Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division
Headline: Justice Department Reaches New Settlement to Protect U.S. Workers
The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement agreement with H2A Complete II Inc., a Mississippi company, to address evidence that the company violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) when it unfairly tipped the scales to hire H-2A visa holders over U.S. workers for agricultural employment opportunities.
Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division
Headline: Justice Department Reaches New Settlement to Protect U.S. Workers
The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement agreement with H2A Complete II Inc., a Mississippi company, to address evidence that the company violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) when it unfairly tipped the scales to hire H-2A visa holders over U.S. workers for agricultural employment opportunities.
Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division
Headline: Justice Department Reaches New Settlement to Protect U.S. Workers
The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement agreement with H2A Complete II Inc., a Mississippi company, to address evidence that the company violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) when it unfairly tipped the scales to hire H-2A visa holders over U.S. workers for agricultural employment opportunities.
Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division
Headline: Justice Department Reaches New Settlement to Protect U.S. Workers
The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement agreement with H2A Complete II Inc., a Mississippi company, to address evidence that the company violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) when it unfairly tipped the scales to hire H-2A visa holders over U.S. workers for agricultural employment opportunities.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alain Guillemain, PhD Candidate in Philosophy, Deakin University
Philosophy is the study of fundamental questions about reality, knowledge, and values. One “does philosophy” when they respond to such questions in ways that engage critical thought and inquiry.
Many of us will often respond philosophically to the world around us without even realising it. We may do this, for instance, when we reflect on various aspects of culture and the arts.
But does going to the cinema really amount to doing philosophy? While you may have never thought about it this way, this is exactly what one famous French philosopher named Gilles Deleuze (1925–95) argued.
Deleuze presents a philosophical approach to cinema that treats films not merely as entertainment, but as a medium for thinking and creating philosophical concepts.
This creation of philosophical concepts is what he and his collaborator, Felix Guattari, prize as “doing philosophy” in their 1991 book What is Philosophy?.
For Deleuze and Guattari, the creation of concepts is not entirely mental. It is an embodied process that involves engaging the senses – which is what cinema demands of both filmmakers and viewers. To that end, filmmakers and film viewers can both be seen as special kinds of philosophers.
Deleuze suggests cinema is not simply leisure or culture. In his 1983 book Cinema 1: The Movement-Image, he highlights how cinema is a philosophical practice made possible though “movement-images” – cinematic images which can actively shape our perception and experience of the world.
Great film directors can create concepts through movement-images, just as great philosophers do so through language.
Deleuze identified three categories of movement-images: perception-images, affection-images and action-images.
The perception-image frames the world from a particular point of view, usually to establish context for an action. For example, at the start of a scene, the camera might pan across the contents of a room before resting on the protagonist.
The affection-image is the cinematic expression of pure emotion. Affection-images can evoke empathy, such as when we see a character’s face overcome with sadness in a close-up. These images usually sit between perception and action images.
The action-image embodies action and reaction within a defined situation, and usually links perception and affection images. In the horror genre, this may be the “jump scare” that suddenly reveals a killer, after a long buildup of tension.
In his 1985 book Cinema 2: The Time-Image, Deleuze extends his film philosophy from that of movement-images to include time-images.
The time-image is one where the experience of time is prioritised over narrative. For instance, a time-image may make use of long takes, empty spaces and irrational cuts to depict time directly onscreen, rather than represent time through props.
Through masterfully crafting movement-images and time-images, directors can (knowingly or unwittingly) create the opportunity for audiences to think about philosophical concepts and themes.
For example, in the trailer for Get Out (2017), director Jordan Peele uses a range of movement-images and time-images to convey the concepts of racism, trauma, social isolation and social stratification.
Multiple closeups of main character Chris Washington’s face looking alarmed produce affection-images (a type of movement-image) that engage the viewer’s emotions.
Peele also strategically uses time-images to intensify the themes being conveyed, such as when Rose’s mother clinks the spoon on the teacup, both moving Chris back in time and freezing him in real time.
For Deleuze, it is these embodied, affective experiences that are the fundamental conditions for thought. By allowing the film to be sensed and felt, and by transmuting these feelings into the domain of thought, the cinemagoer can become philosophically engaged.
Repetition is another element that can bear philosophical fruits, according to Deleuze. The more one repeats a film, whether by re-watching, or repeating certain sequences, the more they allow themselves to be affected by it in different ways. This opens up different avenues for thought.
Cinemagoers need not be familiar with Deleuze’s ideas to engage philosophically with a film. The only thing required is an openness to the film. But if you do want to consciously approach your next viewing like a philosopher, you might consider the following steps:
Feel as you watch. Open yourself up and allow cinematic moments to affect you on an emotional and bodily level, even if this is unpleasant or uncomfortable.
Allow for multiple interpretations. Resist the temptation to fall into black and white thinking about which characters are “good” or “bad”. Remain open to different readings of the film.
Reflect on what you felt. Allow what you experienced in your body guide your thoughts afterwards. For instance, if you experienced shock, rage, or confusion, ask yourself why.
Gently arrive at some conclusions based on your multiple readings of the film. Allow for perspectives that both contribute to and challenge your worldview.
Consider watching the film again, and repeating the above steps. This will likely help you feel and think new things that further enhance your understanding of the film, and your worldview.
Ruari Elkington has received funding from The Queensland Government Dept of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI), Screen Queensland, The Embassy of France in Australia and Cinema Association Australasia
Alain Guillemain does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. How to approach going to the cinema like a philosopher – https://theconversation.com/how-to-approach-going-to-the-cinema-like-a-philosopher-259277
Source: US State of Pennsylvania
July 16, 2025 – Philadelphia, PA
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Nancy A. Walker will tour the Philabundance Community Kitchen to spend time with more than a dozen young adults who are gaining real-world work experience while also making a difference in their community. The students are employed through MY Work, a summer program for high school students with disabilities created by L&I’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) to match students with job opportunities and work experience in their local municipalities.
Secretary Walker will also volunteer with the students as they help make sandwiches, pack meals, and label boxes as part of Philabundance’s LunchBox 2025 program, which is providing 40,000 lunches and 20,000 breakfasts to local children this summer to meet the meal gaps for students who typically rely on meals at school and are currently home for the summer with no access to school lunches.
Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2025-26 budget calls for an additional $5 million investment in OVR, which helps people of all ages with disabilities find employment through personalized services such as vocational counseling and guidance, goal setting, training, and job placement. The proposed investment would play a key role in helping OVR continue to offer the MY Work program, as well as many other crucial services.
WHO:
Secretary Walker
leaders from Philabundance
Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.
West Park Cultural Center
WHEN:
July 16, 2025, at 10:30 AM
WHERE:
Philabundance Community Kitchen
2224 N 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19133
RSVP: Media interested in attending must RSVP to dlipress@pa.gov with the names and phone numbers for each member of their team.
