Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Cancer can affect anyone. Whether you survive for not, often depends on your access to treatment. And this varies, depending on where you live in the world. Through its Rays of Hope initiative, the IAEA is giving more cancer patients access to life-saving care in low- and middle-income countries where the need is greatest. Three years since its launch, Rays of Hope is providing tangible support to people in all regions of the world.
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday departed for Bhutan on a four-day official visit aimed at further strengthening the enduring defence cooperation between the two nations.
During the visit, General Dwivedi is scheduled to call on Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
He will also hold discussions with Lieutenant General Batoo Tshering, Chief Operations Officer of the Royal Bhutan Army, according to the Defence Ministry.
In addition, the Army Chief will interact with senior officials from the Indian Embassy, the Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT), and Project DANTAK.
The visit underscores the deep-rooted and time-tested ties between India and Bhutan and reaffirms India’s unwavering commitment to its close and trusted neighbour, the Ministry added.
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (2)
lign=”center”>When we go abroad, there is no ruling or opposition party — it’s only Bharat: Vice-President
In politics, one may belong to different parties, but that does not mean we are enemies; our enemies may be across the borders, not within the country: Vice-President
Legislatures must uphold the highest standards of conduct; If they fail to do so, citizens will turn to other platforms: Vice-President
Vice-President addresses public gathering at ‘Sneh Milan Samaroh’ in Jaipur
The Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, today said, “I am not under pressure, I do not pressure anyone, I do not work under pressure, nor do I make others work under pressure.”
https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1939599837579927882
Addressing a public gathering at the ‘Sneh Milan Samaroh’ in Jaipur, Shri Dhankhar said, “I was a little concerned—not for my health—but for my friend, the former Chief Minister, who said we are under pressure. He is one of my oldest friends in Rajasthan politics and a well-wisher. Since he spoke publicly, I would also like to say publicly—he need not worry. I am under no pressure, nor do I pressure anyone, nor do I operate under pressure.”
https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1939615411064213804
Discussing the constitutional position of Governors, he remarked, “When the Governor is in the state, they are often treated like an easy punching bag.” He elaborated, “If the State government and the Central government are ruled by different political political parties, it becomes very easy to make allegations. But over time, this dynamic has changed — now even the Vice-President and the President are being dragged into this domain. This, in my view, is a matter of concern, reflection, and philosophical thought, and it is not appropriate.”
Expressing concern over the current political climate, he said, “The current political atmosphere and temperature are not healthy — neither for individuals nor for democracy. It is a matter of concern and reflection.” He emphasized, “Power keeps changing hands; the ruling party becomes opposition, the opposition becomes ruling party. But that does not mean we should become enemies. Our enemies may lie across the border — not within the country.”
https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1939607471641010602
Highlighting that national interest should be above party politics, the Vice-President said, “When we travel abroad, there is no ruling or opposition party; we only represent Bharat — and this has now been demonstrated. This step shows that for us, the nation is supreme. National interest is our duty, Bharatiyata is our pride. Whenever India is the topic, we do not stand divided. Political differences exist within the country, but there are no personal animosities. This is a powerful message that everyone must understand.”
https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1939613193577628124
He further added, “The political temperature is becoming intolerable. Unrestrained statements are made casually. But we must understand that India represents one-sixth of the global population. No other country comes close. Who else possesses a 5000-year-old culture? It is unparalleled and extraordinary.”
Speaking about responsible discourse, he said, “Often, in a state of emotion, we raise questions or encourage conflict — but if I am not the one getting hurt, I might say ‘keep fighting.’ These are not matters to be sensationalized in newspapers — they cause real pain. Our economy suffers deeply. And why? Because where was India 11 years ago? This is not a political matter. In every era, India has progressed. Great accomplishments were made in the 1950s, 60s, 70s. When I talk about the current era, it should not be seen as a comparison to previous ones — I am comparing India with the world.”
He emphasized, “India was once counted among the five most fragile economies — today, it ranks among the world’s top four economies. Look at the countries we’ve surpassed. Just wait a little more — Japan, Germany, the UK, Canada, Brazil — all are behind us. Such a leap has been taken that the world refers to the last decade as the period of India’s economic rise — a feat unmatched by any other major nation.”
Highlighting the role of the opposition in a democracy, the Vice-President said, “Opposition does not mean adversary. Democracy requires expression, debate, dialogue — what the Vedas call Anantavaad.”
He warned, “When expression reaches a point where opposing views are dismissed entirely, expression loses its essence. Expression is crucial — it is the soul of democracy. But if it is suppressed or becomes so extreme that it ignores all other viewpoints, then it ceases to be meaningful. To make expression meaningful, debate is essential — and debate means engaging with people who disagree with you. There is a strong possibility that they may be right. That is why listening to others strengthens your own expression.”
He also invoked the work of the Constituent Assembly, saying, “The Constituent Assembly took nearly three years — 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days — of painstaking effort to give us the Constitution.” He explained, “There were deep issues at the time; consensus was difficult, but they never engaged in confrontation. There was no disruption. Through dialogue and compromise, they arrived at consensus — confrontation never crossed their minds.”
Speaking on policymaking in the interest of farmers, the Vice-President said, “If the subsidies given by the government to farmers reach them directly, every farming household could receive more than ₹30,000 per year.” He further added, “If fertilizer subsidies are transferred directly to farmers, the choice to adopt natural or organic farming will be theirs.”
https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1939615942507639111
He cited the example of the United States and said, “In the U.S., the average annual income of a farming household is higher than that of an average household — that’s the kind of direction we should aim for.”
The Governor of Rajasthan, Shri Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde; the Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, Shri Vasudev Devnani; Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Shri Tikaram Juli; Patron of the Rajasthan Progressive Forum, Shri Harimohan Sharma; and the Forum’s Working President, Shri Jeetram Chaudhary, and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (2)
lign=”center”>When we go abroad, there is no ruling or opposition party — it’s only Bharat: Vice-President
In politics, one may belong to different parties, but that does not mean we are enemies; our enemies may be across the borders, not within the country: Vice-President
Legislatures must uphold the highest standards of conduct; If they fail to do so, citizens will turn to other platforms: Vice-President
Vice-President addresses public gathering at ‘Sneh Milan Samaroh’ in Jaipur
The Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, today said, “I am not under pressure, I do not pressure anyone, I do not work under pressure, nor do I make others work under pressure.”
https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1939599837579927882
Addressing a public gathering at the ‘Sneh Milan Samaroh’ in Jaipur, Shri Dhankhar said, “I was a little concerned—not for my health—but for my friend, the former Chief Minister, who said we are under pressure. He is one of my oldest friends in Rajasthan politics and a well-wisher. Since he spoke publicly, I would also like to say publicly—he need not worry. I am under no pressure, nor do I pressure anyone, nor do I operate under pressure.”
https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1939615411064213804
Discussing the constitutional position of Governors, he remarked, “When the Governor is in the state, they are often treated like an easy punching bag.” He elaborated, “If the State government and the Central government are ruled by different political political parties, it becomes very easy to make allegations. But over time, this dynamic has changed — now even the Vice-President and the President are being dragged into this domain. This, in my view, is a matter of concern, reflection, and philosophical thought, and it is not appropriate.”
Expressing concern over the current political climate, he said, “The current political atmosphere and temperature are not healthy — neither for individuals nor for democracy. It is a matter of concern and reflection.” He emphasized, “Power keeps changing hands; the ruling party becomes opposition, the opposition becomes ruling party. But that does not mean we should become enemies. Our enemies may lie across the border — not within the country.”
https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1939607471641010602
Highlighting that national interest should be above party politics, the Vice-President said, “When we travel abroad, there is no ruling or opposition party; we only represent Bharat — and this has now been demonstrated. This step shows that for us, the nation is supreme. National interest is our duty, Bharatiyata is our pride. Whenever India is the topic, we do not stand divided. Political differences exist within the country, but there are no personal animosities. This is a powerful message that everyone must understand.”
https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1939613193577628124
He further added, “The political temperature is becoming intolerable. Unrestrained statements are made casually. But we must understand that India represents one-sixth of the global population. No other country comes close. Who else possesses a 5000-year-old culture? It is unparalleled and extraordinary.”
