Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
37 schools win Greening School Project Award Immaculate Heart of Mary CollegeKwong Ming SchoolTang Shiu Kin Victoria Government Secondary SchoolBonham Road Government Primary SchoolTWGHs Liu Yan Tak Memorial KindergartenSai Kung Central Lee Siu Yam Memorial SchoolHong Kong Red Swastika Society Tai Po Secondary SchoolLok Sin Tong Stephen Leung KindergartenIssued at HKT 13:15
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Source:
On July 31 July 2024, CFA was called to a car fire in Traralgon South. When firefighters arrived at their station, they discovered the station had been broken into and the brigade’s slip-on vehicle was missing.
The brigade alongside Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) responded to the incident and found the burnt vehicle was the missing CFA vehicle.
Traralgon South Captain Pieter van der Leest said he would like to thank everyone who worked hard to get the brigade the replacement vehicle.
“We were pretty shocked and devastated that someone would break into the station and do that to a community asset,” he said.
“The replacement vehicle is a welcome addition to our brigade.
“We live in a very hilly area, and it is great for that sort of terrain. It is a great asset not just for the district but for the state as a whole as it is also able to go on strike teams.”
With improved lighting and stowage, the new ultralight comes with a 500 litres per minute diesel powered pump, a 550-litre water tank, a class A foam system, a permanently connected suction hose, and a live hose reel fitted with 30 meters of lightweight 19mm hose.
The lockers now have hinge-up doors for improved access and have been redesigned to give more room for personal gear as well as helmets.
Deputy Chief Officer for the south east region, Trevor Owen, said this ultralight would improve brigade capability and offer better outcomes for the community.
“The theft of the brigade’s slip-on was a low act, so it was extremely rewarding to help hand over this brand-new vehicle to the brigade,” he said.
“The new Ultralight really prioritises crew safety and comfort allowing them to focus on giving their best every time they are responding to an incident.
“It is now built on the new ANCAP five-rated, four-wheel drive next generation Ford Ranger with all the modern driver enhancements and safety features you would expect in a new vehicle.
“It has a 10-speed automatic transmission, and has an electric rewind for the live reel, making it easier to restow thereby reducing fatigue.
“I have no doubt this replacement vehicle will the see brigade well into the future.”
| Submitted by | CFA Media |
|---|
Source:
On July 31 July 2024, CFA was called to a car fire in Traralgon South. When firefighters arrived at their station, they discovered the station had been broken into and the brigade’s slip-on vehicle was missing.
The brigade alongside Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) responded to the incident and found the burnt vehicle was the missing CFA vehicle.
Traralgon South Captain Pieter van der Leest said he would like to thank everyone who worked hard to get the brigade the replacement vehicle.
“We were pretty shocked and devastated that someone would break into the station and do that to a community asset,” he said.
“The replacement vehicle is a welcome addition to our brigade.
“We live in a very hilly area, and it is great for that sort of terrain. It is a great asset not just for the district but for the state as a whole as it is also able to go on strike teams.”
With improved lighting and stowage, the new ultralight comes with a 500 litres per minute diesel powered pump, a 550-litre water tank, a class A foam system, a permanently connected suction hose, and a live hose reel fitted with 30 meters of lightweight 19mm hose.
The lockers now have hinge-up doors for improved access and have been redesigned to give more room for personal gear as well as helmets.
Deputy Chief Officer for the south east region, Trevor Owen, said this ultralight would improve brigade capability and offer better outcomes for the community.
“The theft of the brigade’s slip-on was a low act, so it was extremely rewarding to help hand over this brand-new vehicle to the brigade,” he said.
“The new Ultralight really prioritises crew safety and comfort allowing them to focus on giving their best every time they are responding to an incident.
“It is now built on the new ANCAP five-rated, four-wheel drive next generation Ford Ranger with all the modern driver enhancements and safety features you would expect in a new vehicle.
“It has a 10-speed automatic transmission, and has an electric rewind for the live reel, making it easier to restow thereby reducing fatigue.
“I have no doubt this replacement vehicle will the see brigade well into the future.”
| Submitted by | CFA Media |
|---|
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 28, 2025.
Israeli soldiers ‘ordered’ to fire at Gaza aid seekers – 70 killed across Strip
Israeli soldiers have said that they were ordered to open fire at unarmed Palestinian civilians desperately seeking aid at designated distribution sites in Gaza, a report in the Ha’aretz newspaper has revealed. The report came as 70 Palestinians were killed across the Gaza Strip — mostly at aid sites belonging to the widely condemned Gaza
RFK Junior is stoking fears about vaccine safety. Here’s why he’s wrong – and the impact it could have
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Leask, Professor, School of Public Health, University of Sydney The United States used to be a leader in vaccine research, development and policymaking. Now US Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr is undermining the country’s vaccine program at the highest level and supercharging vaccine skepticism.
The ‘Godfather of Human Rights’ Ken Roth on genocide, Trump and standing up for democracy
By Richard Larsen, RNZ News producer — 30′ with Guyon Espiner The former head of Human Rights Watch — and son of a Holocaust survivor — says Israel’s military campaign in Gaza will likely meet the legal definition of genocide, citing large-scale killings, the targeting of civilians, and the words of senior Israeli officials. Speaking
The sentencing of Cassius Turvey’s killers shows courts still struggle to deal with racism
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thalia Anthony, Professor of Law, University of Technology Sydney Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people. The brutal homicide of 15-year-old Noongar Yamatji boy, Cassius Turvey, by a group of white men revealed the racial schisms in
1 in 3 Tuvaluans is bidding for a new ‘climate visa’ to Australia – here’s why everyone may ultimately end up applying
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane McAdam, Scientia Professor and ARC Laureate Fellow, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images for Lumix In just four days, one-third of the population of Tuvalu entered a ballot for a new permanent visa to Australia. This world-first visa will
Celebrities, blue jeans and couture: how Anna Wintour changed fashion over 37 years at Vogue
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jye Marshall, Lecturer, Fashion Design, School of Design and Architecture, Swinburne University of Technology After 37 years at the helm, fashion industry heavyweight Anna Wintour is stepping down from her position as editor-in-chief of American Vogue. It’s not a retirement, though, as Wintour will maintain a leadership
Antoinette Lattouf win against ABC a victory for all truth-tellers
By Isaac Nellist of Green Left Magazine Australian-Lebanese journalist and commentator Antoinette Lattouf’s unfair dismissal case win against the public broadcaster ABC in the Federal Court on Wednesday is a victory for all those who seek to tell the truth. It is a breath of fresh air, after almost two years of lies and uncritical
Caitlin Johnstone: The fictional mental illness that only affects enemies of the Western empire
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone Within the storytelling of Western politics and punditry there exists a fictional type of mental illness which only affects people the US empire doesn’t like. If Iran gets a nuclear weapon, its crazy lunatic government will flip out and nuke us all.
A strange bright burst in space baffled astronomers for more than a year. Now, they’ve solved the mystery
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clancy William James, Senior Lecturer (astronomy and astroparticle physics), Curtin University CSIRO’s ASKAP radio telescope on Wajarri Country. © Alex Cherney/CSIRO Around midday on June 13 last year, my colleagues and I were scanning the skies when we thought we had discovered a strange and exciting new
Do all Iranians hate the regime? Hate America? Life inside the country is much more complex and nuanced
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Theobald, Postdoctoral researcher, Institute for Ethics and Society, University of Notre Dame Australia From 2015 to 2018, I spent 15 months doing research work in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city. As an anthropologist, I was interested in everyday life in Iran outside the capital Tehran. I was
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 28, 2025.
Israeli soldiers ‘ordered’ to fire at Gaza aid seekers – 70 killed across Strip
Israeli soldiers have said that they were ordered to open fire at unarmed Palestinian civilians desperately seeking aid at designated distribution sites in Gaza, a report in the Ha’aretz newspaper has revealed. The report came as 70 Palestinians were killed across the Gaza Strip — mostly at aid sites belonging to the widely condemned Gaza
RFK Junior is stoking fears about vaccine safety. Here’s why he’s wrong – and the impact it could have
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Leask, Professor, School of Public Health, University of Sydney The United States used to be a leader in vaccine research, development and policymaking. Now US Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr is undermining the country’s vaccine program at the highest level and supercharging vaccine skepticism.
The ‘Godfather of Human Rights’ Ken Roth on genocide, Trump and standing up for democracy
By Richard Larsen, RNZ News producer — 30′ with Guyon Espiner The former head of Human Rights Watch — and son of a Holocaust survivor — says Israel’s military campaign in Gaza will likely meet the legal definition of genocide, citing large-scale killings, the targeting of civilians, and the words of senior Israeli officials. Speaking
The sentencing of Cassius Turvey’s killers shows courts still struggle to deal with racism
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thalia Anthony, Professor of Law, University of Technology Sydney Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people. The brutal homicide of 15-year-old Noongar Yamatji boy, Cassius Turvey, by a group of white men revealed the racial schisms in
1 in 3 Tuvaluans is bidding for a new ‘climate visa’ to Australia – here’s why everyone may ultimately end up applying
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane McAdam, Scientia Professor and ARC Laureate Fellow, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images for Lumix In just four days, one-third of the population of Tuvalu entered a ballot for a new permanent visa to Australia. This world-first visa will
Celebrities, blue jeans and couture: how Anna Wintour changed fashion over 37 years at Vogue
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jye Marshall, Lecturer, Fashion Design, School of Design and Architecture, Swinburne University of Technology After 37 years at the helm, fashion industry heavyweight Anna Wintour is stepping down from her position as editor-in-chief of American Vogue. It’s not a retirement, though, as Wintour will maintain a leadership
Antoinette Lattouf win against ABC a victory for all truth-tellers
By Isaac Nellist of Green Left Magazine Australian-Lebanese journalist and commentator Antoinette Lattouf’s unfair dismissal case win against the public broadcaster ABC in the Federal Court on Wednesday is a victory for all those who seek to tell the truth. It is a breath of fresh air, after almost two years of lies and uncritical
Caitlin Johnstone: The fictional mental illness that only affects enemies of the Western empire
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone Within the storytelling of Western politics and punditry there exists a fictional type of mental illness which only affects people the US empire doesn’t like. If Iran gets a nuclear weapon, its crazy lunatic government will flip out and nuke us all.
A strange bright burst in space baffled astronomers for more than a year. Now, they’ve solved the mystery
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clancy William James, Senior Lecturer (astronomy and astroparticle physics), Curtin University CSIRO’s ASKAP radio telescope on Wajarri Country. © Alex Cherney/CSIRO Around midday on June 13 last year, my colleagues and I were scanning the skies when we thought we had discovered a strange and exciting new
Do all Iranians hate the regime? Hate America? Life inside the country is much more complex and nuanced
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Theobald, Postdoctoral researcher, Institute for Ethics and Society, University of Notre Dame Australia From 2015 to 2018, I spent 15 months doing research work in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city. As an anthropologist, I was interested in everyday life in Iran outside the capital Tehran. I was
Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Simon Theobald, Postdoctoral researcher, Institute for Ethics and Society, University of Notre Dame Australia
From 2015 to 2018, I spent 15 months doing research work in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city. As an anthropologist, I was interested in everyday life in Iran outside the capital Tehran. I was also interested in understanding whether the ambitions of the 1979 Revolution lived on among “ordinary” Iranians, not just political elites.
I first lived on a university campus, where I learned Persian, and later with Iranian families. I conducted hundreds of interviews with people who had a broad spectrum of political, social and religious views. They included opponents of the Islamic Republic, supporters, and many who were in between.
What these interviews revealed to me was both the diversity of opinion and experience in Iran, and the difficulty of making uniform statements about what Iranians believe.
When Israel’s strikes on Iran began on June 13, killing many top military commanders, many news outlets – both international and those run by the Iranian diaspora – featured images of Iranians cheering the deaths of these hated regime figures.
Friends from my fieldwork also pointed to these celebrations, while not always agreeing with them. Many feared the impact of a larger conflict between Iran and Israel.
Trying to put these sentiments in context, many analysts have pointed to a 2019 survey by the GAMAAN Institute, an independent organisation based in the Netherlands that tracks Iranian public opinion. This survey showed 79% of Iranians living in the country would vote against the Islamic Republic if a free referendum were held on its rule.
Viewing these examples as an indicator of the lack of support for the Islamic Republic is not wrong. But when used as factoids in news reports, they become detached from the complexities of life in Iran. This can discourage us from asking deeper questions about the relationships between ideology and pragmatism, support and opposition to the regime, and state and society.
The news reporting on Iran has encouraged a tendency to see the Iranian state as homogeneous, highly ideological and radically separate from the population.