Source: US State of Pennsylvania
July 16, 2025 – Philadelphia, PA
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Nancy A. Walker will tour the Philabundance Community Kitchen to spend time with more than a dozen young adults who are gaining real-world work experience while also making a difference in their community. The students are employed through MY Work, a summer program for high school students with disabilities created by L&I’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) to match students with job opportunities and work experience in their local municipalities.
Secretary Walker will also volunteer with the students as they help make sandwiches, pack meals, and label boxes as part of Philabundance’s LunchBox 2025 program, which is providing 40,000 lunches and 20,000 breakfasts to local children this summer to meet the meal gaps for students who typically rely on meals at school and are currently home for the summer with no access to school lunches.
Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2025-26 budget calls for an additional $5 million investment in OVR, which helps people of all ages with disabilities find employment through personalized services such as vocational counseling and guidance, goal setting, training, and job placement. The proposed investment would play a key role in helping OVR continue to offer the MY Work program, as well as many other crucial services.
WHO:
Secretary Walker
leaders from Philabundance
Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.
West Park Cultural Center
WHEN:
July 16, 2025, at 10:30 AM
WHERE:
Philabundance Community Kitchen
2224 N 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19133
RSVP: Media interested in attending must RSVP to dlipress@pa.gov with the names and phone numbers for each member of their team.
Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)
Active emergency updates
Alberta Emergency Alerts
Download the Alberta Emergency Alerts app
Download the Alberta Wildfire app
How to prepare for an emergency
Wildfire smoke information
Emergency evacuation payments
Free admission to provincial museums and historic sites
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Trinity Test:
“Tomorrow marks 80 years since the Trinity Test — eight decades of pain, loss, and injustice for the victims still living with the fallout of nuclear testing and uranium mining.
“For over a decade, our Congressional Delegation has worked alongside courageous advocates to fight for justice. Thanks to this tireless work, Congress passed a historic expansion and extension of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, finally recognizing more of the families harmed by the federal government’s actions.
“As we reflect on the lasting harm caused by these tests and the government’s negligence, we must renew our commitment to the people still suffering today. That means doing everything we can to help them access the compensation they deserve. Together, we will keep fighting to make sure no one is left behind.”
Since being elected to Congress, Senator Luján has played a leading role in advancing legislation to strengthen the RECA program, introducing RECA legislation in every Congress and twice passing it through the Senate.
Last week, Senator Luján led a bipartisan push and urged the Trump administration to swiftly provide detailed guidance for claimants to access the RECA program following its recent expansion and extension by Congress.
More information for New Mexico Downwinders can be found here.
More information for New Mexico uranium workers & on-site participants can be found here.
Source: Government of Canada regional news
Released on July 15, 2025
As of 11:00 am on Tuesday, July 15, there are 50 active wildfires in Saskatchewan. Of those active fires, four are categorized as contained, 12 are not contained, 18 are ongoing assessment and 16 are listed as protecting values.
Forty firefighters from Australia have arrived to assist with the wildfire efforts and another forty will be joining from Mexico later this week. This is in addition to the assistance that arrived last week from Quebec through two CL-415 aircraft and 100 wildfire personnel.
“Saskatchewan is grateful to everyone who has helped with the unprecedented wildfire season,” SPSA Vice-President of Operations Steve Roberts said. “Thank you to everyone local and abroad for the immense support in the air and on the ground.”
Over the past several months our province has received aircraft support from Quebec, British Columbia and Alaska, as well as wildland firefighters and personnel from Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Prince Edward Island, Alberta, Quebec, British Columbia, Yukon, Oregon, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Washington, South Dakota and the United States Forest Service.
Nine communities are currently under an evacuation order: Resort Subdivision of Lac La Plonge, La Plonge Reserve, Northern Village of Beauval, Jans Bay, Patuanak/English River First Nation as well as priority individuals from Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Northern Village of Pinehouse, Northern Village of Île-à-la-Crosse and Canoe Lake Cree First Nation/Cole Bay/Canoe Narrows.
Any evacuees should register through the Sask Evac Web Application and then call 1-855-559-5502 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to have their needs assessed and for additional assistance. Individuals who need help registering through the application can call the 855 Line for assistance.
Evacuees supported by the Canadian Red Cross should call 1-800-863-6582.
As a reminder, there is a fire ban in place in the area north of the provincial forest boundary, up to the Churchill River. The fire ban prohibits any open fires, controlled burns and fireworks in the designated boundary. This includes provincial parks, provincial recreation sites and the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District within the boundary.
A full list of evacuated communities can be found on the Active Evacuations webpage.
The latest wildfire information, an interactive fire ban map, frequently asked questions, fire risk maps and fire prevention tips can be found at saskpublicsafety.ca.
Review the current fire bans and restrictions in provincial parks and recreation sites.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
Vulnerable young people who are at risk of being drawn into gangs, violence or knife crime will be given the help they need when the first Young Futures Hubs get up and running later this year.
Vulnerable young people who are at risk of being drawn into gangs, violence or knife crime will be given the help they need when the first Young Futures Hubs get up and running later this year.
Sitting at the heart of the Government’s Plan for Change, these hubs will help create opportunity for all and keep our streets safe. They will bring together vital local services in the local community, providing support ranging from well-being and mental health to careers advice.
The hubs will help all teenagers thrive, in particular, those who face being dragged into criminal gangs or young people at risk of mental health challenges.
Backed by a £2m cash injection eight hubs will launch this year, targeted in areas with high levels of knife crime and antisocial behaviour and offer a lifeline to vulnerable young people. It is expected that 50 Young Future Hubs will be launched over the next four years.
The Prime Minister set out these plans while attending a summit hosted by His Majesty The King at St James’s Palace and attended by Idris Elba OBE to discuss youth opportunity. Members of the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, set up at Downing Street last year, also attended the event.
The event was an opportunity to discuss what more must be done to offer community-led support to young people, in particular those who are vulnerable, stopping them from taking the wrong path.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“My government was elected on a pledge to tackle knife crime, and we have hit the ground running by banning dangerous weapons and bringing in laws to clamp down on illegal online sales.
“We are determined to do more to prevent vulnerable young people from turning to violence in the first place and open greater opportunities. As part of the Plan for Change, we will open up Young Futures Hubs across to country to stop teenagers from being dragged into crime and find a better future.”
To make sure young people get the help they need, before getting caught up in criminal activity, the Government will also pilot new multi-agency Prevention Partnership Panels to proactively identify and refer vulnerable teenagers – who may currently be falling through the net – to a range of different support services much earlier, including the Young Futures Hubs. More than twenty panels will be up and running in the coming months, across the areas of the country that collectively account for more than 80% knife crime, with many more to follow.
This is the latest measure taken by the government to cut knife crime and keep our streets safe, part of its Plan for Change.
Since coming into office last year, the Government has brought forward the strongest controls on dangerous knives, implementing bans on zombie-style knives and ninja swords and announced plans to toughen up online sales, including sanctions for tech executives who fail to remove illegal knife crime content from their platforms.