Speaking about responsible discourse, he said, “Often, in a state of emotion, we raise questions or encourage conflict — but if I am not the one getting hurt, I might say ‘keep fighting.’ These are not matters to be sensationalized in newspapers — they cause real pain. Our economy suffers deeply. And why? Because where was India 11 years ago? This is not a political matter. In every era, India has progressed. Great accomplishments were made in the 1950s, 60s, 70s. When I talk about the current era, it should not be seen as a comparison to previous ones — I am comparing India with the world.”
He emphasized, “India was once counted among the five most fragile economies — today, it ranks among the world’s top four economies. Look at the countries we’ve surpassed. Just wait a little more — Japan, Germany, the UK, Canada, Brazil — all are behind us. Such a leap has been taken that the world refers to the last decade as the period of India’s economic rise — a feat unmatched by any other major nation.”
Highlighting the role of the opposition in a democracy, the Vice-President said, “Opposition does not mean adversary. Democracy requires expression, debate, dialogue — what the Vedas call Anantavaad.”
He warned, “When expression reaches a point where opposing views are dismissed entirely, expression loses its essence. Expression is crucial — it is the soul of democracy. But if it is suppressed or becomes so extreme that it ignores all other viewpoints, then it ceases to be meaningful. To make expression meaningful, debate is essential — and debate means engaging with people who disagree with you. There is a strong possibility that they may be right. That is why listening to others strengthens your own expression.”
He also invoked the work of the Constituent Assembly, saying, “The Constituent Assembly took nearly three years — 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days — of painstaking effort to give us the Constitution.” He explained, “There were deep issues at the time; consensus was difficult, but they never engaged in confrontation. There was no disruption. Through dialogue and compromise, they arrived at consensus — confrontation never crossed their minds.”
Speaking on policymaking in the interest of farmers, the Vice-President said, “If the subsidies given by the government to farmers reach them directly, every farming household could receive more than ₹30,000 per year.” He further added, “If fertilizer subsidies are transferred directly to farmers, the choice to adopt natural or organic farming will be theirs.”
https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1939615942507639111
He cited the example of the United States and said, “In the U.S., the average annual income of a farming household is higher than that of an average household — that’s the kind of direction we should aim for.”
The Governor of Rajasthan, Shri Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde; the Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, Shri Vasudev Devnani; Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Shri Tikaram Juli; Patron of the Rajasthan Progressive Forum, Shri Harimohan Sharma; and the Forum’s Working President, Shri Jeetram Chaudhary, and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak today led youth interns of the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau – UN Volunteer Internship Programme to visit the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (OCMFA).
The Hong Kong SAR Government launched the internship programme with the UN Volunteers and provides full funding support to local university students to undertake six-month volunteer placements in different UN agencies.
This helps expand young people’s horizons and develop their capabilities, while also providing them an opportunity to contribute to the international community as Chinese youth. The programme is offering 20 internship placements this year in different UN agencies located in Kazakhstan, Laos, Nepal, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
Miss Mak expressed gratitude to the OCMFA for its support for youth work in Hong Kong and thanked its Department of International Organizations & Conferences for introducing OCMFA’s work to the interns, giving them an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the country’s foreign affairs as well as the city’s unique role in the country’s opening up to the world and global governance.
She encouraged the interns to cherish the internship opportunity, showcase Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, and also tell good stories of the country and Hong Kong.
The youth interns will undertake volunteer placements in UN agencies such as the UN Development Programme, UN Children’s Fund and Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
Cancer can affect anyone. Whether you survive for not, often depends on your access to treatment. And this varies, depending on where you live in the world. Through its Rays of Hope initiative, the IAEA is giving more cancer patients access to life-saving care in low- and middle-income countries where the need is greatest. Three years since its launch, Rays of Hope is providing tangible support to people in all regions of the world.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
Cancer can affect anyone. Whether you survive for not, often depends on your access to treatment. And this varies, depending on where you live in the world. Through its Rays of Hope initiative, the IAEA is giving more cancer patients access to life-saving care in low- and middle-income countries where the need is greatest. Three years since its launch, Rays of Hope is providing tangible support to people in all regions of the world.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
Cancer can affect anyone. Whether you survive for not, often depends on your access to treatment. And this varies, depending on where you live in the world. Through its Rays of Hope initiative, the IAEA is giving more cancer patients access to life-saving care in low- and middle-income countries where the need is greatest. Three years since its launch, Rays of Hope is providing tangible support to people in all regions of the world.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
Cancer can affect anyone. Whether you survive for not, often depends on your access to treatment. And this varies, depending on where you live in the world. Through its Rays of Hope initiative, the IAEA is giving more cancer patients access to life-saving care in low- and middle-income countries where the need is greatest. Three years since its launch, Rays of Hope is providing tangible support to people in all regions of the world.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
Africa has marked a significant step towards financial independence following the launch of PAPSSCARD, the continent’s first Pan-African card scheme. Unveiled on June 27 at the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings (www.Afreximbank.com) in Abuja, Nigeria, the new card represents a major leap in Africa’s efforts to achieve financial sovereignty by building resilient and independent payment systems, easing people travel and boosting trade integration.
PAPSSCARD, a joint-venture between the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and Mercury Payment Services (MPS), enables fast, secure, and affordable retail payments across African borders. Today, most African card payments are routed through global systems causing increased fees and loss of data control. By processing transactions entirely within the continent, PAPSSCARD keeps value, data, and economic benefit in Africa.
Speaking at the launch, Afreximbank President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Professor Benedict Oramah, highlighted the significance of PAPSSCARD in reclaiming Africa’s financial autonomy. “For too long, Africa’s reliance on external payment systems has impeded trade, increased costs, and compromised control over our financial data. PAPSSCARD changes that. It empowers us to move money swiftly, securely, and affordably across our borders. It is a transformative step towards strengthening intra-African trade and preserving value within the continent.”
Mike Ogbalu III, CEO of PAPSS, described PAPSSCARD as a major advancement in the continent’s financial architecture, noting that it is “more than just a payment tool, it is a powerful symbol of progress and a bold step towards financial independence.” He added that the card reflects Africa’s ability to create practical, home-grown solutions that align with how the continent trades, lives, and grows.
Muzaffer Khokhar, Executive Chairman of Mercury, said the launch represents a milestone in Africa’s move toward financial sovereignty. “We are proud to support a system built by Africa, for Africa. This is about sovereignty, innovation, and building trust in African systems to shape the continent’s financial future. The PAPSS Card will become Africa’s most trusted payments brand, strengthening the backbone of the continent’s financial future.”
John Bosco Sebabi, Acting CEO of PAPSSCARD, added that the new payment offering will unlock benefits for a wide range of stakeholders, from corporates and banks to merchants and individuals. He said that the PAPSSCARD card would “reduce costs for public institutions, support innovation across the financial sector, and expand access to secure, modern payment tools for people and businesses across the continent.”
Commemorative cards were unveiled at the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings to mark the launch of the PAPSSCARD. This initiative was made possible by strategic partnerships with issuing banks – Bank of Kigali and I&M Bank Rwanda; Rswitch, Rwanda’s national switch – Smart Cash; and Unified Payments, ensuring its seamless acceptance throughout Nigeria.
African central banks and payment systems are set to spearhead the continent-wide adoption and rollout of the new PAPSSCARD. This initiative will significantly advance Afreximbank’s strategy to promote financial inclusion and boost intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), fostering a more integrated and self-sustaining African economy.