But where do we draw the line between the state and the people? There is no easy answer to this.
When I lived in Iran, many of the people who took part in my research were state employees – teachers at state institutions, university lecturers, administrative workers. Many of them had strong and diverse views about the legacy of the revolution and the future of the country.
They sometimes pointed to state discourse they agreed with, for example Iran’s right to national self-determination, free from foreign influence. They also disagreed with much, such as the slogans of “death to America”.
This ambivalence was evident in one of my Persian teachers. An employee of the state, she refused to attend the annual parades celebrating the anniversary of the revolution. “We have warm feelings towards America,” she said. On the other hand, she happily attended protests, also organised by the government, in favour of Palestinian liberation.
Or take the young government worker I met in Mashhad: “We want to be independent of other countries, but not like this.”
In a narrower sense, discussions about the “state” may refer more to organisations like the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij, the paramilitary force within the IRGC that has cracked down harshly on dissent in recent decades. Both are often understood as being deeply ideologically committed.
Said Golkar, a US-based Iranian academic and author, for instance, calls Iran a “captive society”. Rather than having a civil society, he believes Iranians are trapped by the feared Basij, who maintain control through their presence in many institutions like universities and schools.
Again, this view is not wrong. But even among the Basij and Revolutionary Guard, it can be difficult to gauge just how ideological and homogeneous these organisations truly are.
For a start, the IRGC relies on both ideologically selected supporters, as well as conscripts, to fill its ranks. They are also not always ideologically uniform, as the US-based anthropologist Narges Bajoghli, who worked with pro-state filmmakers in Tehran, has noted.
As part of my research, I also interviewed members of the Basij, which, unlike the IRGC proper, is a wholly volunteer organisation.
Even though ideological commitment was certainly an important factor for some of the Basij members I met, there were also pragmatic reasons to join. These included access to better jobs, scholarships and social mobility. Sometimes, factors overlapped. But participation did not always equate to a singular or sustained commitment to revolutionary values.
For example, Sāsān, a friend I made attending discussion groups in Mashhad, was quick to note that time spent in the Basij “reduced your [compulsory] military service”.
This isn’t to suggest there are not ideologically committed people in Iran. They clearly exist, and many are ready to use violence. Some of those who join these institutions for pragmatic reasons use violence, too.
In addition, Iran is an ethnically diverse country. It has a population of 92 million people, a bare majority of whom are Persians. Other minorities include Azeris, Kurds, Arabs, Baloch, Turkmen and others.
It is also religiously diverse. While there is a sizeable, nominally Shi’a majority, there are also large Sunni communities (about 10-15% of the population) and smaller communities of Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Baha’is and other religions.
Often overlooked, there are also important differences in class and social strata in Iran, too.
One of the things I noticed about state propaganda was that it flattened this diversity. James Barry, an Australian scholar of Iran, noticed a similar phenomenon.
State propaganda made it seem like there was one voice in the country. Protests could be dismissed out of hand because they did not represent the “authentic” view of Iranians. Foreign agitators supported protests. Iranians supported the Islamic Republic.
Since leaving Iran, I have followed many voices of Iranians in the diaspora. Opposition groups are loud on social media, especially the monarchists who support Reza Pahlavi, the son of the deposed Shah.
In following these groups, I have noticed a similar tendency to speak as though they represent the voice of all Iranians. Iranians support the shah. Or Iranians support Maryam Rajavi, leader of a Paris-based opposition group.
Both within Iran, and in the diaspora, the regime, too, is sometimes held to be the imposition of a foreign conspiracy. This allows the Islamic Republic and the complex relations it has created to be dismissed out of hand. Once again, such a view flattens diversity.
Over the past few years, political identities and societal divisions seem to have become harder and clearer. This means there is an increasing perception among many Iranians of a gulf between the state and Iranian society. This is the case both inside Iran, and especially in the Iranian diaspora.
Decades of intermittent protests and civil disobedience across the country also show that for many, the current system no longer represents the hopes and aspirations of many people. This is especially the case for the youth, who make up a large percentage of the population.
I am not an Iranian, and I strongly believe it is up to Iranians to determine their own futures. I also do not aim to excuse the Islamic Republic – it is brutal and tyrannical. But its brutality should not let us shy away from asking complex questions.
If the regime did fall tomorrow, Iran’s diversity means there is little unanimity of opinion as to what should come next. And if a more pluralist form of politics is to emerge, it must encompass the whole of Iran’s diversity, without assuming a uniform position.
It, too, will have to wrestle with the difficult questions and sometimes ambivalent relations the Islamic Republic has created.
Simon Theobald received funding from the Australian National University during his research.
– ref. Do all Iranians hate the regime? Hate America? Life inside the country is more complex than that – https://theconversation.com/do-all-iranians-hate-the-regime-hate-america-life-inside-the-country-is-more-complex-than-that-259554
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The NT Police Force Strike Force Lyra have charged a 35-year-old male in relation to a domestic violence incident that occurred on Tiger Brennan Drive in Stuart Park on Friday morning.
About 4:30am, the Joint Emergency Service Communication Centre received multiple reports of an ongoing domestic violence incident. It is alleged the 35-year-old male, the victim and two other witnesses were travelling in a dark blue 2008 model Mitsubishi Pajero before stopping along Tiger Brennan Drive in Stuart Park, where everyone but the alleged offender exited the vehicle. Initial investigations indicate the male drove off and immediately returned to physically assault his partner before the two witnesses chased him away. The victim suffered minor physical injuries.
Strike Force Lyra took carriage of the investigation and with the assistance of the Fugitive Taskforce the male was arrested at a residence around 1pm yesterday. He has since been charged with:
He was remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court on Monday, 30 June 2025.
Investigations remain ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444 and quote reference NTP2500065312. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.
If you have CCTV or dashcam footage of the incident, it may be uploaded here: https://ntpol.au.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/ntp2500065312 (or via the QR code below).
Domestic violence has no place in our community and offenders will continue to be held to account for their actions. The Northern Territory Police Force thank the witnesses who intervened on this occasion to protect the victim and prevent further violence. If you or someone you know are experiencing difficulties due to domestic violence, support services are available, including, but not limited to 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Lifeline (131 114).
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The NT Police Force is calling for information in relation to a hit and run in Leanyer last night.
About 7:05pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports of two people, a male and a female, being struck by a passing vehicle on Leanyer Drive. It is alleged the victims were removing groceries from their parked vehicle on the side of the road, before a vehicle travelling at speed struck them and fled the scene immediately.
The female suffered serious injuries and the male suffered minor injuries and St John Ambulance conveyed them to Royal Darwin Hospital for medical assessment.
Initial investigations suggest the offending vehicle is believed to be a white Yaris or Getz hatchback with a missing side mirror that was damaged at the scene of the collision.
The crime command has carriage of the investigation.
Anyone with information, particularly those who may have had dash cam footage at the time of the incident, is urged to contact police on 131 444. Please reference job number P25172636.
Source: Government of Canada News
The Government of Canada announced the implementation of tariff rate quotas (TRQs) on imports of steel mill products from non-free trade agreement partners, effective June 27, 2025. This measure will help stabilize the Canadian market and prevent harmful diversion of foreign steel from third countries into Canada while minimizing impacts on Canadian importers and downstream users.
The TRQs will be administered on the basis of five steel product categories: flat, long, pipe and tube, semi-finished, and stainless steel (see Annex A for list of tariff classifications applicable to each category). A 50 per cent surtax will be applied on imports of covered products that exceed the specified quantity threshold from non-FTA partners.
The quotas will be reviewed in 30 days to ensure their appropriateness and effectiveness in light of evolving market circumstances, and periodically thereafter. The reviews will be supported by the newly established industry-government steel task force.
Global Affairs Canada will be responsible for administering the quota of products that may be imported without this additional surtax through the issuance of shipment-specific import permits. To facilitate the administration of the TRQs, the subject products are being added to the Import Control List. Importations made without the applicable shipment-specific import permit will be assessed the 50 per cent surtax by the CBSA. This surtax would be additive to any existing surtaxes or anti-dumping and countervailing duty measures, as well as forthcoming tariff measures based on the country of “melt and pour” for steel or “smelt and cast” for aluminum.
Key elements of the tariff-rate quota include:
See Annex B for additional details on the tariff-rate quota volume and limits.
The TRQs will apply to imports originating in any country that does not have a free trade agreement in force with Canada. The list of countries excluded from the tariff-rate quotas are set out in Annex C.
Global Affairs Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency will be responsible for administering the tariff-rate quota for each steel product category. Additional information on the administration of these measures can be found at the links below:
| Product Category |
Applicable Tariff Classifications |
|---|---|
|
Flat |
7208.10.00; 7208.25.00; 7208.26.00; 7208.27.00; 7208.36.00; 7208.37.00; 7208.38.00; 7208.39.00; 7208.40.00; 7208.51.00; 7208.52.00; 7208.53.00; 7208.54.00; 7208.90.00; 7209.15.00; 7209.16.00; 7209.17.00; 7209.18.00; 7209.25.00; 7209.26.00; 7209.27.00; 7209.28.00; 7209.90.00; 7210.11.00; 7210.12.00; 7210.49.00; 7210.50.00; 7210.61.00; 7210.69.00; 7210.70.00; 7210.90.00; 7211.14.00; 7211.19.00; 7211.23.00; 7211.29.00; 7211.90.00; 7212.10.00; 7212.30.00; 7212.40.00; 7212.50.00; 7225.19.00; 7225.30.00; 7225.40.00; 7225.50.00; 7225.91.00; 7225.92.00; 7225.99.00; 7226.91.00; 7226.92.00; 7226.99.00 |
|
Long |
7213.10.00; 7213.20.00; 7213.91.00; 7213.99.00; 7214.10.00; 7214.20.00; 7214.91.00; 7214.99.00; 7216.10.00; 7216.21.00; 7216.22.00; 7216.31.00; 7216.32.00; 7216.33.00; 7216.40.00; 7216.50.00; 7216.99.00; 7217.10.00; 7217.20.00; 7217.30.00; 7217.90.00; 7224.10.00; 7227.10.00; 7227.20.00; 7227.90.00; 7228.30.00; 7228.40.00; 7228.50.00; 7228.60.00; 7228.70.00; 7228.80.00; 7229.20.00; 7229.90.00; 7301.10.00; 7301.20.00 |
|
Pipe and Tube |
7304.19.00; 7304.22.00; 7304.23.00; 7304.24.00; 7304.29.00; 7304.39.00; 7304.59.00; 7304.90.00; 7305.11.00; 7305.12.00; 7305.19.00; 7305.20.00; 7305.31.00; 7305.39.00; 7305.90.00; 7306.19.00; 7306.29.00; 7306.30.00; 7306.50.00; 7306.61.00; 7306.69.00; 7306.90.00 |
|
Semi-finished |
7206.10.00; 7206.90.00; 7207.11.00; 7207.12.00; 7207.19.00; 7207.20.00; 7224.90.00 |
|
Stainless |
7218.10.00; 7218.91.00; 7218.99.00; 7222.30.00; 7222.40.00; 7304.49.00 |
| Product | Quota for each three-month quarterly period (tonnes) | Maximum Share of Total Quota per Country |
|---|---|---|
| Flat | 186,856 | 36% |
| Long | 178,512 | 28% |
| Pipe and Tube | 117,406 | 47% |
| Semi-finished | 152,383 | 72% |
| Stainless | 5,568 | 91% |
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force conducted a high visibility proactive operation over the week targeting the prevention of drug, alcohol and traffic offences in regional areas across the Territory.
Between Monday 23 June and Friday 27 June, members from the Northern Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk, Dog Operations Unit, Maningrida, Gunbalanya and Jabiru police set up two Drug Detection Areas nearby Maningrida and Jabiru.
A significant number of people were spoken to and stopped throughout the operation, with ongoing community engagement with locals to help prevent the flow of alcohol and illicit substances in regional and remote areas of the Arnhem Region.
As a result of the operation, NT Police:
Acting Superintendent Meacham King said “This was an important operation targeting those who continue to bring alcohol and illicit substances into remote and regional areas. The collaboration between Northern Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk members, Dog operations and general duties members who work and live in remote communities continues to highlight great partnerships between police units working towards enhancing community safety.”
Anyone with information on the supply of illicit substances into communities are urged to call police on 131 444 or make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)
Source: US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC
WASHINGTON – The Santa Anna National Bank of Santa Anna, Texas, was closed today by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. The FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Coleman County State Bank of Coleman, Texas, to assume the insured deposits and some of the assets of the failed institution.