In September, the Prime Minister also launched the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, bringing together campaign groups, families of people who have tragically lost their lives to knife crime, young people who have been impacted and community leaders.
The Prime Minister will reconvene this group later in the year to update on the progress the Government has made during its first year in office.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper:
“Knife crime devastates families and communities across the country, and too many young lives have already been lost. That’s why we’ve set out an unprecedented mission to halve knife crime in a decade and why we are working tirelessly with our coalition to tackle the scourge of serious violence on our streets.
“We are bringing in some of the toughest measures to date, curbing access to weapons being sold online and getting them off the streets, but we also need to make sure that the right prevention structures are in place to stop young people being drawn into violent crime in the first place.
“Today’s Youth Opportunities Summit is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when government, communities, and campaigners come together with a shared purpose.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:
“Too many young people are being let down – left without the support they need when they should be building bright futures. Young Futures Hubs will help change that, providing mental health support, mentoring, careers guidance, and activities that help young people thrive, ensuring no one is left behind.
“This is our Plan for Change in action – clearing barriers to opportunity while creating safer streets. With our National Youth Strategy coming later this year, we’re putting young people back in the driving seat of their own futures, offering the support they deserve with the opportunities they need.”
Source: United States Attorneys General 11
WASHINGTON — Today, Attorney General Pamela Bondi highlighted the great work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to get illegal drugs off our streets and protect innocent Americans from addiction, overdose, and drug-related crime and violence. Since January 20, 2025, DEA has seized approximately 44 million fentanyl pills, 4,500 pounds of fentanyl powder, nearly 65,000 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 201,500 pounds of cocaine, and made over 2,105 fentanyl-related arrests.
“Our DEA agents are doing historic work to keep our communities safe from deadly drugs like fentanyl and dismantle the cartels selling them,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I want to remind all Americans to exercise extreme caution: a pill can kill.”
“DEA is hitting the cartels where it hurts—with arrests, with seizures, and with relentless pressure. From meth labs in California to fentanyl pills disguised as pharmaceuticals seized at our border, these operations are saving American lives every single day,” said DEA Acting Administrator Robert Murphy. “We are not slowing down. We are dismantling these networks piece by piece—and we won’t stop until the last brick of their empire falls.”
Over the last several weeks, DEA has conducted a number of successful operations across the United States including:
Source: Securities and Exchange Commission
Today I accepted Erica Williams’ offer to resign as chair and a board member of the PCAOB and thanked her for her service. I am grateful she has agreed to stay on until July 22nd. We look forward to advancing our oversight responsibilities of the PCAOB as it continues its important work.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Change to the information provided on adverse events in the Summary of Product Characteristics for StromEase 25 mg/ml Eye Drops, Solution for Dogs and Cats.
Following monitoring of pharmacovigilance data, the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) for StromEase 25 mg/ml Eye Drops, Solution for Dogs and Cats has been updated.
Section 4.6 has been amended to clarify that irritation or inflammation of the eye and/or its adnexa have been reported in very rare cases, especially blinking of the eyelids or even closure of the eye, eye redness or conjunctival oedema, particularly in dogs.
The frequency of adverse reactions is defined using the following convention:
very common (more than 1 in 10 animals treated displaying adverse reaction(s))
common (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 100 animals treated)
uncommon (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 1,000 animals treated)
rare (more than 1 but less than 10 animals in 10,000 animals treated)
very rare (less than 1 animal in 10,000 animals treated, including isolated reports).
Any veterinary medicinal product which is authorised for marketing in the United Kingdom will have its Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) available on our Product Information Database.
No medicine is 100% risk free, the SPC includes information on what adverse events have been known to occur following administration of a particular product, these can be found in either section Adverse events (3.6) or Adverse reactions (4.6).
All updates to SPCs other than template changes, are published in the medicine updates section of VMD Connect.
Source: City of Wolverhampton
Crews will be busy in Cannock Road from Thursday 24 July with work taking place at night, between 7pm and 5am, to minimise traffic disruption.
The first section will be resurfaced from the Stafford Street junction to Nine Elms, along with fresh road markings. It is expected to be finished by Friday 8 August, weather permitting.
The Park Lane junction of Cannock Road will be resurfaced and relined between 7pm and 5am, from Monday 11 August to Friday 15 August.
It follows improvements made to roads across the city in recent weeks with more to come. The council has also made a commitment to repair more than 7,500 potholes this year.
Councillor Qaiser Azeem, City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “We know Cannock Road needs resurfacing and that work will be taking place soon giving this main route into the city a much needed facelift.
“Fixing roads and tackling potholes is a priority for the council and we have a programme of work being put into action.
“Like councils up and down the country, we can’t do everything all at once.
“The Local Government Association estimated the backlog of road repairs stands at about £17 billion and could take more than a decade to fix.
“In Wolverhampton we are following a data led, informed strategy to identify where improvements can have the greatest impact, reducing the need for urgent repairs on our roads in the long run.”
The council is responsible for maintaining 480 miles of roads and nearly 800 miles of footpaths.
Highways maintenance is funded through the council’s £9.7 million capital programme for 2025 to 2026.
Earlier this year the council also welcomed an extra £2 million from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) to help fix even more potholes.
You can search your road via Causeway one.network to see updates on planned work, road closures and traffic diversions.
Report a pothole by downloading our Love Clean Streets app at Report a pothole or via the website.
Source: Privacy Commissioner
Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster says New Zealanders need to improve how they’re using passwords.
His warning comes because he’s concerned about the increased risk of privacy breaches caused by privacy spraying. That’s where hackers find one password and then try it on other accounts to see if it will work to open those as well. People recycling passwords for multiple accounts are falling victim.
“Our strong suggestion is for people to have a different password for each account they have. Making a password unique means if one account is hacked then there’s no chance it can also be used to open other accounts and create even more damage”, Mr Webster says.
“Having unique passwords is a great way to make a hacker’s job far harder.”
There are several other things people can do to help protect their personal information. Using a password manager to store all your passwords is a good fix and there are many different options, many of which are free.
People can also use long and strong passwords and change them immediately if they’ve been hacked. Turning on two-factor identification is another good layer of protection.
“Having your information breached on one account is bad enough, but by using a dedicated password and adding extra security steps you can help prevent hackers accessing other accounts and causing even more harm.
Personal information has value, so the more protection you have in place the better. Any step people can take to deter hackers is a good step to take and unique passwords are an excellent start.”
Source: Mayor of London
The Basic Income Earth Network, an advocacy organisation, defines a basic income as “a periodic cash payment unconditionally delivered to all on an individual basis, without means-test or work requirement.”1
There is currently one active Universal Basic Income (UBI) trial in the UK: the Welsh Government commissioned a 3-year trial running from July 2022, involving 500 care leavers receiving a monthly payment of £1,600.2
The London Assembly Economy, Culture and Skills Committee will meet tomorrow to understand the benefits and drawbacks associated with a Universal Basic Income (UBI) in London, and evaluate how far a UBI would be effective in addressing some of the most acute problems faced by Londoners.