– on behalf of Afreximbank.
Contact person:
Papa Thiongane
communications@papss.com
Follow us on:
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About PAPSS:
The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System – PAPSS is a centralised Financial Market Infrastructure that enables the efficient flow of money securely across African borders, minimising risk and contributing to financial integration across the regions. PAPSS works in collaboration with Africa’s central banks to provide a payment and settlement service to which commercial banks and licensed payment service providers across the region can connect as ‘Participants.’ Afreximbank and the African Union (“AU”) first announced PAPSS at the Twelfth Extraordinary Summit of the African Union held on July 7, 2019, in Niamey, Niger Republic, therefore adopting PAPSS as a key instrument for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). Further, in its thirteenth (13th) extraordinary session, held on December 5, 2020, the assembly of the African Union directed Afreximbank and the AfCFTA secretariat to finalise, among others, work on the Pan-African Payments and Settlements System (PAPSS). The 35th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU further directed the AfCFTA and Afreximbank to deploy the system to cover the entire continent. PAPSS was officially launched in Accra, Ghana, on January 13, 2022, thus making it available for use by the public.
For more information, visit: www.PAPSS.com.
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Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
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While South Sudan has committed to end the recruitment of boys and girls by armed forces, many children remain in the service of such groups. Others, who have been released from uniformed ranks, are facing difficulties reintegrating into civilian life, with some of them virtually living on the streets.
“We should establish a reformatory protection center for children living in our neighborhoods. It would help keep them safe from violations of their rights and would allow us to coordinate initiatives to support them with relevant authorities,” says Nawadir Ajanouf, a concerned mother and civil society activist in Renk in northern Upper Nile State.
Her opinion is shared by youth leader Adam Mayut, who often comes across both children affiliated with armed forces and others – many of whom are refugees from neighbouring Sudan – of the approximately 400 boys he says are roaming Renk’s streets and engaging in various kinds of petty crimes.
“I ask them why they are loitering at the market and in other places, and they tell me they have nothing to eat and don’t receive the care they need at home. If we had a place where they could gather, we would be able to socialize them, give them food and engage them in sports or in cultural and other wholesome activities,” he says.
They raised their concerns and suggestions during a two-day forum organized by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to increase awareness on how to keep children safe from grave violations of their rights, one of which is to not be recruited or in other ways used by armed groups.
Apart from representatives of organized security forces and the judiciary, the training, attended by some 50 people, also targeted community leaders and members of various civil society organizations.
“We are extending the scope of our child protection efforts by being more inclusive and building the capacity of more people to identify and report violations suffered by girls and boys,” explained Phillip Lah, a Child Protection Officer serving with the UN peacekeeping mission.
Those in attendance also learnt more about how to protect themselves and their communities against the dangers posed by landmines, still a common threat in historically war-torn South Sudan, and other parts of the UNMISS mandate.
– on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
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In a bid to prevent potential U.S. visa restrictions on Liberian nationals, the Assistant Minister for Public Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Saywhar Nana Gbaa, led an engagement with U.S. Embassy officials in Monrovia. The meeting was held with Mr. Nicolas Worden, Acting Consular Chief, and Mr. Raymond Stephens, Public Affairs Officer, to address concerns raised by the U.S. government that could result in stringent visa limitations within the next 50 days. The bilateral discussion, held at the U.S. Embassy, was part of a broader effort by the Government of Liberia to maintain strong diplomatic relations with the United States and ensure continued access to various categories of U.S. visas, including those for tourism, business, education, and immigration.
During the meeting, U.S. officials expressed growing concern over multiple visa-related challenges originating from Liberia. These include the overstay of non-immigrant visitors and tourists, the submission of fraudulent documentation, and increasing incidents of misrepresentation such as falsified identities, family relationships, and travel purposes by visa applicants. According to Mr. Worden, approximately 20% of Liberians granted non-immigrant visas to the United States do not return at the end of their authorized stay. This statistic has triggered heightened scrutiny of visa applications from Liberia and has contributed to increased denial rates across multiple visa categories. The U.S. representatives acknowledged the proactive steps already being taken by the Government of Liberia, notably the formation of a high-level presidential task force spearheaded by H.E. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., and co-led by Mme. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs. This task force was launched to diplomatically address and resolve the U.S. concerns in a timely and effective manner.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that collaborative public affairs and communication strategies will be key in addressing the crisis. Hon. Saywhar Nana Gbaa and her team committed to spearheading comprehensive public awareness campaigns, including media outreach and community engagement, to educate citizens on the importance of compliance with visa terms and U.S. immigration policies. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs views this issue as a matter of national urgency,” said Hon. Gbaa. “We remain fully committed to working in concert with the United States to address these concerns through transparency, diplomacy, and strategic public engagement. We urge all Liberians to adhere strictly to the rules governing their stay in the United States.” The potential restrictions outlined by the U.S. government cover a wide range of visa categories, including tourist (B-2), business (B-1), student visas (F-1), fiancée visas (K-1), non-immigrant visas, and the popular Diversity Visa (DV) program. The restrictions would not apply to lawful permanent residents but would significantly impact ordinary Liberians seeking temporary or permanent travel opportunities to the United States.
Liberia is among 36 countries reportedly under review by the U.S. government for potential visa sanctions. These concerns date back to assessments conducted during the Trump administration, which highlighted weaknesses in identity verification, passport security, overstay rates, and inadequate cooperation in repatriation of deportees. The U.S. maintains that countries failing to meet specified benchmarks within 60 days of the proclamation may face far-reaching visa restrictions. With only 50 days remaining, both governments agreed that immediate and consistent action is needed to address the outlined issues. The Ministry is calling on all relevant Liberian stakeholders, including travel agencies, immigration officers, and community leaders, to support this national endeavor. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding Liberia’s global mobility and fostering strong bilateral ties with the United States. Further updates will be provided as diplomatic and public affairs efforts continue in the days ahead.
– on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) have signed an agreement strengthening their collaboration on sustainable economic development, designed to boost infrastructure development and economic opportunities across the African continent.
The Memorandum of Understanding, which builds on an earlier one in 2018, was signed by African Development Bank president, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, and AIIB President and Chair of the Board of Directors Jin Liqun on Saturday 28 June. The signing took place on the sidelines of a meeting of Heads of Multilateral Development Banks held in Paris, France, the same day.
The agreement outlines continued collaboration from both parties in six priority areas, aligned with the Bank Group’s Ten-Year Strategy 2024–2033 as well as AIIB’s Corporate Strategy and its Strategy on Financing Operations in Non-Regional Members. The areas are:
(i) Green infrastructure
(ii) Industrialization
(iii) Private capital mobilization including Public – Private Partnerships
(iv) Cross-border-connectivity
(v) Digitalization; and
(vi) Policy-based financing
The MOU will promote among other things, co-financing, co-guaranteeing and other forms of joint participation in financial assistance for development projects primarily in sustainable infrastructure. The African Development Bank and AIIB’s existing cooperation in this area, includes providing guarantees to support the issuance of Egypt’s first Sustainable Panda Bond in 2023, valued at RMB 3.5 billion.
This historic issuance—backed by guarantees from both AfDB and AIIB—marked the first African sovereign bond placed in the Chinese interbank bond market. The guarantees provided by the two triple-A-rated multilateral banks were instrumental in de-risking the transaction, enabling Egypt to secure competitive terms and attract investor confidence.
“This partnership continues to be an effective pathway to provide economic development for our member countries, especially in infrastructure. By reaffirming today, we are boosting energy access by accelerating Mission 300 which is targeting to connect 300 million people to electricity by 2030,” Dr Adesina said.