The Santa Anna National Bank’s sole office will reopen on Monday, June 30, 2025, as a branch of Coleman County State Bank. Depositors of the failed bank will automatically become depositors of Coleman County State Bank. The insured deposits assumed by Coleman County State Bank will continue to be insured by the FDIC so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage.
All Coleman County State Bank customers (formerly, The Santa Anna National Bank) will have access to their insured deposits and can write checks or use their ATM or debit cards up to their insured limits. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.
As of June 18, 2025, The Santa Anna National Bank reported total assets of $63.8 million and total deposits of $53.8 million. Approximately $2.8 million of the deposits exceeded FDIC insurance limits, an amount that is likely to change once the FDIC obtains additional information from customers. Once further information is available, the FDIC will consider whether to provide uninsured depositors an advance dividend (i.e. access to a portion of their uninsured funds) and will provide more information at that time.
Customers with accounts greater than $250,000 should contact the FDIC toll-free at 1-866-314-1744 to set up an appointment to discuss their deposits. This phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Central Time (CT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., CT; on Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., CT; Monday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., CT; and thereafter from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., CT.
Customers who would like more information on today’s transaction can call the toll-free number or visit the FDIC’s website. Beginning Monday, depositors of The Santa Anna National Bank with more than $250,000 in deposits may visit the FDIC’s webpage “Is My Account Fully Insured?” to determine their insurance coverage.
Coleman County State Bank agreed to assume the insured deposits for a 5.16 percent premium. The FDIC will retain a large portion of the assets of The Santa Anna National Bank for later disposition. The FDIC preliminarily estimates that the failure will cost its Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) about $23.7 million. This loss estimate will change over time as the assets are sold. Suspected fraud contributed to the failure of the bank and estimated cost to the DIF.
The Santa Anna National Bank is the second bank to fail in the nation this year. The last bank failure was Pulaski Savings Bank of Chicago on January 17, 2025. The last failure in Texas was The Enloe State Bank of Cooper, Texas on May 31, 2019.
# # #
MEDIA CONTACT:
Brian Sullivan
202-412-1436
brsullivan@fdic.gov
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.
SEL8
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 468
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
520 PM CDT Fri Jun 27 2025
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Tornado Watch for portions of
North Dakota
* Effective this Friday afternoon and Saturday morning from 520
PM until 100 AM CDT.
* Primary threats include…
A couple tornadoes possible
Widespread large hail likely with isolated very large hail
events to 4 inches in diameter possible
Scattered damaging winds and isolated significant gusts to 80
mph likely
SUMMARY…Severe storms including supercells are expected to develop
through early/mid-evening within a very unstable environment, amidst
moderately strong atmospheric winds. These supercells may be intense
and capable of very large hail along with some tornado risk. Severe
wind gust potential will likely increase later this evening as
storms progress east-southeastward.
The tornado watch area is approximately along and 105 statute miles
north and south of a line from 50 miles west southwest of Garrison
ND to 40 miles north northeast of Jamestown ND. For a complete
depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
(WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and 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.
&&
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 466…WW 467…
AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 4 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 70 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 600. Mean
storm motion vector 29025.
…Guyer
SEL8
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 468
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
520 PM CDT Fri Jun 27 2025
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Tornado Watch for portions of
North Dakota
* Effective this Friday afternoon and Saturday morning from 520
PM until 100 AM CDT.
* Primary threats include…
A couple tornadoes possible
Widespread large hail likely with isolated very large hail
events to 4 inches in diameter possible
Scattered damaging winds and isolated significant gusts to 80
mph likely
SUMMARY…Severe storms including supercells are expected to develop
through early/mid-evening within a very unstable environment, amidst
moderately strong atmospheric winds. These supercells may be intense
and capable of very large hail along with some tornado risk. Severe
wind gust potential will likely increase later this evening as
storms progress east-southeastward.
The tornado watch area is approximately along and 105 statute miles
north and south of a line from 50 miles west southwest of Garrison
ND to 40 miles north northeast of Jamestown ND. For a complete
depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
(WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and 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.
&&
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 466…WW 467…
AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 4 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 70 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 600. Mean
storm motion vector 29025.
…Guyer
Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
SAW8
WW 468 TORNADO ND 272220Z – 280600Z
AXIS..105 STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF LINE..
50WSW N60/GARRISON ND/ – 40NNE JMS/JAMESTOWN ND/
..AVIATION COORDS.. 90NM N/S /34NNE DIK – 55WSW GFK/
HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..4 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..70 KNOTS.
MAX TOPS TO 600. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 29025.
LAT…LON 48890242 48989835 45949835 45850242
THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
FOR WOU8.
Watch 468 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.
Note: Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes
Probability of 2 or more tornadoes
Mod (40%)
Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes
Low (20%)
Wind
Probability of 10 or more severe wind events
Mod (60%)
Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots
Mod (60%)
Hail
Probability of 10 or more severe hail events
High (80%)
Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches
Mod (50%)
Combined Severe Hail/Wind
Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events
High (>95%)
For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Leask, Professor, School of Public Health, University of Sydney
The United States used to be a leader in vaccine research, development and policymaking. Now US Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr is undermining the country’s vaccine program at the highest level and supercharging vaccine skepticism.
Two weeks ago, RFK Jr sacked the entire Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices responsible for reviewing the latest scientific evidence on vaccines. RFK Jr alleged conflicts of interest and hand-picked a replacement panel.
On Wednesday, RFK Jr announced the US would stop funding the global vaccine alliance, Gavi, because he claimed that “when the science was inconvenient today, Gavi ignored the science”. RFK Jr questioned the safety of COVID vaccines for pregnant women, as well as the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine.
On Thursday, when the new Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met, the person who first drew RFK Jr into vaccine scepticism, Lyn Redwood, shared disproved claims about a chemical called thimerosal in flu vaccines being harmful.
The undermining of regulation, advisory processes and funding changes will have global impacts, as debunked claims are given new levels of apparent legitimacy. Some of these impacts will be slow and insidious.
So what should we make of these latest claims and funding cuts?
Thiomersal (thimerosal in the the US) is a safe and effective preservative that prevents bacterial and fungal contamination of the vaccine contained in a multi-dose vial. It’s a salt that contains a tiny amount of mercury in a safe form.
Thiomersal is no longer used as a preservative in any vaccines routinely given in Australia. But it’s still used in the Q fever vaccine.
Other countries use multi-dose vials with thiomersal when single-dose vials are too expensive.
In the US, just 4% of adult influenza vaccines contain thiomersal. So focusing on removing vaccines containing thimerosal is a distraction for the committee.
On Wednesday, RFK criticised Gavi’s encouragement of pregnant women to receive COVID-19 vaccines.
A COVID-19 infection before and during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage two- to four-fold, even if it’s only a mild infection.
Conversely, there is good evidence vaccination during pregnancy is safe and can reduce the chance of hospitalisation of pregnant people and of infants by passing antibodies through the placenta.
In Australia, pregnant people who have never received a primary COVID-19 vaccine are recommended to have one. However, they are not generally recommended to have booster unless they have underlying risk conditions or prefer to have one. This is due to population immunity.
COVID-19 vaccine advice should adapt to changes in disease risk and vaccine benefit. It doesn’t mean previous decisions were wrong, nor that vaccine boosters are unsafe.
RFK’s criticism of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy may influence choices individuals make in other countries, even when unvaccinated pregnant women are encouraged to consider vaccination.
RFK Jr also questioned the safety of the combined diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine as he announced the withdrawal of US funding support for Gavi.
In the early 2000s, three community-based observational studies reported a possible association between increased chance of death in infants and use of the DTP vaccine.
A few subsequent studies also reported associations, with higher risk in girls, prompting a World Health Organization (WHO) review of safety.
Real world studies are complicated and the data can be difficult to interpret correctly. Often, the very factors that influence whether someone gets vaccinated can also be associated with other health risks.
When the WHO committee reviewed all the studies on DTP safety in 2014, it did not indicate serious adverse events. It concluded there was substantial evidence against these claims.
Gavi, the vaccine alliance, supports vaccine purchasing in low-income countries.
The US has historically accounted for 13% of all donor funds.
However, RFK Jr said Gavi needed to re-earn the public trust and “consider the best science available” before the US would contribute funding again.
Gavi predicted in March that the impact of US funding cuts could result in one million deaths through missed vaccines.
Australia is fortunate to be buffered from these impacts.
Our vaccine advisory body, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, has people with deep expertise in vaccination. We have robust decision processes that weigh evidence critically and make careful recommendations to government.
Our governments remain committed to vaccination. The federal government released the National Immunisation Strategy in mid-June with a comprehensive plan to continue to strengthen our program.
The federal government also announced A$386 million to support the work of Gavi from 2026 to 2030.
All of this keeps our vaccine policies strong, preventing disease and increasing life expectancy here and overseas.
But to mitigate the possible influence of the US in Australia, our governments, health professionals and the public need to be ready to rapidly tackle the misinformation, distortions and half-truths RFK Jr cleverly packages – with quality information.
Julie Leask receives research funding from NHMRC, WHO, US CDC, NSW Ministry of Health. She received funding from Sanofi for travel to an overseas meeting in 2024. She has consulting fees from RTI International and the Task Force for Global Health.
Catherine Bennett has received honoraria for contributing to independent advisory panels for Moderna and AstraZeneca, and has received NHMRC, VicHealth and MRFF funding for unrelated projects. She was the health lead on the Independent Inquiry into the Australian Government COVID-19 Response .
– ref. RFK Junior is stoking fears about vaccine safety. Here’s why he’s wrong – and the impact it could have – https://theconversation.com/rfk-junior-is-stoking-fears-about-vaccine-safety-heres-why-hes-wrong-and-the-impact-it-could-have-259986
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
New York, June 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Univest Securities, LLC (“Univest”), a member of FINRA and SIPC, and a full-service investment bank and securities broker-dealer firm based in New York, today announced the closing of Public Offering (the “Offering”) of approximately $15 million for its client Globavend Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: GVH) (“Globavend” or the “Company”), an emerging e-commerce logistics provider.
The offering is comprised of 21,739,130 of the Company’s ordinary shares (or pre-funded warrants in lieu of ordinary shares). Each ordinary share or pre-funded warrant was sold with one Series A Warrant to purchase one ordinary share at an initial exercise price of $0.69 per share (the “Series A Warrants”) and one Series B Warrant to purchase one ordinary share at an initial exercise price of $1.173 per share, (the “Series B Warrants” and, together with the Series A Warrants, the “Warrants”). The pre-funded warrants will be exercisable immediately upon issuance and will expire when exercised in full. The Series A Warrants are exercisable immediately and will expire on the one-year anniversary of their initial exercise date and the Series B Warrants are exercisable immediately and will expire on the one-year anniversary of its initial exercise date.
The purchase price of each ordinary share and accompanying Warrants is $0.69, and the purchase price of each pre-funded warrant and accompanying Warrants is such price minus $0.001.
The aggregate gross proceeds to the Company were approximately $15 million, before deducting placement agent fees and other estimated expenses payable by the Company. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for capital expenditures, operating capacity, working capital, general corporate purposes, purchasing warehouses, registration and operation of its overseas business entities, branches and office and potential mergers and acquisitions in the future.
Univest Securities, LLC acted as the sole placement agent.
The securities described above were offered by the Company pursuant to a registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-283178) previously filed by the Company and declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). A final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus describing the terms of the proposed offering were filed with the SEC and are available on the SEC’s website located at http://www.sec.gov. Electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be obtained, by contacting Univest Securities, LLC at info@univest.us, or by calling +1 (212) 343-8888.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor will there be any sales of such securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. Copies of the prospectus supplement relating to the registered direct offering, together with the accompanying base prospectus, can be obtained at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
About Univest Securities, LLC
Registered with FINRA since 1994, Univest Securities, LLC provides a wide variety of financial services to its institutional and retail clients globally including brokerage and execution services, sales and trading, market making, investment banking and advisory, wealth management. It strives to provide clients with value-add service and focuses on building long-term relationship with its clients. For more information, please visit: https://www.univest.us/
About Globavend Holdings Limited
Globavend Holdings Limited, an emerging e-commerce logistics provider, offers end-to-end logistics solutions in Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand. The Company primarily serves enterprise customers, including e-commerce merchants and operators of e-commerce platforms, facilitating business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions. As an e-commerce logistics provider, Globavend delivers integrated cross-border logistics services from Hong Kong to Australia and New Zealand. It provides customers with a comprehensive solution, encompassing pre-carriage parcel drop-off, parcel consolidation, air-freight forwarding, customs clearance, on-carriage parcel transportation, and final delivery. For more information, please visit the Company’s website: https://globavend.com/.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as “may, “will, “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the uncertainties related to market conditions and the completion of the initial public offering on the anticipated terms or at all, and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the registration statement filed with the SEC. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. Univest Securities LLC and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.