The two panels are split to hear from one set of guests that are supportive of the idea of UBI, with the second panel made up of guests who take a more sceptical view.
The guests are:
Panel 1:
Panel 2:
The meeting will take place on Wednesday 25 June 2025 from 10am in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
Follow us @LondonAssembly.
Source: Mayor of London
PUBLIC MEETINGS
Tuesday 1 July
New London Fire Commissioner
Fire Committee – The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am
On his first day as London Fire Commissioner, Jonathan Smith will answer questions from the Fire Committee.
The Committee will ask the Commissioner about what his plans are for the London Fire Brigade, as he starts his new role, and how he intends to deliver a modern and effective fire service for London. The guests are:
Panel 1: 10-10.45
Panel 2: 11-11.45
Panel 3: LFC & DMF 12-12.45
MEDIA CONTACT: Josh Hunt on 07763 252 310 / [email protected]
Wednesday 2 July
Neighbourhood policing
Police and Crime Committee – The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am
37 per cent of young people said their trust in the police had decreased over the last year, according to a 2024 survey.
The Police and Crime Committee will meet to begin its investigation into neighbourhood policing, specifically looking at the effectiveness of how the teams engage and maintain relationships with young people. The guests are:
MEDIA CONTACT: Tony Smyth on 07763 251 727 / [email protected]
Wednesday 2 July
Men’s mental health
Health Committee – The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 2pm
As part of its investigation into men’s mental health, the Health Committee will hear from guests who have lived experience of challenges with mental health. The guests are:
Panel 1: 14:00 – 15:25
Panel 2: 15:30 – 17:00
MEDIA CONTACT: Alison Bell on 07887 832 918 / [email protected]
Thursday 3 July
Transport for London & Oxford St Mayoral Development Area
All Assembly meeting – The Chamber, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, 10am
Assembly Members will ask how Transport for London (TfL) is delivering for London, and what its priorities and challenges are for 2025/26. The guests are:
From 1pm, the Assembly will consider the Mayor’s proposal to designate a Mayoral Development Area (MDA) for Oxford Street, and whether or not to reject the proposal. Guests to be confirmed.
MEDIA CONTACT: Alison Bell on 07887 832 918 / [email protected]
Source: City of Westminster
Westminster City Council’s Cabinet has agreed to appoint Altius Real Estate (‘Altius’), and its contractor partner Erith, as a delivery partner for Huguenot House – a building which is located between Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus.
Subject to a five-day call-in period, Altius will begin the design development before undertaking public consultation and then submitting a planning application.
Huguenot House is an early 1960s design with flats, offices, cinema and a car park. Options for the future of Huguenot House have been under consideration since 2017, and in March 2021, the decision was taken that the preferred option was to redevelop the building. Future plans will deliver significant improvements to residents and the wider community, providing a better environment for people to live, work and visit the area.
The principle of appointing a delivery partner was considered and agreed by Cabinet on 18 September 2023. Since November 2023, Westminster City Council has been looking for a partner that met various requirements including:
Altius was selected as the preferred bidder as it met and exceeded all these criteria, with a project team that includes architecture studio Foster+Partners. Its proposals for Huguenot House involve new homes including a greater number of affordable homes, community assets including a garden, plus a cinema, hotel and offices.
Cllr David Boothroyd, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member for Finance and Council Reform, said:
“The redevelopment of Huguenot House represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform a key site in the heart of the West End.
“Altius has demonstrated a clear commitment to delivering high-quality homes, including much-needed affordable housing in our city, alongside vibrant community spaces and a reimagined public realm. This is about creating a place that works for residents, businesses, and visitors alike and we will ensure local people and existing residents remain at the heart of the process through continued engagement and consultation.”
On-site businesses, residents and leaseholders have been kept updated on plans as they have progressed and Westminster City Council is committed to continuing this engagement going forward. The Cabinet heard directly from a residents’ representative at the meeting and answered their questions.
Secure tenants and resident leaseholders have a right to return to the new development should they choose, and will be supported throughout whilst they temporarily live away from the site. The council is committed to working closely with residents and to discussing all options and entitlements, including support for costs associated with moving. Residents also have access to advice from an independent advisor.
Further details are available here: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/huguenot-house
Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent
Published: Tuesday, 15th July 2025
A new statue is set to give long-overdue recognition to the women who shaped Stoke-on-Trent’s world-famous ceramics industry.
Plans to commission the city’s first statue honouring the women’s historic contribution will go before the city council’s cabinet on Tuesday 22 July.
At the start of the 20th century, women made up nearly half of the workforce in the local pottery industry. Yet their roles were often overlooked, underpaid and undervalued – with men taking on the most skilled and lucrative positions.
Women played a vital part the creation of ceramic products that were exported around the world – helping secure the city’s global reputation and ultimately, its city status in 1925.
The statue would be installed outside The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery – where the ‘Steel Man’ statue is currently located.
Under the proposals, Steel Man would be loaned to Goodwin PLC, returning to the foundry in Hanley where it was originally cast almost 50 years ago. In return, Goodwin would fund and commission the new bronze statue.
Steel Man was created by artist Colin Melbourne in 1974, commissioned by the Shelton Steel Action Committee. It would remain on public display at its new home – clearly visible from the main road.
The new statue forms part of the city’s wider Centenary celebrations, marking 100 years since the city was officially granted its status in 1925.
Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “This is about giving recognition to a part of our history that has too often gone unrecognised.
“Women were often the backbone of the ceramics industry – decorating and finishing some of the world’s most iconic pottery, often without the recognition or pay that men received.
“For every Clarice Cliff or Susie Cooper, there were hundreds of women whose names we don’t recognise but whose skill and labour made this city what it is. This new statue is a proud, permanent tribute to their work and their place in our history.
“I’m also pleased that there are plans for Steel Man to return home to the foundry where it was originally cast. It’s a proud symbol of our industrial heritage and it will continue to tell that story in a new setting.”
Source: Scotland – City of Perth
A new mattress reuse service is now helping to tackle this waste. Residents can drop off unwanted mattresses in one of two designated containers at Friarton Recycling Centre in Perth. These are collected by PUSH, a local charity that supports young people who face barriers to employment.
Each mattress is thoroughly cleaned and sanitised by trained staff at PUSH’s warehouse in Friarton, before being sold at affordable prices in the PUSH Reuse Shop at 52-60 South Street, Perth.
Free home collections are also available: please call PUSH on 01738 270615 to book.
To help us ensure safety and quality, donated mattresses must:
By donating or buying a mattress from PUSH, you’re helping reduce waste and supporting local young people into meaningful training and employment.