Mr. Jin Liqun remarked: “The renewal of our partnership with the African Development Bank reflects AIIB’s commitment to supporting sustainable development beyond Asia. Through this collaboration, we can leverage our combined expertise to deliver transformative projects that will benefit millions across the continent and create prosperity through quality infrastructure investment.”
– on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Contact:
Amba Mpoke-Bigg
Communication and External Relations Department
email: media@afdb.org
About the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB):
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is a multilateral development bank with a mission to improve social and economic outcomes in Asia and beyond. Headquartered in Beijing, we commenced operations in January 2016 and have now grown to 84 approved members from around the world. By investing in sustainable infrastructure and other productive sectors today, we will better connect people, services and markets that over time will impact the lives of billions and build a better future.
About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states.
For more information: www.AfDB.org
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Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
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The Government of Liberia categorically refutes the content, tone, and intent of a recent article titled “Liberia Selected as One of Trump’s ‘Dumpsite’ Countries for Criminals and Illegal Immigrants.” The article, which has circulated across social and digital platforms, presents a grossly distorted narrative that misrepresents the U.S.–Liberia bilateral cooperation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs can emphatically state that the Government of Liberia has not been in any conversation or negotiations regarding third party nationals being sent from the United States to Liberia. Likewise, noting that there are no ongoing discussions related to 3rd party nationals, Liberia has not entered into any agreement formal or informal that obligates it to receive individuals who are not Liberian citizens.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs however seeks to use this opportunity to caution the public from being drawn into misinformation and disinformation, and to ask the concerned media to desist from such destructive actions of writing stories on false and baseless claims. The Government of Liberia is however engaged with the United States on actions required to address issues to prevent Liberia from being placed on a travel ban. These issues include the widespread presentation of fraudulent documents to the United States Embassy such as court papers, affidavits, birth certificates and others, as well as issues related to the slow prosecution of said cases of fraud. In addition, issues surrounding overstay are high on the agenda given that Liberia has a high record of overstays. This among several other issues are points of engagement between the US Government and the Government of Liberia, and we look forward to continue to work together to address these issues holistically to avoid Liberians being banned from traveling to the United States.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs encourages all Liberians including the diaspora, to comply with the US regulations and work together to ensure that Liberians who visit the United States return within the timeframe stipulated during their visa interviews as overstay is marked against the duration of the visit that the applicant stated during the interview or request for visa. We will be providing more information to the public to ensure that Liberians understand the meaning of overstay and the implications of presentation of fake documents and information to the United States government.
– on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is advancing agrifood systems through integration of effective digital technologies in Zimbabwe. Through the Fostering Digital Villages Initiative (FDiVi), FAO hosted a Digital Fair in the Masvingo province.
The digital fair brought together digital service providers, farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders, creating a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and real-time onboarding to digital agriculture solutions. The digital fair is part of the broader Fostering Digital Villages through innovative advisory and profitable market services project, which aims to transform agrifood systems in rural Malawi, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe using effective digital technologies, including artificial intelligence.
“This project facilitates delivery of innovative agricultural extension services for increased productivity, enhanced market access, and advance inclusive rural transformation. It will also support local farmers, extension officers, agro-dealers, and processors, particularly the youth and women,” said Patrice Talla, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa and Representative to Zimbabwe.
The digital fair held in the Bikita district is part of a series of the ongoing campaign by FAO targeting digital service providers, rural farmers, agri-entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to interact and integrate digital technologies in agriculture. The digital fair sparked renewed enthusiasm for digital transformation in agriculture among local communities.
Speaking during the digital fair, Bernard Hadzirambwi, the District Development Coordinator, praised the initiative and encouraged farmers to adopt digital technologies to enhance productivity and resilience. “Rural innovation thrives when communities connect and interact with digital technology,” said Hadzirambwi.
“During the digital fair, our farmers explored AI-powered advisory tools, mobile market platforms, and digital extension services. I am truly encouraged by how quickly the community is embracing these innovations. Digital technologies are not just tools, they are enablers of climate-smart agriculture and inclusive rural development in our district,” said Nobert Chiduza, District Agricultural Extension Officer in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.
The FDiVi is one of FAO’s corporate initiatives and flagship programmes. It is an integrated development vision that enshrines digitalization at the core of rural transformation and prosperity, addressing on-farm and off-farm socio-economic elements.
The project is being implemented in the Mhondoro-Ngezi and Bikita districts where digital hubs will be equipped with digital tools and services including free internet, computers and digital literacy training materials.
The project supports local farmers, extension officers, agro-dealers, and processors through facilitating access to innovative agricultural extension services, improving market access, and promoting inclusive rural transformation.
“Before the digital fair, I didn’t know how much technology could change the way I farm. Now, I’ve learned about AI tools that help me plan better, and I can connect directly with buyers through my phone. As a young farmer, this gives me confidence in exploring new opportunities posed through digital technologies,” said Sheunesu Njeke, a 26-year-old farmer after the digital fair.
Going forward, FAO will integrate Digital Fairs in the annual District and Ward level Agriculture Shows. The project will continue to support digital innovators and entrepreneurs in breaking into the rural market and will also support farmers and other rural stakeholders to safely onboard onto digital platforms and services.
– on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.
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Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis
First Quarter
The U.S. net international investment position,the difference between U.S. residents’ foreign financial assets and liabilities, was –$24.61 trillion at the end of the first quarter of 2025, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (chart 1). Assets totaled $36.85 trillion, and liabilities were $61.47 trillion (chart 2). At the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, the net investment position was –$26.54 trillion (revised). The net investment position and components of assets and liabilities are presented in table 1.
The $1.92 trillion change in the net investment position from the fourth quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2025 came from net financial transactions of –$277.5 billion and net other changes in position, such as price and exchange-rate changes, of $2.20 trillion (table 2).
Price changes of $1.73 trillion reflected price increases for assets and price decreases for liabilities, as foreign stock prices outperformed U.S. stock prices.
Exchange-rate changes of $472.5 billion reflected foreign currency appreciation against the U.S. dollar, which raised the value of U.S. assets more than U.S. liabilities in dollar terms.
U.S. assets increased by $1.13 trillion to a total of $36.85 trillion at the end of the first quarter, driven mainly by financial transactions of $548.0 billion that largely reflected increased U.S. short-term lending abroad in the form of resale agreements, and by exchange-rate changes of $528.4 billion that reflected the appreciation of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar (table 2). All major investment categories of assets, except financial derivatives, increased in the first quarter (chart 3).
U.S. liabilities decreased by $792.0 billion to a total of $61.47 trillion at the end of the first quarter, driven by U.S. stock price decreases that lowered the market value of direct investment and portfolio investment liabilities by $836.4 billion and by $734.6 billion, respectively (table 2). Partly offsetting these price decreases were financial transactions of $844.8 billion that mostly reflected foreign purchases of U.S. debt securities and “other investment” inflows of deposits and loans. All major investment categories of liabilities except other investment decreased in the first quarter (chart 4).
Annual Update of the U.S. International Investment Position Accounts
The statistics in this release reflect the annual update of the U.S. International Investment Position Accounts. With this update, BEA has incorporated newly available and revised source data for 2022–2024 (table 3).
In addition, BEA has incorporated new statistics for transactions and positions related to a repurchase agreement facility for foreign and international monetary authorities (FIMA Repo Facility) that was established by the Federal Reserve in March 2020. The FIMA Repo Facility was designed to address pressures in global dollar funding markets that could affect financial market conditions in the United States. These transactions and positions are recorded as U.S. deposits in the central bank sector of other investment assets in the U.S. International Transactions Accounts and International Investment Position Accounts statistics, beginning with 2022.