For more information, please contact:
Univest Securities, LLC
Edric Guo
Chief Executive Officer
75 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 18C
New York, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 343-8888
Email: info@univest.us
Source: Greenpeace Statement –
PACIFIC OCEAN, Saturday, 28 June 2025 – Greenpeace Aotearoa activists have confronted a bottom trawler in the South Pacific ocean, east of New Zealand, rebranding it “ocean killer”, after witnessing it haul in a net straining with marine life.
Launching from the Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior, activists came alongside the New Zealand-flagged ship, Talley’s Amaltal Atlantis, on the Chatham Rise[1] on Friday afternoon, and painted the message on its hull with non-toxic paint.
Speaking from onboard the Rainbow Warrior, Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Juan Parada says: “Appalled by the most recent evidence of destruction, people defending the oceans rebranded this Talley’s vessel today to expose the bottom trawling industry for what they are: ocean killers. When Talley’s bottom trawlers drag their heavy trawl nets across the seafloor and over seamounts, they bulldoze everything in their path, including killing precious marine life from coral to fur seals, dolphins and seabirds.
“We’ve all seen the shocking footage of bottom trawling in David Attenborough’s film Ocean, and it’s happening right here, right now.
“Faced with a fishing industry that profits from trashing the ocean, and a government that condones bottom trawling, we’re proud of the peaceful action taken today to call out this destruction and demand that bottom trawling stop.
The Amaltal Atlantis trawls in the waters of Aotearoa, and has previously received permits to trawl in the High Seas of the South Pacific. Their trail of destruction is wide and long-lasting,” says Parada.
New Zealand is the only country still bottom trawling in the high seas of the Tasman, between Australia and New Zealand.
The at-sea action comes just months after a deep sea expedition led by Greenpeace Aotearoa documented whole swathes of destroyed coral in areas of the Tasman Sea that have been intensively trawled by New Zealand bottom trawlers. This area has been earmarked for one of the first high seas ocean sanctuaries under the Global Ocean Treaty.
Talley’s vessels trawl in Australian waters; the Amaltal Explorer has been trawling for endangered orange roughy off Tasmania, after being allowed back in Australia’s waters last year. In 2018, the Amaltal Apollo trawled in a protected area on the Lord Howe Rise, in the international waters of the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand.
It also comes just weeks after Greenpeace Australia Pacific activists disrupted an industrial longliner between Australia and New Zealand, and revealed the devastating impacts of industrial fishing on marine life in the South Pacific.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific is calling on the Australian government to ratify the Global Ocean Treaty and propose high seas marine protected areas, including large protected areas in the Tasman Sea.
In a statement responding to the protest, Talley’s said it would seek legal action which “may include the arrest of the Rainbow Warrior.”
—ENDS—
Contacts:
Photos and videos available for media on request
Notes:
Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council
NEW YORK, 27 June (Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea) — The thirty-fifth Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea was held at Headquarters from 23 to 26 June. The background press release can be found at: https://press.un.org/en/2025/sea2232.doc.htm and https://press.un.org/en/2024/sea2195.doc.htm.
The Meeting elected Nguyen Minh Vu (Viet Nam) as President, by acclamation. Milan Jaya Nyamrajsingh Meetarbhan (Mauritius), David Antonio Giret Soto (Paraguay), Laura McIlhenny (Australia) and Mykola Prytula (Ukraine) were elected as Vice-Presidents, also by acclamation.
The Meeting took note of the annual report of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for 2024, as well as the information reported by the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority and the Chairperson of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, on the activities of these bodies since the thirty-fourth Meeting of States Parties held in 2024.
In his capacity as Co-Coordinator of the Open-Ended Working Group on the Conditions of Service of Members of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, John Pangipita (United Republic of Tanzania) delivered a report on its work since the thirty-fourth Meeting. Following the resignation of Sidney Kemble (Netherlands), the Meeting decided to defer the consideration of the appointment of a Co-Coordinator of the Open-Ended Working Group from developed States until the thirty-sixth Meeting of States Parties and that the Working Group would continue to function for the time being under the coordination of Mr. Pangipita.
The Meeting conducted a by-election for vacancies in the Commission allocated to members of the Commission from the Group of Eastern European States and the Group of Western European and Other States, electing Stig-Morten Knutsen (Norway) for a term of office commencing on the date of the election and ending on 15 June 2028.
In the absence of other nominations, the Meeting decided in respect of the vacant seat allocated to members of the Commission from the Group of Eastern European States, which had remained unfilled since 2015, that the Secretary-General would circulate a call for nominations with a view to conducting elections at the thirty-sixth Meeting of States Parties in 2026, if the President received information about potential candidates no later than 1 March 2026. If a candidate had not been identified by that date, the Group should transmit, by the same date, a proposal on how to address the ongoing vacancy.
In its consideration of administrative and budgetary matters of the Tribunal, the Meeting took note of the report on budgetary matters for the financial periods 2023 and 2024 and the report of the external auditor for the financial period 2024. The Meeting also decided to extend Indonesia and Canada as member and alternate member, respectively, of the staff pension committee of the Tribunal for a three-year term of office starting on 1 January 2026.
Under article 319 of the Convention, the Meeting considered the reports of the Secretary-General for the information of States Parties on issues of a general nature, relevant to States Parties, which had arisen with respect to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (see A/79/340 and A/80/70). In their interventions, delegations addressed a wide range of matters of relevance to oceans and the law of the sea.
A more detailed account of the proceedings of the thirty-fifth Meeting of States Parties will be included in the report of the Meeting, to be issued in due course as document SPLOS/35/11.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which was adopted on 10 December 1982, entered into force on 16 November 1994. It sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out and is of strategic importance as the basis for national, regional and global action and cooperation in the marine sector.
For further information on the Meeting, including its documents, please see the website of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs, https://www.un.org/Depts/los/meeting_states_parties/meeting_states_parties.htm.
Source: Scotland – Highland Council
On 26 June, The Highland Council took the decision to permanently close Kinlochewe Primary School.
All school closures in Scotland must be ratified by Scottish Ministers. The Council has notified Scottish Ministers of its decision. They have an 8-week period from the date of the Council’s decision to decide if they will intervene by issuing a call-in notice. Within the first 3 weeks of that 8-week period, they will take account of any relevant representations made to them by any person on whether the decision should be called in, or not called in, for review by a School Closure Review Panel.
Anyone wishing to make a representation to the Scottish Ministers is asked to email schoolclosure@gov.scot or write to the School Infrastructure Unit, Scottish Government, 2-D (S) Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ, by midnight on Wednesday 16 July 2025 at the latest.
Full details of the reasons for the recommendation are contained within the Final Report and associated papers, which can be accessed on the Council’s website.
27 Jun 2025
Source: US Department of Labor
|
Volunteers of America Southeast Inc. |
Mobile |
AL |
GA: Baldwin, Bibb, Crisp, Houston, Laurens, Muscogee, Peach |
$214,654 |
|
United States Veterans Initiative |
Phoenix |
AZ |
AZ: Maricopa |
$300,000 |
|
Insights Housing |
Berkeley |
CA |
CA: Alameda, Amador, Contra Costa, Sacramento, Solano |
$500,000 |
|
America Works of California Inc. |
Fresno |
CA |
CA: San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside |
$300,000 |
|
America Works of California Inc. |
Fresno |
CA |
CA: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, Solano |
$200,000 |
|
JVS SoCal |
Los Angeles |
CA |
CA: Los Angeles, Orange |
$498,000 |
|
Volunteers of America of Los Angeles |
Los Angeles |
CA |
CA: Los Angeles |
$480,000 |
|
United State Veterans Initiative Inc. |
March Air Reserve Base |
CA |
CA: Riverside, San Bernardino |
$427,794 |
|
Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists Inc. |
Marina |
CA |
IA: Adair, Adams, Allamakee, Appanoose, Audubon, Benton, Black Hawk, Boone, Bremer, Buchanan, Buena Vista, Butler, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Clarke, Clay, Clayton, Crawford, Dallas, Davis, Decatur, Delaware, Des Moines, Dickinson, Dubuque, Emmet, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Fremont, Greene, Grundy, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Howard, Humboldt, Ida, Iowa, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk, Kossuth, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Lucas, Lyon, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Mills, Mitchell, Monona, Monroe, Montgomery, O’Brien, Osceola, Page, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Polk, Pottawattamie, Poweshiek, Ringgold, Sac, Shelby, Sioux, Story, Tama, Taylor, Union, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Woodbury, Worth, Wright |
$500,000 |
|
Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists Inc. |
Marina |
CA |
WI: Brown, Calumet, Columbia, Door, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Shawano, Sheboygan, Washington, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago |
$270,000 |
|
Veteran Employment Services |
Monterey |
CA |
CO: Boulder, Larimer, Weld |
$347,000 |
|
Swords to Plowshares Veterans Rights Organization |
Oakland |
CA |
CA: Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano |
$500,000 |
|
Able-Disabled Advocacy Inc. |
San Diego |
CA |
CA: San Diego |
$476,000 |
|
Swords to Plowshares Veterans Rights Organization |
San Francisco |
CA |
CA: San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara |
$150,000 |
|
Colorado Coalition for the Homeless |
Denver |
CO |
CO: Denver |
$500,000 |
|
Boley Centers Inc. |
St. Petersburg |
FL |
FL: Pasco |
$413,183 |
|
Tampa Bay Academy of Hope |
Tampa |
FL |
FL: Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Sumter |
$500,000 |
|
Get to Work Foundation Inc. |
Douglasville |
GA |
GA: Bartow, Carroll, Chattooga, Coweta, Floyd, Gordon, Haralson, Paulding, Polk |
$300,000 |
|
Of Color Inc. |
Chicago |
IL |
IL: Cook |
$478,081 |
|
Transitional Living Services Inc. |
Crystal Lake |
IL |
IL: Boone, Cook, Lake, McHenry, Winnebago |
$300,000 |
|
ECHO Housing Corporation |
Evansville |
IN |
IN: Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, Warrick |
$251,892 |
|
Crossroads Rehabilitation Center Inc. |
Indianapolis |
IN |
IN: Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Shelby |
$378,200 |
|
Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana |
Indianapolis |
IN |
IN: Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, Shelby |
$364,035 |
|
Mountain Comprehensive Care Center Inc. |
Prestonsburg |
KY |
KY: Anderson, Bath, Bell, Bourbon, Boyd, Boyle, Breathitt, Carter, Clark, Clay, Elliott, Estill, Fayette, Fleming, Floyd, Franklin, Garrard, Greenup, Harlan, Jackson, Jessamine, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lincoln, Madison, Magoffin, Martin, Mason, McCreary, Menifee, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Scott, Wayne, Whitley, Wolfe, Woodford |
$238,112 |
|
Volunteers of America Massachusetts |
Jamaica Plain |
MA |
MA: Barnstable, Bristol, Plymouth |
$443,832 |
|
Volunteers of America Massachusetts |
Jamaica Plain |
MA |
MA: Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk |
$461,154 |
|
Veterans Inc. |
Worcester |
MA |
MA: Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Worcester |
$345,600 |
|
Veterans Inc. |
Worcester |
MA |
ME: Androscoggin, Cumberland, Kennebec, Lincoln, Oxford, Sagadahoc, York |
$105,000 |
|
Veterans Inc. |
Worcester |
MA |
MT: Beaverhead, Big Horn, Broadwater, Carbon, Cascade, Custer, Dawson, Deer Lodge, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Garfield, Glacier, Jefferson, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Madison, Mineral, Missoula, Park, Pondera, Powell, Prairie, Ravalli, Richland, Rosebud, Sanders, Silver Bow, Teton, Toole, Valley, Wheatland, Yellowstone |
$500,000 |
|
Veterans Inc. |
Worcester |
MA |
MA: Bristol, Norfolk, Plymouth RI: Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence, Washington |
$360,000 |
|
St. James A.M.E. Zion Church |
Salisbury |
MD |
MD: Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worcester |
$310,000 |
|
Easter Seals Serving DC / MD / VA Inc. |
Silver Spring |
MD |
MD: Allegany, Anne Arundel, Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, St. Mary’s, Washington |
$500,000 |
|
Easter Seals Serving DC / MD / VA Inc. |
Silver Spring |
MD |
MD: Baltimore, Baltimore City, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s |
$500,000 |
|
Michigan Ability Partners |
Ann Arbor |
MI |
MI: Jackson, Livingston, Oakland, Washtenaw, Wayne |
$174,405 |
|
Southwest Economic Solutions Corporation |
Detroit |
MI |
MI: Macomb, St. Clair, Wayne |
$200,000 |
|
Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans |
St. Paul |
MN |
MN: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Washington |
$440,000 |
|
Asheville-Buncombe Community Christian Ministry Inc. |
Asheville |
NC |
NC: Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Yancey |
$500,000 |
|