“We’re proud to offer clean, professionally sanitised mattresses at affordable prices,” said PUSH CEO, Catriona Palombo. “Demand for low-cost mattresses has always been high, and now we can meet that need with confidence, knowing each one has been thoroughly processed by our trained team. When you buy from PUSH, you’re not just supporting reuse — you’re helping to create real training and employment opportunities for local young people facing barriers to work.”
Convener of the Council’s Climate Change and Sustainability Committee, Councillor Richard Watters said: ‘This new reuse service is a great step forward in the Council’s net-zero ambitions. By donating a mattress you are giving it a second life, saving valuable resources from being sent to Energy from Waste and supporting a long-established local charity in PUSH.”
Head of Resource Management at Zero Waste Scotland, Stuart Murray commented: “Zero Waste Scotland is delighted to champion mattress reuse in Perth and Kinross, thanks to the Recycling Improvement Fund- a Scottish Government fund designed to help Local Authorities improve recycling services and infrastructure.”
Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen
To coincide with the Festival of the Sea (12-27 July) Aberdeen Maritime Museum volunteers have recorded a selection of stories relating to ships built in Aberdeen and the city’s maritime history. Visitors can listen to the stories on the Bloomberg Connects free digital guide to the Museum.
Donald Alexander, Colin Heling, Richard Leavett and Finlay McKichan regularly volunteer their time with the Aberdeen-built Ships project. This database holds records of the 3,000 ships built in Aberdeen at the shipyards of Alexander Hall & Co, John Lewis and Sons, Hall, Russel & Co, and Walter Hood & Co. Many of the Aberdeen-built Ships volunteers have worked in the city’s maritime industries and they all share a passion for maritime history. This direct knowledge and experience benefits the understanding of the collection of objects, plans, films and photographs cared for by Aberdeen Archives, Gallery and Museums.
On the Bloomberg Connects digital guide, the volunteers highlight a number of objects and themes around the Museum, including
The Aberdeen-built ships database contains extensive information about the vessels including technical details, stories discovered from original sources, data from the Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, newspaper accounts and information passed to the volunteers by relatives and researchers. It also contains information about some vessels which, although not built in the city, were associated with it through ownership, operation, or reconstruction.
Finlay McKichan, Aberdeen-built Ships volunteer, said, “Volunteering for the Aberdeen-built Ships Project gives me the opportunity to follow up on my interest in shipping with research which, through the website, may be read by enthusiasts and genealogists across the world.”
Councillor Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokesman, said, “The Aberdeen-built Ships database is a remarkable record of Aberdeen’s rich maritime heritage which has been added to over the past 25 years thanks to the dedication of volunteers. We are incredibly grateful for all the knowledge and expertise the volunteers bring to the understanding of the collection. We look forward to sharing their insights with visitors on the Bloomberg Connects digital guide.”
Explore the Aberdeen-built Ships database at
Aberdeen-built Ships | Aberdeen City Council
The free Bloomberg Connects art and culture app can be downloaded at bloombergconnects.org
The Maritime Museum will be open until 8pm on Saturday 19, Sunday 20 and Monday 21 July during the Tall Ships Races Aberdeen. Admission is free and donations are welcome. For visiting information go to www.aagm.co.uk
Festival of the Sea 12 – 27 July
From sports camps to singing and storytelling, theatre and dancing to sea dragons and coastal discovery tours, and from exhibitions and creative writing to watercolour workshops, there’s something for all ages to discover and enjoy during the Festival of the Sea. For details of what’s on go to https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/leisure-culture-and-parks/major-events-aberdeen/festival-sea-2025
Source: City of Manchester
The Council has appointed Sarah Broad as the new Director of Policy, Performance and Reform following a highly competitive recruitment process this week.
The position plays a key role in supporting the next chapter of Manchester’s success as one of the fastest growing cities in Europe – and a vital engine of growth for the UK, attracting major international business and investment.
Sarah will lead improvements to the quality and efficiency of services across the city, delivering culture change and inspiring innovation, and will embed a data and evidence-led approach to decision making.
The role will help drive the Our Manchester strategy – the vision for the city – over the next decade through key policy and strategic initiatives to address challenges facing our residents.
Sarah will work closely with the Leader, Chief Executive, and Deputy Chief Executive, and lead strategic partnerships across the city, Greater Manchester, and nationally.
With close to 20 years of local government and public sector experience, Sarah brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding to this role. And having worked as Deputy Director of Adult Social Services at Manchester City Council since 2020, she understands intimately some of the challenges facing Manchester people and has led nationally recognised service change and transformation. Her deep understanding of the challenges facing Manchester residents will be invaluable in her new position.
Previously, Sarah has worked as Strategic Lead for Reform and Innovation – reporting directly into a former Director of Policy, Performance and Reform – and previously in programme, partnership and commissioning roles at GM Active, Co-operatives UK and in two London Borough councils, as well as in an advisory role at Auckland Council in New Zealand.
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “It’s an exciting time for Manchester and this role is highly influential in the direction of travel and vision of our city. We want Manchester to be a place where all our residents can be supported to share in our success – and at a time when we are seeing huge confidence in Manchester and significant growth, this position will play an important role in the city’s future.”
Tom Stannard, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, said: “I look forward to working closely with Sarah in the coming months and years with a shared vision to make sure our residents have what they need to succeed in the future, supported by great services and ambitious programmes.
“Sarah will play a pivotal role in delivering the Our Manchester strategy—the city’s long-term vision—over the next decade. Here work will focus on key policy and strategic initiatives aimed at tackling the challenges facing residents, including reducing inequalities, narrowing the economic and skills gap, and creating a fairer city where all Manchester people can thrive. This will also include prioritising the development of a public service reform programme for the next decade, building on the Council’s long-standing commitment to early intervention, prevention, and integrated services.”
Sarah said: “I have spent a large part of my career in Manchester and the wider region and I am passionate about delivering for the people of this city. Manchester is brimming with confidence and I look forward to supporting the city’s ongoing success – while also tackling head on some of the key challenges facing our residents.”
Source: City of Manchester
Don’t let history repeat itself, says Manchester’s public health team, as they urge parents and carers to take action now to stop preventable Victorian diseases like Measles and typhoid return
Their plea comes as schools prepare for summer and families are set to travel for their holidays – which also increases the possibility for picking up or spreading diseases in unvaccinated people.
In particular, cases of measles are starting to increase across the country. There was no vaccination available during the Victorian era, which meant rapid spread of the disease and the mortality rate was high from associated complications like pneumonia.
Without today’s knowledge and approach they were frequently limited to using soaps and oils. “We can’t go back to the past for the future,” says Dr Cordelle Ofori, Manchester’s Director of Public Health. “In Manchester we want everyone to have the chance to have as much protection as possible and take up our free vaccinations offer.
“It’s totally understandable that parents or carers want as much detail as possible about the vaccinations, so please do ask any questions from your doctor or pharmacist, or health champions in your areas. NHS-trained health champions are local people, who live near you and are able to ask questions to medical teams on your behalf.”