Newly Available and Revised Source Data: Key Providers and Years Affected
| Agency | Data | Years affected |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis | Benchmark, annual, and quarterly direct investment surveys (direct investment and other investment assets and liabilities) | 2022–2024 |
| U.S. Department of the Treasury | Aggregate Holdings, Purchases and Sales, and Fair Value Changes of Long-Term Securities by U.S. and Foreign Residents (portfolio investment assets and liabilities) | 2022–2024 |
| Foreign-Residents’ Holdings of U.S. Securities, Including Selected Money Market Instruments (portfolio investment liabilities) | 2024 | |
| U.S. Ownership of Foreign Securities, Including Selected Money Market Instruments (portfolio investment assets) | 2023 | |
| Reports by Financial Institutions of Liabilities to, and Claims on, Foreign Residents by U.S. Residents (portfolio investment and other investment assets and liabilities) | 2022–2024 | |
| Reports of Liabilities to, and Claims on, Unaffiliated Foreign Residents by U.S. Resident Non-Financial Institutions (portfolio investment and other investment assets and liabilities) | 2022–2024 | |
| Reports of Holdings of, and Transactions in, Financial Derivatives Contracts with Foreign Residents (financial derivatives assets and liabilities) | 2023–2024 |
More information on the annual update is available in “Preview of the 2025 Annual Update of the International Economic Accounts” in the Survey of Current Business, and additional information will be published in July in the Survey.
Next release: September 29, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EDT
U.S. International Investment Position, 2nd Quarter 2025
Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis
First Quarter
The U.S. net international investment position,the difference between U.S. residents’ foreign financial assets and liabilities, was –$24.61 trillion at the end of the first quarter of 2025, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (chart 1). Assets totaled $36.85 trillion, and liabilities were $61.47 trillion (chart 2). At the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, the net investment position was –$26.54 trillion (revised). The net investment position and components of assets and liabilities are presented in table 1.
The $1.92 trillion change in the net investment position from the fourth quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2025 came from net financial transactions of –$277.5 billion and net other changes in position, such as price and exchange-rate changes, of $2.20 trillion (table 2).
Price changes of $1.73 trillion reflected price increases for assets and price decreases for liabilities, as foreign stock prices outperformed U.S. stock prices.
Exchange-rate changes of $472.5 billion reflected foreign currency appreciation against the U.S. dollar, which raised the value of U.S. assets more than U.S. liabilities in dollar terms.
U.S. assets increased by $1.13 trillion to a total of $36.85 trillion at the end of the first quarter, driven mainly by financial transactions of $548.0 billion that largely reflected increased U.S. short-term lending abroad in the form of resale agreements, and by exchange-rate changes of $528.4 billion that reflected the appreciation of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar (table 2). All major investment categories of assets, except financial derivatives, increased in the first quarter (chart 3).
U.S. liabilities decreased by $792.0 billion to a total of $61.47 trillion at the end of the first quarter, driven by U.S. stock price decreases that lowered the market value of direct investment and portfolio investment liabilities by $836.4 billion and by $734.6 billion, respectively (table 2). Partly offsetting these price decreases were financial transactions of $844.8 billion that mostly reflected foreign purchases of U.S. debt securities and “other investment” inflows of deposits and loans. All major investment categories of liabilities except other investment decreased in the first quarter (chart 4).
Annual Update of the U.S. International Investment Position Accounts
The statistics in this release reflect the annual update of the U.S. International Investment Position Accounts. With this update, BEA has incorporated newly available and revised source data for 2022–2024 (table 3).
In addition, BEA has incorporated new statistics for transactions and positions related to a repurchase agreement facility for foreign and international monetary authorities (FIMA Repo Facility) that was established by the Federal Reserve in March 2020. The FIMA Repo Facility was designed to address pressures in global dollar funding markets that could affect financial market conditions in the United States. These transactions and positions are recorded as U.S. deposits in the central bank sector of other investment assets in the U.S. International Transactions Accounts and International Investment Position Accounts statistics, beginning with 2022.
Newly Available and Revised Source Data: Key Providers and Years Affected
| Agency | Data | Years affected |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis | Benchmark, annual, and quarterly direct investment surveys (direct investment and other investment assets and liabilities) | 2022–2024 |
| U.S. Department of the Treasury | Aggregate Holdings, Purchases and Sales, and Fair Value Changes of Long-Term Securities by U.S. and Foreign Residents (portfolio investment assets and liabilities) | 2022–2024 |
| Foreign-Residents’ Holdings of U.S. Securities, Including Selected Money Market Instruments (portfolio investment liabilities) | 2024 | |
| U.S. Ownership of Foreign Securities, Including Selected Money Market Instruments (portfolio investment assets) | 2023 | |
| Reports by Financial Institutions of Liabilities to, and Claims on, Foreign Residents by U.S. Residents (portfolio investment and other investment assets and liabilities) | 2022–2024 | |
| Reports of Liabilities to, and Claims on, Unaffiliated Foreign Residents by U.S. Resident Non-Financial Institutions (portfolio investment and other investment assets and liabilities) | 2022–2024 | |
| Reports of Holdings of, and Transactions in, Financial Derivatives Contracts with Foreign Residents (financial derivatives assets and liabilities) | 2023–2024 |
More information on the annual update is available in “Preview of the 2025 Annual Update of the International Economic Accounts” in the Survey of Current Business, and additional information will be published in July in the Survey.
Next release: September 29, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EDT
U.S. International Investment Position, 2nd Quarter 2025
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh and Puducherry Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan met on Monday to deliberate on a comprehensive coastal action plan, exploring the Union Territory’s role in India’s ambitious Deep Ocean Mission. The discussions focused on sustainable coastal development, beach management, and leveraging ocean-based economic opportunities.
Addressing concerns over coastal erosion and environmental degradation, Jitendra Singh emphasized the need for a permanent mechanism for coastal cleaning and management in Puducherry. He assured full support from the Ministry of Earth Sciences and said coordination with the Puducherry Chief Secretary would be initiated to implement the plan effectively.
Highlighting Puducherry’s strategic location, the Union Minister outlined its potential in deep sea fishing, seabed mineral exploration, and marine research. He informed that India’s Deep Ocean Mission, currently in its first phase, is set for sea trials in early 2026, with the aim of establishing a strong underwater research and exploration capability by 2027 using indigenous technology.
Jitendra Singh noted that critical seabed minerals, such as polymetallic nodules, could enhance India’s technological and economic standing globally. He also called for efforts to generate local employment and revenue through regulated marine activities.
Applauding Puducherry’s readiness to collaborate on national missions, the Union Minister stressed the importance of integrating science, governance, and community participation to fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)
Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) condemned the Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security Appropriations bill during a full committee markup, calling it “dangerous, cruel, and a threat to public safety, constitutional rights, and national security.” Torres blasted House Republicans for gutting FEMA, slashing cybersecurity funding, and enabling violent immigration enforcement tactics that have led to the wrongful detention and deportation of immigrants, veterans, and even U.S. citizens.
This past January, the Los Angeles area faced devastating wildfires. Thousands of families lost their homes, hundreds of business owners lost their businesses, and there has been serious damage to roads, schools, and more.And since that time, more major disaster declarations have piled up. Since January, there have been 25 major disaster declarations by FEMA. Natural disasters don’t look at state boundaries or political representatives- and when it comes to helping Americans in desperate need, we shouldn’t either.
“This bill isn’t about safety — it’s about playing politics with people’s lives,” said Torres. “It dismantles disaster response, leaves our critical infrastructure vulnerable to cyberattacks, and bankrolls the unconstitutional targeting of communities like mine. From the wildfires in California to ICE raids on our streets, this bill cuts where we can least afford it and prioritizes cruelty over security.”
Torres also warned that the bill cripples the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) just as the nation faces escalating threats from Iran and other adversaries. She announced the introduction of the Protecting America’s Cybersecurity Act to restore vital funding and staffing at CISA.