Veterans Multi-Service Center Inc. |
Vineland |
NJ |
NJ: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem DE: Kent, New Castle, Sussex |
$270,698 |
|
United Veterans Beacon House Inc. |
Bay Shore |
NY |
NY: Nassau, Queens, Suffolk |
$120,000 |
|
America Works of New York Inc. |
New York |
NY |
NY: Nassau, Suffolk |
$300,000 |
|
America Works of New York Inc. |
New York |
NY |
NY: Kings, Queens, Richmond, Bronx, New York |
$500,000 |
|
Easter Seals TriState LLC |
Cincinnati |
OH |
OH: Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Warren |
$321,015 |
|
Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana |
Cincinnati |
OH |
IN: Dearborn, Franklin KY: Boone, Caldwell, Kenton OH: Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Warren |
$410,019 |
|
Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana |
Cleveland |
OH |
OH: Cuyahoga, Erie, Lake, Lorain |
$457,773 |
|
Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana |
Columbus |
OH |
OH: Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Pickaway, Union |
$365,822 |
|
Volunteers of America Oklahoma Inc. |
Tulsa |
OK |
OK: Canadian, Cleveland, Grady, Hughes, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie, Seminole, Tulsa |
$429,569 |
|
Goodwill Industries of Lane and South Coast Counties |
Eugene |
OR |
OR: Lane |
$159,073 |
|
Easter Seals Oregon |
Portland |
OR |
OR: Douglas, Lane |
$378,390 |
|
Easter Seals Oregon |
Portland |
OR |
OR: Marion, Polk, Yamhill |
$344,100 |
|
Veterans Multi-Service Center Inc. |
Philadelphia |
PA |
PA: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia |
$495,951 |
|
Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania Inc. |
Pittsburgh |
PA |
PA: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence, Washington, Westmoreland |
$416,193 |
|
Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard Inc. |
Pittsburgh |
PA |
PA: Allegheny, Butler, Washington, Westmoreland |
$427,000 |
|
Commission on Economic Opportunity |
Wilkes-Barre |
PA |
PA: Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Wayne, Wyoming |
$200,000 |
|
Fast Forward |
Columbia |
SC |
SC: Richland, Lexington, Fairfield |
$400,000 |
|
Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina Inc. |
Greenville |
SC |
SC: Anderson, Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Spartanburg |
$225,818 |
|
Unity Partners dba Project Unity |
Bryan |
TX |
TX: Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson, Washington |
$419,870 |
|
Citizens Development Center |
Dallas |
TX |
TX: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Kaufman, Rockwall, Tarrant |
$320,000 |
|
Adaptive Construction Solutions Inc. |
Houston |
TX |
TX: Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria, Galveston, Liberty, Waller, Austin, Chambers, Colorado, Walker, Wharton, Matagorda |
$377,777 |
|
Adaptive Construction Solutions Inc. |
Houston |
TX |
TX: Bell, Bosque, Brown, Burleson, Callahan, Coleman, Collin, Comanche, Coryell, Denton, Eastland, Ellis, Erath, Falls, Fisher, Freestone, Grimes, Hamilton, Haskell, Hill, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Jones, Kaufman, Kent, Knox, Lampasas, Leon, Limestone, McLennan, Milam, Mills, Mitchell, Navarro, Nolan, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Runnels, San Saba, Scurry, Shackelford, Somervell, Stephens, Stonewall, Taylor, Throckmorton, Washington, Wise |
$245,432 |
|
The Houston Launch Pad |
Houston |
TX |
TX: Angelina, Bell, Bexar, Brazoria, Brazos, Chambers, Crockett, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Nueces, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Tom Green, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Washington, Wharton |
$500,000 |
|
American GI Forum National Veterans Outreach Program Inc. |
San Antonio |
TX |
TX: Collin, Dallas, Rockwall, Tarrant |
$500,000 |
|
American GI Forum National Veterans Outreach Program Inc. |
San Antonio |
TX |
TX: Travis |
$500,000 |
|
Castle Cares Community Ministry Inc. |
West Columbia |
TX |
TX: Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Jefferson, Matagorda |
$434,105 |
|
Focused Outreach Richmond Inc. |
Richmond |
VA |
VA: Charles City, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights City, Dinwiddie, Emporia City, Greensville, Hampton city, Hanover, Henrico, Hopewell City, James City, King and Queen, King William, New Kent, Newport News City, Petersburg City, Poquoson City, Prince George, Richmond City, Williamsburg City, York |
$397,862 |
|
Center for Veterans Issues Inc. |
Milwaukee |
WI |
WI: Milwaukee, Waukesha |
$500,000 |
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – This week, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) renewed her call to eliminate the burdensome paperwork for online sellers earning at least $600. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, she is actively working to cut red tape and protect casual sellers from unnecessary and excessive reporting requirements by raising the threshold to $20,000 for those completing a minimum of 200 transactions.
“I will continue working to cut red tape from burdensome 1099-K reporting requirements so they can stop wasting time on unnecessary paperwork and instead use their energy to create new opportunities for their small businesses,” said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis. “As more Americans turn to resold, refurbished, and repaired items, I applaud the efforts of leading industry platforms to create trusted spaces for buying and selling in the growing secondhand economy, but despite this progress, casual sellers continue to face increasing bureaucratic hurdles under the current 1099-K threshold making it urgent for Congress to take action.”
Malliotakis was recently joined at the Capitol by Vivian Vassar, a Staten Island small business owner and founder of “Hey Viv,” an online retro clothing store that’s been in business for over 35 years. The two advocated for this change to the Biden-era policy and attended the launch of a caucus dedicated to supporting these online small businesses.
“As a Staten Island business, I’m encouraged to see the Recommerce Committee focusing on policies that support and strengthen online businesses, helping to keep US e-commerce strong and competitive,” said Vivian Vassar, Owner of Hey Viv.
The growing impact of 1099-K reporting on casual sellers highlights how tax requirements are burdening the rapidly growing recommerce economy. Recommerce is the resale, repair, and refurbishment of goods is revitalizing the American commerce economy, and is projected to reach $1.04 trillion globally by 2035. In 2024, 58% of consumers purchased secondhand apparel, with 56% of those transactions occurring online. Language to increase the thresholds and number of transactions to trigger reporting was included in the House’s tax bill which Malliotakis helped craft and can become law as early as next week.
As part of this effort, Rep. Malliotakis joined Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) in launching the bipartisan Recommerce Caucus. The caucus aims to empower small sellers and entrepreneurs by advocating for policies that support income through resale, repair, and refurbishment; promote a sustainable, circular economy by extending product life and reducing waste; and expand access to digital marketplaces by lowering barriers and increasing digital inclusion for all Americans.
“As a lifelong thrifter and advocate for sustainable business practices, I’m proud to partner with Rep. Malliotakis to launch the bipartisan Recommerce Caucus,” said Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove. “Recommerce is more than a trend — it’s a growing economic engine that provides consumers with affordable, high-quality goods and gives entrepreneurs, small businesses, and resellers access to trusted, thriving marketplaces. Together, we’re committed to advancing policies that support the circular economy, reduce waste, and empower buyers and sellers nationwide. ”
The Recommerce Caucus is endorsed by a growing coalition of leading platforms and advocates, including eBay, Etsy, Mercari, OfferUp, Pinterest, Poshmark, Red Bubble, and the PASS Coalition.
Read the Wall Street Journal’s Exclusive on the launch of the Recommerce Caucus HERE.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – This week, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) renewed her call to eliminate the burdensome paperwork for online sellers earning at least $600. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, she is actively working to cut red tape and protect casual sellers from unnecessary and excessive reporting requirements by raising the threshold to $20,000 for those completing a minimum of 200 transactions.
“I will continue working to cut red tape from burdensome 1099-K reporting requirements so they can stop wasting time on unnecessary paperwork and instead use their energy to create new opportunities for their small businesses,” said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis. “As more Americans turn to resold, refurbished, and repaired items, I applaud the efforts of leading industry platforms to create trusted spaces for buying and selling in the growing secondhand economy, but despite this progress, casual sellers continue to face increasing bureaucratic hurdles under the current 1099-K threshold making it urgent for Congress to take action.”
Malliotakis was recently joined at the Capitol by Vivian Vassar, a Staten Island small business owner and founder of “Hey Viv,” an online retro clothing store that’s been in business for over 35 years. The two advocated for this change to the Biden-era policy and attended the launch of a caucus dedicated to supporting these online small businesses.
“As a Staten Island business, I’m encouraged to see the Recommerce Committee focusing on policies that support and strengthen online businesses, helping to keep US e-commerce strong and competitive,” said Vivian Vassar, Owner of Hey Viv.
The growing impact of 1099-K reporting on casual sellers highlights how tax requirements are burdening the rapidly growing recommerce economy. Recommerce is the resale, repair, and refurbishment of goods is revitalizing the American commerce economy, and is projected to reach $1.04 trillion globally by 2035. In 2024, 58% of consumers purchased secondhand apparel, with 56% of those transactions occurring online. Language to increase the thresholds and number of transactions to trigger reporting was included in the House’s tax bill which Malliotakis helped craft and can become law as early as next week.
As part of this effort, Rep. Malliotakis joined Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) in launching the bipartisan Recommerce Caucus. The caucus aims to empower small sellers and entrepreneurs by advocating for policies that support income through resale, repair, and refurbishment; promote a sustainable, circular economy by extending product life and reducing waste; and expand access to digital marketplaces by lowering barriers and increasing digital inclusion for all Americans.
“As a lifelong thrifter and advocate for sustainable business practices, I’m proud to partner with Rep. Malliotakis to launch the bipartisan Recommerce Caucus,” said Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove. “Recommerce is more than a trend — it’s a growing economic engine that provides consumers with affordable, high-quality goods and gives entrepreneurs, small businesses, and resellers access to trusted, thriving marketplaces. Together, we’re committed to advancing policies that support the circular economy, reduce waste, and empower buyers and sellers nationwide. ”
The Recommerce Caucus is endorsed by a growing coalition of leading platforms and advocates, including eBay, Etsy, Mercari, OfferUp, Pinterest, Poshmark, Red Bubble, and the PASS Coalition.
Read the Wall Street Journal’s Exclusive on the launch of the Recommerce Caucus HERE.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – This week, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) renewed her call to eliminate the burdensome paperwork for online sellers earning at least $600. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, she is actively working to cut red tape and protect casual sellers from unnecessary and excessive reporting requirements by raising the threshold to $20,000 for those completing a minimum of 200 transactions.
“I will continue working to cut red tape from burdensome 1099-K reporting requirements so they can stop wasting time on unnecessary paperwork and instead use their energy to create new opportunities for their small businesses,” said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis. “As more Americans turn to resold, refurbished, and repaired items, I applaud the efforts of leading industry platforms to create trusted spaces for buying and selling in the growing secondhand economy, but despite this progress, casual sellers continue to face increasing bureaucratic hurdles under the current 1099-K threshold making it urgent for Congress to take action.”
Malliotakis was recently joined at the Capitol by Vivian Vassar, a Staten Island small business owner and founder of “Hey Viv,” an online retro clothing store that’s been in business for over 35 years. The two advocated for this change to the Biden-era policy and attended the launch of a caucus dedicated to supporting these online small businesses.
“As a Staten Island business, I’m encouraged to see the Recommerce Committee focusing on policies that support and strengthen online businesses, helping to keep US e-commerce strong and competitive,” said Vivian Vassar, Owner of Hey Viv.
The growing impact of 1099-K reporting on casual sellers highlights how tax requirements are burdening the rapidly growing recommerce economy. Recommerce is the resale, repair, and refurbishment of goods is revitalizing the American commerce economy, and is projected to reach $1.04 trillion globally by 2035. In 2024, 58% of consumers purchased secondhand apparel, with 56% of those transactions occurring online. Language to increase the thresholds and number of transactions to trigger reporting was included in the House’s tax bill which Malliotakis helped craft and can become law as early as next week.
As part of this effort, Rep. Malliotakis joined Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) in launching the bipartisan Recommerce Caucus. The caucus aims to empower small sellers and entrepreneurs by advocating for policies that support income through resale, repair, and refurbishment; promote a sustainable, circular economy by extending product life and reducing waste; and expand access to digital marketplaces by lowering barriers and increasing digital inclusion for all Americans.