Cllr Thomas Robinson, Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Healthy Manchester and Adult Social Care, continues: “It’s never too late to come forward for the MMR vaccination – and if you do not know if you or your family have had it, please ask your GP. Where there is no record of having had the vaccinations, it is better to have them to be on the safe side.”
As part of a preventative stance, Manchester is writing to all parents or carers of school-age children to give them more details on vaccinations and other travel advice.
They are also sending it with a link to a bespoke guide for Manchester on how the body can be affected by certain diseases when people are not vaccinated. The booklet can be downloaded here: https://www.manchesterlco.org/childhood-vaccinations/
This is so that parents can act quickly now through free vaccinations with their GP and also so that they are ready for when schools return in September. Key travel advice for parents or carers ahead of the holidays has a focus on Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) – all of which were prevalent in Victorian times.
Hepatitis A This affects your liver. You can catch it from dirty water or food, or from someone who has it. Your child might:
For more detail: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hepatitis-a/
Typhoid This affects your whole body and can be very dangerous. Your child might:
For more detail: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/typhoid-fever/
Measles This spreads very easily from person to person. It can be very dangerous for young children and can even cause brain swelling. Your child might:
For more detail: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/measles/
Source: City of Leicester
Abbey Park has been awarded the prestigious Green Flag award, which recognises its high standards.
Issued to Abbey Park every year since 1997 for its well-managed grounds and inviting atmosphere, the Green Flag award is given to parks and green areas that represent the ideal space for the public to visit: clean, welcoming and environmentally sustainable. This year, the park was ‘mystery shopped’ for the award, which means that it was assessed without informing Abbey Park staff.
Each potential Green Flag park is assessed on factors such as its safety, cleanliness and sustainability, as well as how they encourage wildlife and how they get volunteers and the wider community involved in the park. Abbey Park impressed the judges in each of these criteria, with its sensory garden (pictured) offering a quiet space for mindfulness and relaxation, and its Friendship Garden and lavender maze providing areas bursting with nature, which can be enjoyed by all.
A huge effort has been made to encourage wildlife, in the use of peat-free bark mulch, planting for pollinators and many areas of longer grass.
Visitors have a wide array of opportunities for a free day out, especially those with children; the park offers a kids’ play area, tennis courts and table tennis, and a Pets’ Corner with birds, rabbits and goats. There are wooden sculptures throughout the park, with a new sculpture recently carved from a tree trunk, in the shape of a seat.
For more information about Abbey Park, visit leicester.gov.uk/parks
(Ends)
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
July 15, 2025
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), secured several important provisions to support our state’s residents, Servicemembers, Veterans and economy in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that SASC recently approved last week and the full Senate will now consider. Some of the priorities Duckworth secured to help Illinoisans include protecting Rock Island Arsenal from any restructuring until the Army provides more information about their proposed plans, expanding access to vital health care services for our state’s servicemembers, Veterans as well as military families and supporting research and development at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park in Chicago.
“The brave Illinoisans who serve our nation in uniform at home and abroad deserve to know that our country fully supports them as they and their families sacrifice to defend our country,”?said Senator Duckworth.?“While I do not support every provision in this bipartisan compromise, I’m proud I was able to secure several important provisions to benefit our state by protecting operations at Rock Island Arsenal, protecting health care access for our military and Veteran families and supporting groundbreaking quantum computing research in Chicago. I’m glad the Armed Services Committee included these important provisions in this year’s NDAA and I hope the full Senate approves it as soon possible.”
Key Duckworth provisions secured in this year’s Committee-passed NDAA that would support Illinoisans include:
Supporting and Protecting Rock Island Arsenal Operations:
By Protecting Jobs: This provision would restrict the Secretary of the Army from using any funds allocated for restructuring until the Army provides more information about their proposed plan to integrate Joint Munitions Command and Army Sustainment Command, helping ensure operations at Rock Island Arsenal are not affected unnecessarily.
By Sustaining Workload and Industrial Base: This provision would establish a 5-year pilot program requiring DoD to give preference to public-private partnerships in arsenals, especially those non-public partners that ensure equitable workshare to DoD employees to protect critical skills. This provision would help ensure arsenals and factories, like Rock Island Arsenal, remain active and viable while preserving the skilled workforce, equipment and production capacity critical to the nation’s defense industrial base.
By Constructing a Child Development Center at Rock Island Arsenal: The bill authorizes $50 million in Major Construction funds for a new addition to the Child Development Center at Rock Island Arsenal and to consolidate the existing facilities and make upgrades to meet DoD guidelines and safety requirements, ensuring that eligible families at Rock Island Arsenal have a safe, modern facility for childcare.
By Improving Predictive Manufacturing Analytics at Army Arsenals: Language urging the continued implementation of industrial control networks across our Army’s arsenals to enable the collection, aggregation, and analysis of data associated with the manufacture and repair of equipment and supplies. This work completed by MxD, the nation’s digital manufacturing and cybersecurity institute, located in Chicago, helps ensure the efficiency and security of the critical manufacturing completed at Rock Island Arsenal and the Army’s other arsenals.?
By Expanding Robotic Enhancements for Armaments Manufacturing: Language authorizing an additional $5 million for the Secretary of the Army to expand prototyping and production capacity by integrating robotics, automation and digital manufacturing into the munitions industrial base, further modernizing production at Rock Island Arsenal with technology pioneered by innovators in Chicago.?
By Improving the Governance of the Organic Industrial Base: Language directing the Army to analyze the effectiveness of their current governance and resourcing model for the Army’s arsenals, depots as well as ammunition plants and identify opportunities for changes to ensure the enterprise and its workforce can support the military’s munitions and sustainment requirements now and in the future. The Senator helped secure this provision alongside Senator Tom Cotton (R-AK). ?
Safeguarding Veteran Medical Care in North Chicago: This provision, led with Senator Durbin, would secure a one-year extension of the Joint Medical Facility Demonstration Fund, which supports the operations of the North Chicago-based Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC). This provision will help safeguard continued access to vital services for military families and Veterans in the area.
Protecting Cities Like Chicago from the Trump Administration’s Overreach with the Military: A modified version of a provision of Senator Duckworth’s Military In Law Enforcement Accountability Act (MiLEAA) requires servicemembers identify themselves as part of the military when assisting federal law enforcement when operating in the United States. As the Trump Administration continues to send federal agents and our nation’s military into our communities to intimidate their fellow Americans, this provision ensures that servicemembers identify themselves properly—to avoid public misunderstanding about who is providing logistical support versus conducting arrests or law enforcement duties.
In light of the Trump administration’s increasing use of troops to support law enforcement within the United States, another provision will help ensure troops know how to responsibly operate within the bounds of domestic laws and protect American civil rights. This provision requires DoD to provide legal training to all servicemembers, including a refresher within 90 days of any mobilization or deployment, on their responsibilities under the law of armed conflict, rules of engagement, defense support for civil authorities and standing rules for the use of force within the United States.