Her due process for veterans amendment, would ensure that noncitizen veterans are not deported without access to legal representation. Non-citizen veterans can enlist in the military if they are legally residing in the United States. That means they chose to defend a country that isn’t their birthplace. They weren’t born here, but they believed in America enough to fight for it. That is a powerful act of loyalty and they should be given due process.
To address key gaps in the bill, Torres introduced three amendments:
Amendment #1: Provides $16.8 billion in emergency FEMA funding to help communities recover from major disasters in 2025, including wildfires, floods, and tornadoes across at least 13 states.
Amendment #2: Blocks any funding from being used to dismantle or undermine the Flores Settlement Agreement, which protects children in immigration custody with basic standards like safe conditions and limits on detention time.
Amendment #3: Prohibits the deportation of non-citizen U.S. military veterans without legal counsel and a fair hearing, and requires DHS to report on veteran deportation cases. Torres highlighted the recent deportation of Purple Heart Army veteran Sae Joon Park as a devastating example of injustice.
Torres urged her colleagues to reject the bill and support amendments that restore public safety, protect children and veterans, and uphold the Constitution.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)
Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Norma J. Torres condemned the Fiscal Year 2026 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill during a full committee markup and led an amendment to prevent Republicans from cutting $400 million from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent watchdog that roots out waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. Every dollar invested in the GAO results in $123 in savings, making GAO Congress’ most effective watchdog for protecting taxpayer dollars. Since 2002, the GAO’s work has led to $1.45 trillion in savings. Congresswoman Torres’ amendment would have increased funding for this important agency by $400 million, paid for by rescinded taxpayer dollars that will be used to convert Trump’s luxury jetliner gifted from Qatar earlier this year. Republicans voted to reject this amendment.
“Republicans say they care about waste, fraud, and abuse, but support $400 million of taxpayer dollars to give President Trump a luxury jetliner. At the same time, they say “responsible spending” is why they are cutting that same amount, $400 million, from the Government Accountability Office, which is Congress’ most effective watchdog at rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse. This comes as the GAO is conducting nearly 40 investigations into the Trump Administration for illegally freezing or holding Congressional funding,” said Congresswoman Torres (CA-35). “I’m disappointed, but not surprised that Republicans rejected my amendment to stop Americans from paying for a private jet for Trump while ensuring Congress’ watchdog has the resources it needs to investigate violations of the law.”
At the markup, Rep. Torres joined Democrats in successfully fighting to allow Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to work in the Legislative Branch through an amendment from Congressman Pete Aguilar (CA-33).
The Republican FY2026 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill:
Aids and abets President Trump in continuing to steal money promised to the American taxpayer by gutting and politicizing the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office, slashing its budget by half (nearly $400 million) and undermines the rule of law across the federal government by restricting the GAO from bringing civil actions against any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States for failing to comply with the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974.
Threatens the preservation of our nation’s history and culture by slashing resources for the Library of Congress.
Shows House Republicans are continuing to ignore the sacrifices of the United States Capitol Police by failing to call for the immediate installation of the completed January 6 plaque honoring law enforcement.
For More Information on the bill, please click here.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)
Washington, D.C. – During National Homeownership Month, Congresswoman Norma Torres, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, reintroduced the Asbestos Exposure in Housing Reduction Act of 2025. This legislation would protect renters and homeowners nationwide by requiring full disclosure of asbestos hazards during the sale or lease of residential properties, with civil and criminal penalties for non-disclosure.
“As we celebrate National Homeownership Month, it’s critical to prioritize the safety and health of those investing in their homes,” said Congresswoman Norma Torres. “Every renter and homeowner deserve transparency about environmental risks like asbestos before signing a lease or purchase agreement. This bill empowers families with the knowledge they need to protect their health and secure a safe home environment. No one should have to worry about hidden dangers in their home.”
The Environmental Protection Agency announced a historic ban on ongoing asbestos uses, yet disclosure requirements vary widely across states. Notably, California landlords are currently not mandated to disclose asbestos risks.
Key provisions of the Asbestos Exposure in Housing Reduction Act include:
Mandatory disclosure to buyers and renters of any known asbestos or asbestos-based hazards in the dwelling.
Provision of any available asbestos hazard evaluation reports from sellers or lessors to potential occupants.
A significant 10-day period for buyers or renters to conduct risk assessments or inspections for asbestos, ensuring informed decisions and peace of mind.
Inclusion of an Asbestos Warning Statement in every contract for purchase, sale, or lease, accompanied by a signed acknowledgment from the buyer or lessee confirming they understand the risks and had the opportunity to inspect.
This legislation directs the Housing and Urban Development Secretary and the EPA Administrator to issue regulations ensuring these protections become standard practice.
Bill text
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Source: Central Bank of Bahrain
Published on 30 June 2025
Manama, Bahrain – 30 June 2025: A delegation of officials from the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), led by H.E. the Governor Khalid Humaidan, visited Amazon Web Services (AWS) at its headquarters in London, United Kingdom. The delegation, which included Mr. Mohamed Abdulkarim, Executive Director – Corporate Services, Mr. Mohamed Al Sadek, Executive Director – Market Development and Mrs. Noora Abdulghani, Executive Director – Supervision, was welcomed by Ms. Tanuja Randery, Managing Director of AWS for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).
As part of the visit, the delegation participated in an executive briefing session that featured a series of presentations on various topics. These included emerging innovations contributing to the financial sector’s digital transformation, the role of advanced technologies in strengthening the supervisory and regulatory capabilities of central banks, and the strategic value of data analytics in unlocking business opportunities in financial services.
Commenting on the visit, H.E. Khalid Humaidan, Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, stated: “It was a pleasure to visit Amazon Web Services, a global leader in cloud solutions and data analytics. This engagement marks a crucial step in strengthening collaboration and exchanging knowledge and reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation and enhancing the financial services sector in Bahrain. It also underscores our determination to remain adaptive in a rapidly evolving financial services landscape, reinforcing our growth and stability mandate across the sector.”
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Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
PHOENIX, Ariz. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment June 24 against Iranian national, Mehrzad Asadi Eidivand, 40, of Tempe, Arizona for alien in possession of a firearm, and against his wife, Linet Vartanniavartanians, 37, a U.S. citizen from Tempe, Arizona, for threatening to assault a federal officer. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBI are conducting the investigation in this case.
Documents filed in the case allege that ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers went to Eidivand and Vartanniavartanians’ Tempe residence on Saturday, June 21, to administratively arrest Eidivand for failing to comply with a 2013 removal order. Eidivand had challenged the removal order on several occasions, but the Board of Immigration Appeals denied those motions repeatedly. Despite the court order to return to his home country, Eidivand remained in the U.S. over a decade.
When ICE ERO officers arrived at the couple’s residence, they announced themselves and were answered by Vartanniavartanians, who refused to open the door and told the officers to return with a warrant. Shortly thereafter, Tempe Police officers arrived on the scene and told ICE ERO that Vartanniavartanians had called the police and threatened to shoot the federal officers. She claimed that she had a loaded gun and that she would shoot anyone who tried to come inside the house. She also threatened to go outside and shoot ICE officers in the head. When the police dispatcher spoke with Eidivand, he confirmed that there were guns in the home.
The following day, June 22, special agents with ICE Homeland Security Investigations and officers from ICE ERO executed a federal search warrant on the residence. Inside the home, agents found a loaded firearm on the kitchen counter and a second loaded firearm on a nightstand. Both Vartanniavartanians and Eidivand were arrested at the scene and taken into custody without further incident.
A conviction for alien in possession of a firearm carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, or both. A conviction for threatening to assault a federal officer carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, or both.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Addison Owen, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
Source: US State of Connecticut
Kumar Venkitanarayanan, professor of animal science, has been named interim dean for the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR).