“As a lifelong thrifter and advocate for sustainable business practices, I’m proud to partner with Rep. Malliotakis to launch the bipartisan Recommerce Caucus,” said Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove. “Recommerce is more than a trend — it’s a growing economic engine that provides consumers with affordable, high-quality goods and gives entrepreneurs, small businesses, and resellers access to trusted, thriving marketplaces. Together, we’re committed to advancing policies that support the circular economy, reduce waste, and empower buyers and sellers nationwide. ”
The Recommerce Caucus is endorsed by a growing coalition of leading platforms and advocates, including eBay, Etsy, Mercari, OfferUp, Pinterest, Poshmark, Red Bubble, and the PASS Coalition.
Read the Wall Street Journal’s Exclusive on the launch of the Recommerce Caucus HERE.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – This week, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) renewed her call to eliminate the burdensome paperwork for online sellers earning at least $600. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, she is actively working to cut red tape and protect casual sellers from unnecessary and excessive reporting requirements by raising the threshold to $20,000 for those completing a minimum of 200 transactions.
“I will continue working to cut red tape from burdensome 1099-K reporting requirements so they can stop wasting time on unnecessary paperwork and instead use their energy to create new opportunities for their small businesses,” said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis. “As more Americans turn to resold, refurbished, and repaired items, I applaud the efforts of leading industry platforms to create trusted spaces for buying and selling in the growing secondhand economy, but despite this progress, casual sellers continue to face increasing bureaucratic hurdles under the current 1099-K threshold making it urgent for Congress to take action.”
Malliotakis was recently joined at the Capitol by Vivian Vassar, a Staten Island small business owner and founder of “Hey Viv,” an online retro clothing store that’s been in business for over 35 years. The two advocated for this change to the Biden-era policy and attended the launch of a caucus dedicated to supporting these online small businesses.
“As a Staten Island business, I’m encouraged to see the Recommerce Committee focusing on policies that support and strengthen online businesses, helping to keep US e-commerce strong and competitive,” said Vivian Vassar, Owner of Hey Viv.
The growing impact of 1099-K reporting on casual sellers highlights how tax requirements are burdening the rapidly growing recommerce economy. Recommerce is the resale, repair, and refurbishment of goods is revitalizing the American commerce economy, and is projected to reach $1.04 trillion globally by 2035. In 2024, 58% of consumers purchased secondhand apparel, with 56% of those transactions occurring online. Language to increase the thresholds and number of transactions to trigger reporting was included in the House’s tax bill which Malliotakis helped craft and can become law as early as next week.
As part of this effort, Rep. Malliotakis joined Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) in launching the bipartisan Recommerce Caucus. The caucus aims to empower small sellers and entrepreneurs by advocating for policies that support income through resale, repair, and refurbishment; promote a sustainable, circular economy by extending product life and reducing waste; and expand access to digital marketplaces by lowering barriers and increasing digital inclusion for all Americans.
“As a lifelong thrifter and advocate for sustainable business practices, I’m proud to partner with Rep. Malliotakis to launch the bipartisan Recommerce Caucus,” said Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove. “Recommerce is more than a trend — it’s a growing economic engine that provides consumers with affordable, high-quality goods and gives entrepreneurs, small businesses, and resellers access to trusted, thriving marketplaces. Together, we’re committed to advancing policies that support the circular economy, reduce waste, and empower buyers and sellers nationwide. ”
The Recommerce Caucus is endorsed by a growing coalition of leading platforms and advocates, including eBay, Etsy, Mercari, OfferUp, Pinterest, Poshmark, Red Bubble, and the PASS Coalition.
Read the Wall Street Journal’s Exclusive on the launch of the Recommerce Caucus HERE.
Source: US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC
|
Source: World Health Organisation
WHO has launched the WHO Disability Health Equity Initiative, a landmark global initiative to advance health equity for over 1.3 billion people with disabilities.
Unveiled on 10 June 2025, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York during the 18th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the initiative marks a bold step toward achieving health equity for all. The initiative aims to guide governments, health institutions, and communities in addressing barriers to care, promoting inclusive policies, and strengthening data and research on disability and health. Over 150 participants—government leaders, civil society, academia, and persons with disabilities—gathered in person, while many more joined online.
Darryl Barrett, WHO’s Technical Lead on Disability presented a bold vision for the initiative. He discussed persistent systemic failures – political inaction, underinvestment, fragmented collaboration, and the exclusion of organizations of persons with disabilities – as critical barriers to progress. “Health systems are not fit-for-purpose,” Barrett said. “If we agree on Health for All, then we must agree that services must be inclusive and accessible. Right now, we can’t say that with confidence.”
The Initiative is built around four strategic pillars:
Barrett also outlined how this new initiative will facilitate strategic engagement with key partners to advance health equity for persons with disabilities, including through a multi-stakeholder network, partnerships with the private sector, technical guidance development, and support for country-level implementation. He emphasized that WHO’s work has been shaped by years of collaboration with diverse partners, including organizations of persons with disabilities. “We at WHO haven’t done this by ourselves,” Barrett noted. “The strong presence of partners – both in the room and online – reflects the shared commitment needed to drive meaningful, lasting change.”
David Duncan, Special Olympics athlete and Chair of the Global Athlete Leadership Council, delivered a powerful testimony about the discrimination people with intellectual and developmental conditions often face in health care. “Invisible, unknown, disrespected… but I know it’s possible to do better – and that’s something everyone deserves,” Duncan said.
Norway’s Minister of Culture and Equality, Lubna Jaffery, issued a powerful call to action, urging governments to close health access gaps and uphold the rights of persons with disabilities. Emphasizing access to health services, reproductive autonomy for women with disabilities, and expanded availability of assistive products, Jaffery affirmed Norway’s leadership in disability-inclusive development. “Inclusion is not just a policy, it is a principle and we are committed to making it a reality for all.”
Sweden’s Director-General of the Agency for Participation, Malin Ekman-Aldén, echoed this commitment, stressing that advancing health equity for persons with disabilities is a human rights imperative. She highlighted Sweden’s continued investments in inclusive development and welcomed the WHO initiative as a key driver of accountability, better data, and systemic change.
Dirk Platzen, Director at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, underscored the need for political leadership in building inclusive health systems. Introducing Australia’s new International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy, he called for recognition of health as a fundamental human right, not a privilege.
Representing Germany, Michael Schloms of the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development emphasized international collaboration, sustainable financing, and shared responsibility. Reflecting on Germany’s experience hosting global disability events and co-leading the Global Disability Summit, he reaffirmed support for the initiative and the Amman-Berlin Declaration.
Speakers from civil society, funding agencies, and academia highlighted the importance of funding, civil society engagement, and academic research in sustaining momentum and ensuring accountability. Ola Abualghaib, Director of the Global Disability Fund, emphasized the Fund Strategy’s alignment with the new WHO initiative. Hannah Loryman, Co-Chair of the International Disability and Development Consortium UN Task Force, stressed the vital role of civil society in advocacy, technical input, and accountability. Bonnielin Swenor, Director of the Disability Health Research Center at Johns Hopkins University, highlighted academia’s responsibility to advance disability health equity through inclusive research, education, and community engagement. She called for a paradigm shift from “living with a disability” to “thriving with a disability,” driven by data and implementation science.
This initiative offers a pathway to making better choices – choices that ensure dignity, autonomy, and the right to health for all persons with disabilities.
Jarrod Clyne / Deputy Director of the International Disability Alliance
Audience members raised critical issues including the need for sustainable health system funding in humanitarian crises, the inclusion of Deaf people and persons with a psychosocial condition, the importance of training health professionals, digital health acccessibility, and support for independent living – highlighting the diverse and intersectional challenges that must be addressed to achieve true health equity for persons with disabilities.
Jarrod Clyne, Deputy Executive Director of the International Disability Alliance, closed the event by stressing the importance of persistence, partnership, and shared responsibility. “This initiative offers a pathway to making better choices – choices that ensure dignity, autonomy, and the right to health for all persons with disabilities,” he said.
Source: United Nations MIL OSI
As the General Assembly marked the twentieth anniversary of the responsibility to protect, the UN Chief emphasized that the principle remains a moral imperative amid growing global turmoil, escalating identity-based violence, widespread breaches of international law and deepening impunity.
Opening the session, Philémon Yang (Cameroon), President of the General Assembly, recalled that, 20 years ago, at the 2005 World Summit, world leaders affirmed the responsibility of individual States to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. Born from the horrors of Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, that commitment represented a pledge that “never again would the international community stand silent as innocent lives were destroyed by the gravest crimes”.
Nevertheless, today, two decades later, “we must ask ourselves how we have allowed ourselves to fall short”, he said. From Gaza to Ukraine, from Sudan to Myanmar, there is blatant disregard for human rights, early warnings are ignored and the Security Council is failing to act.
Also acknowledging commendable gains, he noted the establishment of international mechanisms for atrocity prevention. Prevention and protection strategies have been implemented across peacekeeping operations. “We must find ways to deliver on the promise of ‘never again’,” he stressed.
Picking up that thread, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that the world is witnessing the highest number of armed conflicts since the end of the Second World War. Further, conflicts are becoming more protracted, complex and interconnected, while emerging threats such as the weaponization of new technologies and the proliferation of advanced weaponry require a constant adaptation to prevent the commission of atrocity crimes and to protect populations.
However, he continued, too often, early warnings go unheeded, and alleged evidence of crimes committed by States and non-State actors is met with denial, indifference, or repression. “Responses are often too little, too late, inconsistent or undermined by double standards,” he said, adding that “civilians are paying the highest price”.
“We must recognize that the responsibility to protect is more than a principle — it is a moral imperative, rooted in our shared humanity and the UN Charter,” he emphasized, spotlighting the seventeenth report of the Secretary-General on the responsibility to protect.
The report highlights efforts achieved through national prevention mechanisms or under regional leadership, demonstrating that early diplomacy, early warning and institutional innovation can be effective in preventing and responding to atrocity crimes. It also underscores the need to mainstream atrocity prevention across the United Nations system — from humanitarian action to peacekeeping to human rights. Additionally, it calls for integrating early warning, supporting national prevention mechanisms and embedding atrocity prevention in the broader agendas of sustaining peace, human rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“No society is immune from the risk of atrocity crimes,” he asserted, emphasizing that “prevention must begin at home — with leadership that protects rights, embraces diversity and upholds the rule of law”. And it must be supported globally through multilateral cooperation, principled diplomacy, and early and decisive action to effectively protect populations. Two decades on, the responsibility to protect remains both an urgent necessity and an unfulfilled promise. “Let us keep the promise, deepen our commitment, strengthen our cooperation and ensure that atrocity-prevention and protecting populations becomes a permanent and universal practice,” he stated.
In the ensuing debate, numerous Member States emphasized that — amid growing violence against civilians and worsening humanitarian crises — the responsibility to protect must remain central to efforts aimed at promoting peace and security.
Speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends on the Responsibility to Protect, the representative of Morocco expressed concern that, despite unanimous support for ending atrocity crimes, serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law persist. “This growing gap between rhetoric and action is especially concerning given the international community’s improved understanding of risk factors and increased capacity to respond,” he pointed out. He also acknowledged the key role of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect in advancing this principle.
Expressing concern about the increased use of the veto in the Council, the representative of the European Union, speaking in its capacity as observer, said all Member States — especially those holding veto power — must support both the Code of Conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, as well as the French-Mexican initiative on refraining from the use of veto in the case of mass atrocities.
“While some advances in military technology can bring increased precision and a reduction of civilian harm,” she said, the recent evolution of warfare, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI), may lead to diluted human control and increased brutality in conflict. Further, “when prevention fails, we need to make every effort to ensure that the perpetrators of atrocity crimes are held accountable,” she said, reaffirming support for the International Criminal Court.
Relatedly, Denmark’s delegate, also speaking for Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden, urged the Council “to renew and strengthen its focus on prevention” and acknowledged the efforts of the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, as well as civil society experts. Stressing the importance of the fight against sexual and gender-based violence, she added: “Independent and impartial international courts and tribunals, in particular the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court, are central to accountability for the most serious crimes.”
Slovenia’s delegate stressed that the veto power in the Council should not be used in situations where there is a clear threat of mass atrocity crimes, as it hinders effective decision–making and prevents action that would help to protect populations in a timely and effective manner. Her country was among the first to appoint a national Responsibility to Protect Focal Point, she said, highlighting the Ljubljana-Hague Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of Genocide, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes and Other International Crimes. “This is the first major international treaty in the field of international criminal law since the Rome Statute that enables States to cooperate effectively internationally in the investigation and prosecution of international crimes by filling legal gaps in the fields of international legal assistance and extradition,” she pointed out.