Strengthening Domestic Suppliers of Critical Uniform Components: Language prohibiting the Department of Defense from sourcing clothing, fabrics or components from countries of concern—such as China, Iran, North Korea and Russia—when using domestic sourcing waivers under the Berry Amendment, to prevent further weakening of the U.S. clothing and textile industrial base and bolstering Chicago’s top-quality garment industry.
Investing in Quantum Technology in Chicago: Language recognizing the importance of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) program, which aims to build a commercially useful FTQC by 2033, and encouraging the Department to concurrently prepare algorithms to operate those machines, while the hardware is being built. This provision recognizes the importance of the development of the first FTQC, which is being built at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park in Chicago, Illinois.
Championing Domestic Manufacturing in Belleville: Language requesting DoD provide data and analysis on the necessary war reserves for footwear and textiles, and the accompanying surge needs in the event of crisis or conflict. This report language is a modified version of the Senator’s Better Outfitting Our Troops (BOOTS) Act, which recognizes that our defense industrial base for combat boots needs investment in order for it to support our troops and help ensure they have the sturdiest and most protective boots in a possible war, like those manufactured in Illinois at Belleville’s Belleville Boot Manufacturing Co.
Advancing U.S. Bioindustrial Manufacturing Innovation in Champaign: This provision would support the innovative work being done at advanced facilities like the University of Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing Hub (iFAB) by requiring more information on how DoD is investing in this technology critical for national security.
Encouraging Investment in Nuclear Energy and Domestic Printed Circuit Boards: Language allowing the Office of Strategic Capital to enter into investments in nuclear fusion and fission energy and directing OSC to explore printed circuit boards (PCBs) and PCB assemblies, to ensure these critical technologies—which Illinois plays a central role in manufacturing and advancing—has sufficient capital investments to scale for warfighting.
Protecting Servicemembers from Dangerous PFAS in their Protective Garments: Language requiring the DoD to articulate its plan for acquiring chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threat protective garments free from toxic PFAS chemicals as soon as possible.?Innovative Illinois research and development and manufacturing is leading the way on alternatives that protect servicemembers without relying on toxic chemicals.
Designing a New Aircraft Maintenance Hangar at Scott Air Force Base: The bill authorizes $6 million in Planning and Design funds for the construction of a new aircraft maintenance hangar to support the training and operational mission of the 126th Aerial Refueling Wing at Scott Air Force Base. The current hangar was constructed in 1956, remains in disrepair and no longer meets Department of Defense standards or mission requirements, making a new hangar critical to the Wing’s mission.
Renovating General Jones Readiness Center: The bill authorizes $5 million in Planning and Design funds for major alternations to the General Richard L. Jones National Guard Readiness Center in Chicago. This facility was built in 1931 and remains one of the largest readiness centers in the country. Renovating it to meet mission requirements is a top priority for the Illinois National Guard.
In addition to these provisions, Senator Duckworth also successfully worked to protect Universities like Northwestern University and University of Illinois from having their DoD funding for critical technological research cut unnecessarily.
Other key funding for Illinois projects contained in the committee-passed bill include:
$5 million authorized in Planning and Design funds to support forging annex at Rock Island Arsenal.
$3.05 million authorized in Planning and Design funds to support range control at Marseilles Training Center.
$8 million authorized in Planning and Design funds to support the Peoria Armory Readiness Center.
$36 million authorized to boost Fort Sheridan area maintenance support activity.
A full list of Duckworth’s priorities included in the FY26 NDAA can be found here.
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US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today pushed Mike Waltz – President Trump’s nominee to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations – during a confirmation hearing to take accountability for his mishandling of sensitive military information that could have endangered the lives of U.S. servicemembers.
Waltz was questioned by lawmakers for the first time since he was ousted as national security adviser in May, weeks after The Atlantic reported that Waltz added the magazine’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal group chat where senior administration officials, including Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Vice President J.D. Vance discussed sensitive military plans for airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, including real-time updates about the strike. If the information in the chat had fallen into the wrong hands, Houthi rebels would have been able to prepare for the strikes and target the servicemembers carrying them out.
“We both know signal is not an appropriate, secure means of communicating highly sensitive information, and yet, on March 24, The Atlantic published a series of Signal messages including sensitive information about a U.S. military operation against the Houthis involving you and several other Trump officials,” said Senator Coons. “Were you investigated for this disclosure of sensitive operational information?”
In his response, Waltz repeatedly insisted that the information shared in the group chat was not “classified.” However, multiple military and intelligence officials have asserted that the information could have endangered servicemembers regardless of its classification. Sarah Streyder, Executive Director of the Secure Families Initiative, which advocates for military families, said her group had heard from members that they were feeling “a range of emotions, from heartbroken, disappointment, pretty angry … it feels like we’re being let down by our leaders who are at the bare minimum, supposed to be keeping us safe from unnecessary and preventable harm.”
Waltz acknowledged he built the Signal chain but has downplayed the security risks. While the National Security Council and the White House Counsel’s office claimed they were investigating how the breach occurred, the White House closed the case shortly after and failed to provide any details.
“We both know Signal is not a secure way to convey classified information, and I was hoping to hear from you that you had some sense of regret over sharing what was very sensitive, timely information about a military strike on a commercially available app, that’s not, as we both know, the appropriate way to share such critical information,” said Senator Coons.
A full video of his remarks and transcript are below.
WATCH HERE.
Senator Coons: I want to get to the larger questions of the U.N. and the U.N. Mission but – in your role in the army, in the house, as national security advisor, you have long handled classified and sensitive information.
We both know Signal is not an appropriate, secure means of communicating highly sensitive information, and yet, on March 24, The Atlantic magazine published a series of Signal messages including sensitive information about a U.S. military operation against the Houthis in Yemen involving you and several other Trump officials. Were you investigated for this disclosure of sensitive operational information?
Waltz: Thank you, senator, and that engagement was driven by and recommended by the cyber security – infrastructure security agency – by the Biden administration CISA guidance.
Senator Coons: I’m sorry –
Waltz: And I have here – well, just the use of Signal
Senator Coons: Your sharing this information on Signal was driven by –
Waltz: No excuse me, the use of Signal is not only – as an encrypted app – is not only authorized, it was recommended in the Biden-era CISA guidance, and in fact, it says here, I’ll read it to you: “Use only end-to-end encrypted communications. Adopt a free messaging application to secure communications that guarantees end-to-end encryption – particularly if you are a highly targeted individual, such as Signal or similar apps. CISA recommends end-to-end encryption messaging on both government and personal devices.
Senator Coons: For sensitive military information?
Waltz: Oh, of course, of course. Senator, there was no classified information exchanged.
Senator Coons: For sensitive military operations… You were sharing details about an upcoming airstrike and the time of launch and the potential targets. This was demonstrably sensitive information. And the question I asked was, were you investigated for this expansion of the Signal group to include a journalist?