“Dr. Venkitanarayanan is deeply committed to the success of CAHNR, its people, and the communities it serves,” said UConn Provost Anne D’Alleva in a message to the College announcing Venkitanarayanan’s appointment. “I am grateful to him for stepping into this role and for the continuity and leadership he will provide during this period of transition.”
Venkitanarayanan is a leader in the field of egg and poultry meat safety. Venkitanarayanan’s research focuses on developing novel, organic antimicrobials to combat foodborne pathogens in an age of antibiotic resistance. Venkitanarayanan is currently leading a $10 million USDA-NIFA grant focused on sustainable poultry production with objectives to improve bird, human, and environmental health.
Venkitanarayanan previously served as CAHNR senior associate dean for research and graduate studies. Venkitanarayanan played a key role in establishing formal connections with Indian universities creating opportunities for student and faculty in both countries. In 2021, Venkitanarayanan was named a fellow of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).
Venkitanarayanan will serve in this position while the College completes a national search to fill the position permanently. This transition follows former Dean Indrajeet Chaubey’s departure from the University. Chaubey served as dean for six years and is now Provost at the University of Arkansas. Ock Chun, professor in the Department of Nutritional Science, will serve as interim associate dean for research and graduate studies during Venkitanarayanan’s term as interim dean. Her term begins August 24, 2025.
“I am honored to support the teaching, research, and extension mission at CAHNR,” says Venkitanarayanan. “I am excited to continue to seek creative strategies to elevate CAHNR’s unique strengths and amplify our impactful programs that reach all of Connecticut’s cities and towns, as well as communities around the world.”
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Source: US State of Connecticut
By the end of the year, Erin Leigh Boughamer will have attended more the 50 weddings – 31 of them in 2025 and all of them since 2022.
It’s not that a tribe of friends are spontaneously making trips down the aisle, or even children of friends or friends of her children. It’s not that she’s stuck in a loop of invite after invite, caught in some practical joke or on a list of reception seat fillers.
Boughamer ’94 (SFA) is an event painter, a wedding artist who now makes a living by focusing on flowers and gowns, first dances and first looks. The artwork she produces for each couple is the gift of a lifetime, keepsakes meant to endure until death do they part.
At least one time, though, she was the gift, when a groom-to-be arranged for her to live-paint their first private dance as a token of affection for his bride.
“She started crying,” Boughamer says of the reveal. “The bride was walking through the reception room before the guests came in to look around at everything she had chosen for their decorations. She walked up to me thinking I was with the venue, when he looked at her and said, ‘This is my gift to you.’ Witnessing that beautiful little moment between the two of them was precious, and one I won’t soon forget.”
When Boughamer left UConn three decades ago with a degree in graphic design from the School of Fine Arts, event painting hadn’t yet become part of bridal vocabulary. People talked about videographers and photographers to document the day, not painters to encapsulate a single moment.
To ask her back then if she foresaw herself with a wardrobe of dressy pantsuits, each with at least a little dollop of acrylic paint on them, she’d have said no way. Then again, she might have said no way to some of the other professions she’s held along the way.
House stager. Interior designer. Children’s clothing designer. Private art teacher. Crafter on the green. Marketer. Public school teacher. Business owner. Entrepreneur. Gallery artist.
There might even be more, as she dabbled in small creative outlets through the years while staying home to raise her children. The last few, however, have been the most influential on her work today, all coming over the last 12 years as she set out on an unintentional quest to find her spark.
“Every time I go in the studio, whether I’m cleaning and organizing it, drawing and painting, or simply making sketches that aren’t a beautiful end product, just doing something, anything, I come out happy every single time,” Boughamer says. “I think we’re all like that. We all need to have some form of expression. We’ve gotten to the point where life is all work, family, house chores, go to bed, and do it again. We don’t allow ourselves the time or the space to express ourselves or be creative. I think even the simplest act of creating can keep us sane.”
Around 2013, Boughamer moved into the workforce full time when her two kids were older and took a job in network marketing selling health and wellness products, a job that was far from the world of art but nonetheless important to her future.
It’s where she learned branding, public speaking, and sales pitching. She learned how to approach people and how to talk to them. She learned how to sell someone something by sharing her story and building relationships. These were business skills that hadn’t been offered before, and it was a job that inadvertently gave her a business education.
So, when she came across the then-burgeoning paint-and-sip industry – those popular paint nights that usually involve a group of people noshing on hors d’oeurves and sipping beverages while being guided through a painting project – she’d gained the business know-how to move ahead with her own.
Paint Sip Fun became a near overnight success, Boughamer says, with she and 30 part-timers teaching sometimes two to three classes a day at restaurants, banquet halls, private residences, bars, and other places all around Connecticut and Massachusetts.
One class drew 198 students and required 10 assistants – and was the best time ever, she says.
What really makes my heart sing is that person coming in, saying, ‘I can’t even draw a straight line,’ and walking out two hours later saying, ‘I did that.’ That’s what really makes me happy, helping others to reignite that creative flame that lies dormant inside most of us. — Erin Leigh Boughamer ’94 (SFA)
“What really makes my heart sing is that person coming in, saying, ‘I can’t even draw a straight line,’ and walking out two hours later saying, ‘I did that.’ That’s what really makes me happy, helping others to reignite that creative flame that lies dormant inside most of us,” she says.
Back when she was selling health products, there was a point when Boughamer asked herself why that job. Was it to just to make money? Was it just to pay the bills? Was it to sharpen a business acumen? The answer boiled down to something pretty simple.
She found fulfillment in empowering others, whether to transform their bodies or draw a straight line.
“If you don’t have that drive, that passion, that fire, you’re going to fizzle out. I want to make an impact on other people’s lives,” she says of her impulse. “I want the woman who hasn’t done art since the third grade be amazed by what she’s created at the end of a class.”
Even as the pandemic put a temporary end to in-person group classes, each night for three months Boughamer got on social media at 6 p.m. to talk people through an art project with supplies they had at home.
This is how you can draw with a crayon. Here’s what a marker can do. Do you have a pencil? It’s a dream tool for blending and shading.
That maintained her clientele, who when they left their houses as pandemic restrictions lifted, clamored for her to open a physical studio, and while she did in Somers for about 18 months, Boughamer’s own life had taken a turn.
She’d gone back to school to earn a teaching degree and by now was working with school-aged children. Running a physical location while working full time proved incompatible, so she returned to the flexibility of a mobile paint-and-sip model.
And then, lightning struck while leading a class for a bridal party.
“’Can you live paint my wedding?’” Boughamer says the bride-to-be asked her. “I was confused. ‘What are you talking about?’ She explained it to me, showed me pictures, and I agreed. Then, a couple people randomly found me in 2023, probably from a social post, and last year I decided to give it a go. 2024 was really my first year in the event painting business, as that’s when I created a website and started marketing at bridal shows.”
Last year brought her to 18 weddings, earning enough to outpace what she made as a public school teacher. This year has her at 31 weddings – three over Memorial Day weekend alone – and now contemplating whether to shift her professional efforts solely to Paint Sip Fun and Event Painting by Erin, along with some gallery work.
She also paints live at fundraisers and charity auctions, with her first on Nantucket last summer for the Great Harbor Yacht Club Foundation to help with its efforts to preserve Nantucket Harbor.
“It’s not that I don’t like teaching in schools, I do, I just want to build the businesses properly. I want to really set the foundation and proper business structure,” she says, adding that she’s on the hunt for a business coach to help.
Art was something gifted to Boughamer in part through genetics. Her grandmother: artist. Aunt: artist. Mom: crafty. Dad: encouraging, with a side of business savvy.
She started at UConn as a psychology major, earning a D and D- in those first two intro classes, mostly because she wasn’t interested in the subject matter. But her GPA was bolstered by the A+ in the elective art class she took.