The representative of France, speaking also for Mexico, said that while civilians worldwide are victims of large-scale violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, “the Council is too often paralysed by the use of the veto”. He welcomed the mention in the Secretary-General’s report of the French-Mexican initiative on the voluntary regulation of the use of the veto in the Council in cases of mass atrocities. “The veto is not a privilege but a responsibility,” he said, noting that this proposal is already supported by over 100 States and inviting all other States to join this commitment, starting with the Council’s elected and permanent members. He also emphasized the crucial role of national human rights institutions, civil society and the Human Rights Council’s mechanisms as essential tools for early warning, prevention and accountability.
“Now, more than ever, we must continue to promote and defend our collective political commitment to [the] responsibility to protect and its implementation,” said Australia’s delegate, speaking also on behalf of Canada and New Zealand. The world is facing the highest level of conflict since the Second World War, with reported violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Myanmar, Sudan, Ukraine and Yemen. “We cannot allow impunity,” he asserted, calling for full accountability for atrocity crimes through appropriate national and international investigative and justice mechanisms, such as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.
However, other delegates voiced concern that the responsibility to protect principle is increasingly being instrumentalized to justify interventions under a humanitarian pretext, or to undermine States’ sovereignty through the application of unilateral coercive measures.
Among them was the representative of Venezuela, speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations, who cited the notion as “non-consensual and controversial”. Accordingly, he voiced concern over the principle “selective and politically motivated” application.
Paradoxically, at the same time, the world is witnessing a “resounding failure” to ensure the protection of civilians caught in the armed conflict in Gaza, where the Palestinian people are suffering an increasingly brutal Israeli occupation, which represents a systematic violation of international law and requires urgent action to protect and save civilian lives, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Poland’s representative emphasized that invoking the responsibility to protect to justify military aggression — such as the Russian Federation’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine — constitutes a deliberate distortion of the principle. In March 2022, the International Court of Justice issued a preliminary ruling finding that Moscow did not have grounds to attack Ukraine based on claims of genocide, he noted. He also expressed support for the mandates of the Special Advisers on Genocide Prevention and on the Responsibility to Protect.
Other delegates highlighted their countries’ experiences with genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.
“The crisis in Myanmar is the heartbreaking case in point,” said that country’s representative, adding that the military junta continues to commit widespread atrocities with impunity, violating the core principles of the responsibility to protect. Noting that the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court applied in 2024 for an arrest warrant against Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing, he said a swift decision is vital. He also called for the issuance of the arrest warrant against Min Aung Hlaing “to save lives and protect the people of Myanmar from the military junta’s further heinous crimes”. The Security Council must act decisively, he asserted, noting that a follow-up to resolution 2669 (2022) should include monitoring and enforcement.
Noting that the application of the responsibility to protect principle “remains uneven”, Burundi’s delegate emphasized that it “cannot be selective on the basis of temporal or material considerations”. Drawing attention to the 1972 genocide committed against the Hutu ethnic group, he said that, during this “massacre of terrible proportions”, which occurred between April and July 1972, hundreds of thousands of Burundians of the Hutu ethnic group were hunted down, arrested, executed without trial and very often buried in mass graves.
“This has a name in international law: genocide,” he said. And while Burundi’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission officially described the events of 1972 as such, identifying over 4,000 potential mass graves and collecting thousands of witness testimonies, “no international body has recognized this crime as such”. Citing this silence as “a form of abandoning innocent victims whose souls need to be put to rest”, he underscored that “the responsibility to protect is not a slogan”, but a “legal, moral and political commitment”.
Source: United Nations MIL OSI
As the General Assembly marked the twentieth anniversary of the responsibility to protect, the UN Chief emphasized that the principle remains a moral imperative amid growing global turmoil, escalating identity-based violence, widespread breaches of international law and deepening impunity.
Opening the session, Philémon Yang (Cameroon), President of the General Assembly, recalled that, 20 years ago, at the 2005 World Summit, world leaders affirmed the responsibility of individual States to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. Born from the horrors of Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, that commitment represented a pledge that “never again would the international community stand silent as innocent lives were destroyed by the gravest crimes”.
Nevertheless, today, two decades later, “we must ask ourselves how we have allowed ourselves to fall short”, he said. From Gaza to Ukraine, from Sudan to Myanmar, there is blatant disregard for human rights, early warnings are ignored and the Security Council is failing to act.
Also acknowledging commendable gains, he noted the establishment of international mechanisms for atrocity prevention. Prevention and protection strategies have been implemented across peacekeeping operations. “We must find ways to deliver on the promise of ‘never again’,” he stressed.
Picking up that thread, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that the world is witnessing the highest number of armed conflicts since the end of the Second World War. Further, conflicts are becoming more protracted, complex and interconnected, while emerging threats such as the weaponization of new technologies and the proliferation of advanced weaponry require a constant adaptation to prevent the commission of atrocity crimes and to protect populations.
However, he continued, too often, early warnings go unheeded, and alleged evidence of crimes committed by States and non-State actors is met with denial, indifference, or repression. “Responses are often too little, too late, inconsistent or undermined by double standards,” he said, adding that “civilians are paying the highest price”.
“We must recognize that the responsibility to protect is more than a principle — it is a moral imperative, rooted in our shared humanity and the UN Charter,” he emphasized, spotlighting the seventeenth report of the Secretary-General on the responsibility to protect.
The report highlights efforts achieved through national prevention mechanisms or under regional leadership, demonstrating that early diplomacy, early warning and institutional innovation can be effective in preventing and responding to atrocity crimes. It also underscores the need to mainstream atrocity prevention across the United Nations system — from humanitarian action to peacekeeping to human rights. Additionally, it calls for integrating early warning, supporting national prevention mechanisms and embedding atrocity prevention in the broader agendas of sustaining peace, human rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“No society is immune from the risk of atrocity crimes,” he asserted, emphasizing that “prevention must begin at home — with leadership that protects rights, embraces diversity and upholds the rule of law”. And it must be supported globally through multilateral cooperation, principled diplomacy, and early and decisive action to effectively protect populations. Two decades on, the responsibility to protect remains both an urgent necessity and an unfulfilled promise. “Let us keep the promise, deepen our commitment, strengthen our cooperation and ensure that atrocity-prevention and protecting populations becomes a permanent and universal practice,” he stated.
In the ensuing debate, numerous Member States emphasized that — amid growing violence against civilians and worsening humanitarian crises — the responsibility to protect must remain central to efforts aimed at promoting peace and security.
Speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends on the Responsibility to Protect, the representative of Morocco expressed concern that, despite unanimous support for ending atrocity crimes, serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law persist. “This growing gap between rhetoric and action is especially concerning given the international community’s improved understanding of risk factors and increased capacity to respond,” he pointed out. He also acknowledged the key role of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect in advancing this principle.
Expressing concern about the increased use of the veto in the Council, the representative of the European Union, speaking in its capacity as observer, said all Member States — especially those holding veto power — must support both the Code of Conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, as well as the French-Mexican initiative on refraining from the use of veto in the case of mass atrocities.
“While some advances in military technology can bring increased precision and a reduction of civilian harm,” she said, the recent evolution of warfare, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI), may lead to diluted human control and increased brutality in conflict. Further, “when prevention fails, we need to make every effort to ensure that the perpetrators of atrocity crimes are held accountable,” she said, reaffirming support for the International Criminal Court.
Relatedly, Denmark’s delegate, also speaking for Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden, urged the Council “to renew and strengthen its focus on prevention” and acknowledged the efforts of the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, as well as civil society experts. Stressing the importance of the fight against sexual and gender-based violence, she added: “Independent and impartial international courts and tribunals, in particular the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court, are central to accountability for the most serious crimes.”
Slovenia’s delegate stressed that the veto power in the Council should not be used in situations where there is a clear threat of mass atrocity crimes, as it hinders effective decision–making and prevents action that would help to protect populations in a timely and effective manner. Her country was among the first to appoint a national Responsibility to Protect Focal Point, she said, highlighting the Ljubljana-Hague Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of Genocide, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes and Other International Crimes. “This is the first major international treaty in the field of international criminal law since the Rome Statute that enables States to cooperate effectively internationally in the investigation and prosecution of international crimes by filling legal gaps in the fields of international legal assistance and extradition,” she pointed out.
The representative of France, speaking also for Mexico, said that while civilians worldwide are victims of large-scale violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, “the Council is too often paralysed by the use of the veto”. He welcomed the mention in the Secretary-General’s report of the French-Mexican initiative on the voluntary regulation of the use of the veto in the Council in cases of mass atrocities. “The veto is not a privilege but a responsibility,” he said, noting that this proposal is already supported by over 100 States and inviting all other States to join this commitment, starting with the Council’s elected and permanent members. He also emphasized the crucial role of national human rights institutions, civil society and the Human Rights Council’s mechanisms as essential tools for early warning, prevention and accountability.
“Now, more than ever, we must continue to promote and defend our collective political commitment to [the] responsibility to protect and its implementation,” said Australia’s delegate, speaking also on behalf of Canada and New Zealand. The world is facing the highest level of conflict since the Second World War, with reported violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Myanmar, Sudan, Ukraine and Yemen. “We cannot allow impunity,” he asserted, calling for full accountability for atrocity crimes through appropriate national and international investigative and justice mechanisms, such as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.
However, other delegates voiced concern that the responsibility to protect principle is increasingly being instrumentalized to justify interventions under a humanitarian pretext, or to undermine States’ sovereignty through the application of unilateral coercive measures.
Among them was the representative of Venezuela, speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations, who cited the notion as “non-consensual and controversial”. Accordingly, he voiced concern over the principle “selective and politically motivated” application.
Paradoxically, at the same time, the world is witnessing a “resounding failure” to ensure the protection of civilians caught in the armed conflict in Gaza, where the Palestinian people are suffering an increasingly brutal Israeli occupation, which represents a systematic violation of international law and requires urgent action to protect and save civilian lives, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Poland’s representative emphasized that invoking the responsibility to protect to justify military aggression — such as the Russian Federation’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine — constitutes a deliberate distortion of the principle. In March 2022, the International Court of Justice issued a preliminary ruling finding that Moscow did not have grounds to attack Ukraine based on claims of genocide, he noted. He also expressed support for the mandates of the Special Advisers on Genocide Prevention and on the Responsibility to Protect.
Other delegates highlighted their countries’ experiences with genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.
“The crisis in Myanmar is the heartbreaking case in point,” said that country’s representative, adding that the military junta continues to commit widespread atrocities with impunity, violating the core principles of the responsibility to protect. Noting that the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court applied in 2024 for an arrest warrant against Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing, he said a swift decision is vital. He also called for the issuance of the arrest warrant against Min Aung Hlaing “to save lives and protect the people of Myanmar from the military junta’s further heinous crimes”. The Security Council must act decisively, he asserted, noting that a follow-up to resolution 2669 (2022) should include monitoring and enforcement.
Noting that the application of the responsibility to protect principle “remains uneven”, Burundi’s delegate emphasized that it “cannot be selective on the basis of temporal or material considerations”. Drawing attention to the 1972 genocide committed against the Hutu ethnic group, he said that, during this “massacre of terrible proportions”, which occurred between April and July 1972, hundreds of thousands of Burundians of the Hutu ethnic group were hunted down, arrested, executed without trial and very often buried in mass graves.
“This has a name in international law: genocide,” he said. And while Burundi’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission officially described the events of 1972 as such, identifying over 4,000 potential mass graves and collecting thousands of witness testimonies, “no international body has recognized this crime as such”. Citing this silence as “a form of abandoning innocent victims whose souls need to be put to rest”, he underscored that “the responsibility to protect is not a slogan”, but a “legal, moral and political commitment”.
Source: United Nations MIL OSI
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the General Assembly on the twentieth anniversary of the responsibility to protect, in New York today:
Twenty years ago, leaders gathered at the 2005 World Summit and committed to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.
In doing so, they recognized that sovereignty carries not only rights, but responsibilities — first and foremost, the duty of each State to protect its own people.
They underlined the duty of the international community to support States in this effort, and they highlighted the need for collective, timely and decisive action in line with the Charter of the United Nations, when national authorities manifestly fail to do so.
Today, we mark the twentieth anniversary of the responsibility to protect at a time of profound global turbulence.
We are witnessing the highest number of armed conflicts since the end of the Second World War.
These are marked by rising identity-based violence, widespread violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, and deepening impunity.
Conflicts are becoming more protracted, more complex and interconnected.
Emerging threats such as the weaponization of new technologies and the proliferation of advanced weaponry require a constant adaptation of our efforts to prevent the commission of atrocity crimes and to protect populations.