Waltz: The White House conducted an investigation, and my understanding is the Department of Defense is still conducting an investigation.
Senator Coons: Was any disciplinary action taken?
Waltz: From the White House investigation, senator?
Senator Coons: Yes.
Waltz: No. The use of Signal was not only authorized, it’s still authorized and highly recommended.
Senator Coons: Would you recommend the use of Signal for classified information to be shared between folks who have access to classified information?
Waltz: Again, we followed the recommendation, almost the demand, to use end-to-end encryption, but there was no classified information shared.
Senator Coons: Did you speak to Secretary Hegseth about his decision to share detailed information on the specifics of an imminent military strike?
Waltz: What we spoke about, senator, was a highly successful mission that did something that, something that the Biden administration did not do, was actually target the Houthi leadership. We subsequently saw a ceasefire, an increase in shipping and a drop in attacks on our ships.
Senator Coons: Well, look, here’s what I hear on this exchange, and I want to get to the U.N. point. At the time you took responsibility for having added a journalist inadvertently to a Signal chat, but it doesn’t seem to me that the administration has taken any action to make sure this doesn’t happen again, there’s been no consequences, and yet the president continues to denounce those who leak information. We both know Signal is not a secure way to convey classified information, and I was hoping to hear from you that you had some sense of regret over sharing what was very sensitive, timely information about a military strike on a commercially available app, that’s not, as we both know, the appropriate way to share such critical information.
Waltz: Again, senator, I think, where we have a fundamental disagreement is there was no classified information on that – uh, on that chat.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
On July 15, the Federation Council held a round table on the topic of “Development of special economic zones of the technology-implementation type as a driver of innovation.” The event was organized by the Committee on Economic Policy with the participation of Senator Vladimir Kravchenko. The discussion was attended by Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Svyatoslav Sorokin, representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, heads of special economic zones (SEZ) of the technology-implementation type, as well as industry experts.
Today, there are seven special economic zones of the technology implementation type operating in Russia. Despite their small number, they demonstrate impressive results from year to year, promoting the development of high-tech production and innovative infrastructure. They include: SEZ Technopolis Moscow (Moscow), Saint Petersburg (Saint Petersburg), Dubna (Moscow Region), Tomsk (Tomsk Region), Innopolis (Republic of Tatarstan), Istok (Fryazino, Moscow Region), and Saratov (Saratov, Saratov Region).
In his report, Svyatoslav Sorokin noted the importance of technology implementation zones in the formation of non-resource growth of the economy and the technological sovereignty of the country.
“Today we see that, despite the fact that there are only seven technology-implementation SEZs, they generate almost half of all revenue and jobs created in the SEZ territory. This speaks to the high efficiency of this format and its key role in the development of high-tech production,” the deputy minister emphasized.
Today, there are more than 570 residents registered in the TVT SEZ, 32 of which have foreign capital. The total revenue of residents exceeds 1.75 trillion rubles (43% of the total revenue for all SEZs), and the volume of investments amounted to more than 764 billion rubles. Thanks to the activities of these zones, more than 50 thousand highly paid jobs have been created.
“Residents of technology-implementation SEZs today produce unique IT solutions, medical products, and products for the aviation and space industries. These are real growth points and architects of the innovative economy,” noted Svyatoslav Sorokin.
The roundtable participants discussed proposals for fine-tuning the SEZ mechanism, aimed at increasing their efficiency and investment attractiveness. The Ministry of Economic Development will work on initiatives from the constituent entities of the Russian Federation to adjust the methodology for assessing the efficiency of special economic zones, providing for increased attention to the development of technologies and the introduction of innovations. The new approach will be implemented taking into account the emphasis on technology implementation processes that ensure the implementation of the strategic goals of the national economy – structural adaptation of industries and the achievement of technological sovereignty of the country. These measures are aimed at increasing the competitiveness of Russian enterprises, accelerating scientific and technological progress and ensuring the sustainability of economic growth in the context of global competition.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
On July 15, the Federation Council held a round table on the topic of “Development of special economic zones of the technology-implementation type as a driver of innovation.” The event was organized by the Committee on Economic Policy with the participation of Senator Vladimir Kravchenko. The discussion was attended by Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Svyatoslav Sorokin, representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, heads of special economic zones (SEZ) of the technology-implementation type, as well as industry experts.
Today, there are seven special economic zones of the technology implementation type operating in Russia. Despite their small number, they demonstrate impressive results from year to year, promoting the development of high-tech production and innovative infrastructure. They include: SEZ Technopolis Moscow (Moscow), Saint Petersburg (Saint Petersburg), Dubna (Moscow Region), Tomsk (Tomsk Region), Innopolis (Republic of Tatarstan), Istok (Fryazino, Moscow Region), and Saratov (Saratov, Saratov Region).
In his report, Svyatoslav Sorokin noted the importance of technology implementation zones in the formation of non-resource growth of the economy and the technological sovereignty of the country.
“Today we see that, despite the fact that there are only seven technology-implementation SEZs, they generate almost half of all revenue and jobs created in the SEZ territory. This speaks to the high efficiency of this format and its key role in the development of high-tech production,” the deputy minister emphasized.
Today, there are more than 570 residents registered in the TVT SEZ, 32 of which have foreign capital. The total revenue of residents exceeds 1.75 trillion rubles (43% of the total revenue for all SEZs), and the volume of investments amounted to more than 764 billion rubles. Thanks to the activities of these zones, more than 50 thousand highly paid jobs have been created.
“Residents of technology-implementation SEZs today produce unique IT solutions, medical products, and products for the aviation and space industries. These are real growth points and architects of the innovative economy,” noted Svyatoslav Sorokin.
The roundtable participants discussed proposals for fine-tuning the SEZ mechanism, aimed at increasing their efficiency and investment attractiveness. The Ministry of Economic Development will work on initiatives from the constituent entities of the Russian Federation to adjust the methodology for assessing the efficiency of special economic zones, providing for increased attention to the development of technologies and the introduction of innovations. The new approach will be implemented taking into account the emphasis on technology implementation processes that ensure the implementation of the strategic goals of the national economy – structural adaptation of industries and the achievement of technological sovereignty of the country. These measures are aimed at increasing the competitiveness of Russian enterprises, accelerating scientific and technological progress and ensuring the sustainability of economic growth in the context of global competition.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Tbilisi, July 16 (Xinhua) — The central banks of Georgia and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have officially launched a joint project to develop non-cash payments aimed at modernizing the payment infrastructure and expanding financial inclusion in Georgia, the National Bank of Georgia reported on Tuesday.
A delegation from the Central Bank of Kazakhstan and the Korea Institute of Financial Telecommunications and Clearing /KFTC/ recently visited Georgia on a working visit. During the visit, a cooperation agreement was signed, which provides for the launch of the above-mentioned project.
The parties expressed confidence that cooperation will make a significant contribution to the development of a modern and inclusive payment system, as well as strengthen economic ties between the two countries. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
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