“When I got home after freshman year, my dad sat me down and asked me why I wasn’t doing something with art. ‘Clearly, you’re good at it. You got an A+ in your elective drawing class. Why don’t you take it seriously?’ I looked at him and said, ‘I can do that?’ I didn’t know I could. From then on, it never stopped,” she says.
A couple years ago, Boughamer says she started to get restless and sought to find her art, the work that would show the world the contradictory bohemian and reserved parts of her personality, born of the free spirit side of her dad and the pearls-and-heels influence of her mom.
The series that developed, “Calming Chaos,” puts on canvas her love for architectural, geometric shapes alongside a freeform, almost carefree style of painting. After hours, in her studio at home in Hampden, Massachusetts, she says one could find her literally throwing paint one minute and the next sitting with a ruler and compass.
“I had this series almost done, and I thought how poignant it would be if I could show it at the place where my whole art career began,” she says, explaining she called Emily Murray, alumni relations director at the UConn Foundation, with whom she’d worked before, to ask if UConn had a place.
The Jorgensen Gallery agreed, and in March, Boughamer, as Fine Art by Erin, returned to her alma mater as a gallery artist, having created several canvas pieces as large as 5-by-6-feet as showstoppers. She sold four artworks from the show to collectors in New York City.
The opening fed her soul, and now she’s in the thick of wedding season.
“It’s kind of a throwback to the old days,” she says of live wedding painting. “Before the camera was invented, all couples had to remember their day was a painting. It’s almost full circle that way. Brides these days want an heirloom keepsake and instead of having a photo like we had, it’s a painting.”
Live wedding painting, while somewhat a new add-on to weddings in the Northeast, started to migrate from California about a decade ago, Boughamer says, working its way through the country, artist by artist, who now talk shop on social media about things like contract language and technique.
With her couples, though, Boughamer talks about what moment they want to preserve, but the answer to that oftentimes comes only after answering the second question.
Is it important to include the bride’s bouquet in the painting? If so, then the first dance in which the couple would be holding each other and not likely the bouquet, probably is out of contention. Is grandma’s pearl necklace an important detail? If so, the back of the couple’s heads or even a side view at the altar probably wouldn’t work so well.
Is there a visible tattoo that ought not be overlooked? Should the dogs somehow be set in the scene? How much of the architecture and décor of the barn, ballroom, reception hall, church, outdoor garden should be in the background? The bride has on a cape not a veil. Yes, the cape should be included, how can that be best emphasized?
“I ask these things for two reasons. First, this is something the couple is going to stare at the rest of their lives. Second, the very first bride was very particular and knew she wanted the dipping kiss pose because she was wearing Christian Louboutin red-bottom shoes and wanted them in the painting,” Boughamer says. “The painting has to be really tailored to exactly what the couple is looking for.”
The betrothed also must decide if they want any of the other painting options Boughamer offers – guest paintings, 5-by-7-inch watercolor illustrations of each guest often given as favors, and collaborative paintings that engage the artistic efforts of guests in a sort of paint by number kind of way.
In one instance, the couple had restored an old truck together and mentioned to Boughamer there’s a special dirt road where they like to take it. So, she grabbed photos of the road and the truck and painted the focal point of the truck in the piece, sectioning off the rest of the canvas into little blocks for each guest to contribute.
One by one, she gives each guest an art lesson, handing them a palette of paint and instructing them exactly how to layer it on. Nervous guests who can’t even draw a straight line are reassured: it’s a very small area; no, they can’t mess it up. She won’t put red paint on the palette for a guest who’s painting the water in a beach scene.
An added bonus is a photograph of each guest in the act, pictures added to a guest-autographed book and given to the couple.
Boughamer relies on photographs for much of her live event work, taking pictures of the dogs to add in later, or the gardens, or the mountains in the distance, because most of the canvases get finished back in her studio – another 20 to 40 hours of work ahead.
“Some weddings are more quiet and more subdued, while some are just a flat-out party,” she says. “I enjoy all of them because I like being with people and interacting with guests. I have yet to be at a wedding where someone didn’t come talk to me and express amazement by what I do.”
Usually, guests remark that they can’t wait to see the final product, and since that’ll likely happen back in the studio, she gives blank note cards depicting the piece to each couple for use as thank yous.
People have an intrinsic desire to be creative, she says. Just watching a painting being done in real-time can be invigorating; it’s like watching the birth of something from nothing.
“We are creative creatures whether you’re creating dinner, creating a garden, creating a spreadsheet, or creating an outfit for the day. Everyone creates something, it doesn’t matter what. It’s our human nature to create,” she says.
Source: European Parliament
As the Treaties make no specific reference to forests, the European Union does not have a common forestry policy. Therefore, it remains primarily a national competence. However, the EU has established a European forest strategy and supports many actions that have a significant impact on forests in the EU and in non-EU countries.
Source: European Parliament
As the Treaties make no specific reference to forests, the European Union does not have a common forestry policy. Therefore, it remains primarily a national competence. However, the EU has established a European forest strategy and supports many actions that have a significant impact on forests in the EU and in non-EU countries.
Source: European Parliament
As the Treaties make no specific reference to forests, the European Union does not have a common forestry policy. Therefore, it remains primarily a national competence. However, the EU has established a European forest strategy and supports many actions that have a significant impact on forests in the EU and in non-EU countries.
Source: European Parliament
Next AFET committee meetings will be held on:
Meetings are webstreamed with the exception of agenda items held “in camera“.
Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP
Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
Two men, who brutally stabbed an unarmed man as he sat behind the wheel of his car in Tower Hamlets last year, have been jailed.
Shamiah McKenzie, 18 (01.08.06), of Colvin Close, Lewisham, was sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 22 years in prison, for the murder of 23-year-old Abdul Jalloh at the Old Bailey on Friday, 20 June.
Codee Godfrey, 19 (25.12.05), of Grosvenor Wharf Road, Tower Hamlets, was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment for manslaughter at the same hearing.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Waller, from Specialist Crime North – who led the investigation – said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Abdul Jalloh, who lost a loved one in shocking circumstances.
“By carrying and using a knife, their callous act demonstrates once again the devastating and far-reaching effects of knife crime.
“I therefore commend the officers who worked incredibly hard to build evidence against McKenzie and Godfrey in order to prove that there could be no doubt as to their guilt. London will be a safer place with them taken off the streets.
“I also want to thank the local community who came forward to assist officers with footage they had on the day. They displayed immense courage in giving evidence to the court.”
McKenzie was found guilty of murder and Godfrey, was found guilty of manslaughter at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 12 June, in a trial which started on Monday, 28 April,
The court heard that police were called at around 16:15hrs on Monday, 5 August 2024 to reports of a stabbing on New Union Close, E14.
When Abdul was attacked, he was unable to defend himself as he was unarmed and vulnerable behind the wheel of his car.
Despite the best efforts of emergency services, Abdul died a short time later as a result of a stab wound in his neck.
A manhunt began immediately, with officers painstakingly combing through hours of CCTV footage and digital evidence to understand what took place, identify the attackers and track their movements after they fled the scene.
As a result of this meticulous work, officers were able to show the jury how the pair had been circling the Isle of Dogs on bicycles for more than an hour looking for Abdul.
After the attack they threw the knife and its sheath and McKenzie’s bicycle into the Thames at Caledonian Wharf. As paramedics tried to save Abdul’s life, the pair packed their bloody clothing and footwear they had been wearing into bags.
Officers then uncovered that they changed into summer clothes and then disposed of the bags and two mobile phones in nearby bushes. In the bag officers found £3k worth of cannabis, £2k of cash, a vacuum sealing machine used to package drugs, and business cards containing their phone numbers.
McKenzie and Godfrey were so confident in their changed appearance that they returned to the Thames Path which was full of officers who were searching for Abdul’s killers.
McKenzie and Godfrey turned themselves in to police on Thursday, 8 August 2024 and were charged the following day.