In addition, too often, early warnings go unheeded, and alleged evidence of crimes committed by States and non-State actors are met with denial, indifference or repression.
Responses are often too little, too late, inconsistent or undermined by double standards. Civilians are paying the highest price.
Credibility as the guardian of peace and security, development and human rights requires consistency with the Charter of the UN.
On this anniversary, we must recognize that the responsibility to protect is more than a principle — it is a moral imperative, rooted in our shared humanity and the Charter of the UN.
In that spirit, I share today the seventeenth report of the Secretary-General on the responsibility to protect. It reflects two decades of efforts, calls for revitalized action and includes insights from a survey conducted in preparation for this report.
We found that the principle holds strong support among Member States. Communities affected by violence see it as offering a ray of hope. But they also call for effective implementation at all levels.
The report highlights efforts realized through national prevention mechanisms of a regional nature — from the African Union to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Organization of American States (OAS); and multilateral initiatives such as the Group of Friends of R2P, the ACT Code of Conduct and the call for veto restraint in the face of mass atrocities.
It shows that early diplomacy, early warning and institutional innovation to prevent and respond to atrocity crimes can be effective. It also underscores the need to mainstream atrocity prevention across the United Nations system — from humanitarian action to peacekeeping to human rights. And it calls for integrating early warning, supporting national prevention mechanisms and embedding atrocity prevention in the broader agendas of sustaining peace, human rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
No society is immune from the risk of atrocity crimes. Prevention must begin at home — with leadership that protects rights, embraces diversity and upholds the rule of law. And it must be supported globally — through multilateral cooperation, principled diplomacy and early and decisive action to effectively protect populations.
Two decades on, the responsibility to protect remains both an urgent necessity, a moral imperative and an unfulfilled promise.
Let us keep the promise, deepen our commitment, strengthen our cooperation, and ensure that atrocity prevention and protecting populations becomes a permanent and universal practice.
Let us move forward with resolve, unity and the courage to act.
Source: United Nations MIL OSI
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the General Assembly on the twentieth anniversary of the responsibility to protect, in New York today:
Twenty years ago, leaders gathered at the 2005 World Summit and committed to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.
In doing so, they recognized that sovereignty carries not only rights, but responsibilities — first and foremost, the duty of each State to protect its own people.
They underlined the duty of the international community to support States in this effort, and they highlighted the need for collective, timely and decisive action in line with the Charter of the United Nations, when national authorities manifestly fail to do so.
Today, we mark the twentieth anniversary of the responsibility to protect at a time of profound global turbulence.
We are witnessing the highest number of armed conflicts since the end of the Second World War.
These are marked by rising identity-based violence, widespread violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, and deepening impunity.
Conflicts are becoming more protracted, more complex and interconnected.
Emerging threats such as the weaponization of new technologies and the proliferation of advanced weaponry require a constant adaptation of our efforts to prevent the commission of atrocity crimes and to protect populations.
In addition, too often, early warnings go unheeded, and alleged evidence of crimes committed by States and non-State actors are met with denial, indifference or repression.
Responses are often too little, too late, inconsistent or undermined by double standards. Civilians are paying the highest price.
Credibility as the guardian of peace and security, development and human rights requires consistency with the Charter of the UN.
On this anniversary, we must recognize that the responsibility to protect is more than a principle — it is a moral imperative, rooted in our shared humanity and the Charter of the UN.
In that spirit, I share today the seventeenth report of the Secretary-General on the responsibility to protect. It reflects two decades of efforts, calls for revitalized action and includes insights from a survey conducted in preparation for this report.
We found that the principle holds strong support among Member States. Communities affected by violence see it as offering a ray of hope. But they also call for effective implementation at all levels.
The report highlights efforts realized through national prevention mechanisms of a regional nature — from the African Union to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Organization of American States (OAS); and multilateral initiatives such as the Group of Friends of R2P, the ACT Code of Conduct and the call for veto restraint in the face of mass atrocities.
It shows that early diplomacy, early warning and institutional innovation to prevent and respond to atrocity crimes can be effective. It also underscores the need to mainstream atrocity prevention across the United Nations system — from humanitarian action to peacekeeping to human rights. And it calls for integrating early warning, supporting national prevention mechanisms and embedding atrocity prevention in the broader agendas of sustaining peace, human rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
No society is immune from the risk of atrocity crimes. Prevention must begin at home — with leadership that protects rights, embraces diversity and upholds the rule of law. And it must be supported globally — through multilateral cooperation, principled diplomacy and early and decisive action to effectively protect populations.
Two decades on, the responsibility to protect remains both an urgent necessity, a moral imperative and an unfulfilled promise.
Let us keep the promise, deepen our commitment, strengthen our cooperation, and ensure that atrocity prevention and protecting populations becomes a permanent and universal practice.
Let us move forward with resolve, unity and the courage to act.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Statements delivered by Simon Manley, the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, 18 – 19 February 2025 at the World Trade Organization in Geneva.
Item 2: Practical Steps to Enhance the Process for the Appointment of Officers to Certain WTO Bodies. Communication from Canada, Chile, Jamaica, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Singapore and Switzerland
Thank you, Chair. The UK adds our congratulations to the new Chairs, and also extends our thanks to you, Chair, in particular, for your work in the General Council. Your leadership and tireless drive, which we can already see this morning, to take forward our work with both good humour and astute steering of the meetings has been hugely appreciated. On this item, the UK does support pragmatic initiatives that can help improve processes for all of us here at the WTO, so we are grateful to the countries who have put this forward. We do support reform by doing, and as this document says, this is reform by doing. It solves issues around the appointment of Chairs, which when they are delayed leads to gaps that effect all of us and the efficiency of the organization. It is practical steps that we should all be able to agree to and the UK supports it.
Item 4: Incorporation of the Agreement on Electronic Commerce into Annex 4 of the WTO Agreement
Thank you, Chair. The UK is disappointed with the objections this morning to the incorporation of the E-commerce agreement as an annex 4 plurilateral. It is even more disappointing to see the failure to reach agreement on an investment facilitation and development on the previous item and I would just like to acknowledge the large number of very eloquent and well-reasoned interventions, especially from developing countries, on how they, like all WTO numbers, stand to benefit from the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA). Both the IFDA and E-commerce agreements are in the category of things the WTO can and should do now, and in good time, before MC14. Speakers this morning, especially from developing countries, have clearly set out the benefits which the E-commerce agreement offers. I’m just going to briefly recap a few. First, that this is the first set of global digital trade rules, in a sector which already by 2020 represented 25% of global trade worth almost 5 trillion USD; it has a key role in global economic growth. It is an agreement which not just increases digital trade and lowers trade barriers, it also enhances trust in an open digital environment. In all these ways it can unlock opportunities for businesses, jobs and their consumers all around the world. It is also an agreement that has been inclusive in its preparation. The vast majority of the 91 countries originally involved in the negotiation are developing countries. It is inclusive in its benefits as so many developing countries have set out. It is not just the delegations in this room who say all of these things, just in the last few weeks. For example, we heard directly from businesses at the World Economic Forum about the benefits of unleashing digital trade for MSMEs, in particular. Then, very importantly, my last point to support the implementation of the agreement includes a multi-avenue support package comprising implementation periods, technical assistance and capacity building.
The UK is committed to continuing our support for various technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives, such as a Digital Access Programme. We are ready to work with all members on the E-commerce agreement to make progress and reach agreement swiftly, hopefully well in advance of MC14.
Item 5: Report by the Chairperson of the Trade Negotiations Committee and Report by the Director General
Thank you for your Report, in particular for reminding us of the measurable benefits traders have brought to economic growth and development and for your commitments driving forward all our work. The UK is ready to cooperate with all members to ensure meaningful progress across all the areas you mentioned in the run up to MC14, including things we can and should agree before MC14. We recognise that, as you said Director General, it is a challenging time for global trade. We are grateful for your efforts. As our Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security said in the UK parliament last week, the UK stands behind your exemplary leadership. We agreed that the WTO is a forum to listen and to discuss differences on trade with a review to resolving them; for calm responses and constructive dialogue as we look ahead to MC14.
As we look ahead to MC14, we support the particular priority to deliver for development. For the UK this includes the things we can and should do before MC14. On the development benefits of IFDA and E-commerce, I refer to the points I and others, including so many developing countries, made this morning. On the fisheries subsidies agreements and, through them, realising SDG target 14.6, we hope both enter into force, and Fish One and adoption of Fish Two could be secured before the UN Ocean Summit in France in June. That these agreements are so close is actually a tribute to the hard work and readiness to listen with compromises by so many in this room. Completing that work will also help us form a clear pathway to MC14, including space to work on agriculture and other important areas already under discussion. On agriculture, our thanks also to outgoing Chair, Ambassador Alparslan Acarsoy of Türkiye, for his work. Achieving a breakthrough on agriculture is more essential than ever. We cannot lose time, including to agree a new Chair, and then to work for successive MC14. Director General, thank you again for your leadership. We of course recognise the challenges. Trade is not always straightforward. The UK continues to support the WTO in the multilateral trading system; the benefits for trade for all of us, for growth, for development, are real. We are committed to working with you, with Members, to realise them. Thank you.
Item 9: Follow-up to the WTO Off-Site Retreat on Trade as a Tool for Development and Way Forward. Request from Barbados and South Africa
Thank you, Chair and the Secretariat for giving us a quick readout of the discussions. Already today we have heard several times about the importance of high ambition on development for MC14, and more widely, and the UK fully agrees. We would particularly like to thank South Africa and Barbados for bring in this discussion and helping to set out a path forward and welcome your particular collaboration when we think about what can be achieved. Development is cross cutting in so much of our work, and that is why, for the UK, the best way to maintain short-term momentum is with the early agreement on outcomes that are already in reach. That is why in earlier interventions today we have stressed the development benefits from early conclusion on investment facilitation for development, fisheries and E-commerce. We add to this, the development opportunities around LDC graduation and indeed the opportunities through new accessions to the WTO, that we will hear about tomorrow. Equally, to make a success of this we want to hear ideas, and we urge developing country members in particular to deliver their priority proposals as soon as possible, so that we really can work together to achieve progress in the timeframe of MC14.
Finally, the UK is committed to wider initiatives supporting developing countries, working in partnerships, listening to needs, and with this in mind we note that as the only fund dedicated to LDC trade, the UK wants to ensure that the enhanced integrated framework continues to deliver impact for LDCs. We have just made available this year an additional £100,000 into the interim facility, which brings our total contribution to £1,000,000 and we hope this will help ensure continuity while the future of the fund is discussed. As Members are aware, we hope the EIF taskforce will make its recommendations very soon as a basis for further improvement, meeting the expectations of LDCs and donors. Thank you.
Item 11: WTO Accessions: 2024 Annual Report by the Director General
The UK is closely engaged in this work and supports prospective Members to secure the benefits of the global trading system by progressing their accessions. We particularly note the positive development impact of WTO accession and underline that we are keen to welcome more developing countries, particularly LDCs, to the WTO. We support the strategic focus for 2025 on the accession of Uzbekistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina who have made significant progress. The UK for example recently held constructive bilateral discussions with Uzbekistan to help advance the accession and we encourage all Members to work with Uzbekistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina to support their ambitions for early WTO accession. We also very much welcome Somalia’s first Working Party and Ethiopia’s renewed energy behind their accession as specific examples of LDC interest and with this in mind we would like to reconfirm the UK’s commitment to chairing the Working Party on the accession of Ethiopia, but are also grateful to the Deputy Director General for temporarily standing in the coming meeting. Finally, the UK is a provider of technical support in this area, and we note that the Enhanced Integrated Fund is open to LDCs post accession, so we encourage Timor Leste and Comoros to use the facility where it is helpful.
Item 13: Stocktaking of Work on the Operationalization of paragraph 21 of the MC13 Abu Dhabi Ministerial Declaration. Communication from Pakistan
Thank you, Chair. We will be brief, but we just wanted to add thanks to Pakistan for bringing this important issue back to the General Council’s attention. Unfortunately, if anything, it is becoming increasingly relevant and urgent, and the UK does see the role of trade in this area. We will publish a full statement but just to acknowledge, in particular, Pakistan’s proactivity and thinking of areas like services, financial services and trade debt and finance work to identify where, as a Membership, we can take things forward and we look forward to continuing to contribute.
Item 14: WTO at 30. Statement by the Director General
Thank you. I want to be short. We set out yesterday commitment to the WTO in the multilateral trading system and the opportunities we have at work to benefit all Members. Of course, that includes WTO reform by doing, and we set out our confidence in your leadership, Director General. Like Australia, we encourage further work on this proposal. Thank you.