing decision-making frameworks to include dental services. This would bring dental care in line with medicine and service listings on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), ensuring that safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness inform public funding decisions.
Fourth, the government needs to reform the workforce. This should include funding to support recruitment and training of students from regional, rural and remote areas. These students are more likely to return to their communities to work, balancing the unequal distribution of the workforce.
We also urgently need to attract and retain more people to work in public dental services.
Finally, we need a coordinated national approach to oral health policy and funding. The federal government has an opportunity to do this now as consultations continue through 2025 to develop and implement the National Oral Health Plan 2025–2034.
Santosh Tadakamadla received National Health and Medical Research Council Early Career Fellowship (APP1161659) from 2019-2023. He is Head of Dentistry and Oral Health at La Trobe Rural Health School in Bendigo.
Tan Nguyen receives funding from National Health and Medical Research Council (Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme APP1189802). He is affiliated with Deakin University, Monash University, Oral Health Victoria, Public Association of Australia, National Oral Health Alliance and Dental Board of Australia.
– ref. Waiting too long for public dental care? Here’s why the system is struggling – and how to fix it – https://theconversation.com/waiting-too-long-for-public-dental-care-heres-why-the-system-is-struggling-and-how-to-fix-it-261661
