Source: International Monetary Fund
Luca A Ricci, Calixte Ahokpossi, Saad N Quayyum, Rima A Turk, Anna Belianska, Mehmet Cangul, Habtamu Fuje, Sunwoo Lee, Grace B Li, Xiangming Li, Yibin Mu, Nkunde Mwase, Jack J Ree, Haiyan Shi, and Vitaliy Kramarenko. “Digital Payment Innovations in Sub-Saharan Africa”, Departmental Papers 2025, 004 (2025), accessed June 27, 2025, https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400232220.087
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Florian Steig, DPhil Student, Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford
In the Danish TV drama Families Like Ours, one melancholic line from high-school student Laura captures the emotional toll of climate displacement: “Soon we will vanish like bubbles in a creek.” This seven-part series imagines a near future in which Denmark is being evacuated due to rising sea levels – a government-mandated relocation of an entire population.
The series challenges the fantasy that wealthy western countries are immune to the far-reaching effects of climate change. Rather than focusing on catastrophic storylines, Families Like Ours portrays the mundane, bureaucratic and affective aspects of relocating a population in anticipation of a creeping crisis: the scramble for visas, the fractures that appear between families, and the inequalities in social and economic capital that shape people’s chances for a new life.
Yet, the idea that Denmark could soon get submerged is not grounded in science. More worryingly, the narrative of the unavoidable uninhabitability of entire nations and millions of international migrants flooding Europe is misleading, dangerous, and sidelines deeply political questions about adaptation to sea level rise that should be dealt with now.
Sea levels are rising by a few millimetres a year. That pace is accelerating. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that, by 2100, sea levels could rise by up to one metre on average. Beyond 2100, sea levels could rise by several metres, although these long-term scenarios are highly uncertain.
Even in extreme scenarios, these developments would unfold over several decades and centuries. It’s unlikely that permanent submergence of large areas of land will make Denmark uninhabitable.
Still, sea level rise poses a serious risk to the livelihoods of millions of people living in coastal zones. In the UK, many homes in Norfolk and Fairbourne, Wales, are already at risk from coastal erosion, for instance.
These changes are subtle. They do not warrant the evacuation of an entire nation, but degrade coastal livelihoods over time. Houses in high-risk areas like these may become uninsurable, devalued or too risky to live in. This will force people to move.
In addition, sea level rise makes coastal flooding more likely. In European high-income countries, including Denmark, rising waters already threaten coastal communities. Without adaptation, hundreds of thousands of homes in cities such as Copenhagen could be at risk.
However, depicting climate change as a driver of uncontrolled mass migration is misleading. Sea level rise will contribute to coastal migration, and state-led relocation is already a reality especially in Africa and Asia. But climate migration predominantly occurs within countries or regions. International migration from climate change impacts is the exception, not the norm.
To capture these complexities, some researchers prefer the term “climate mobility”. Mobility can be forced or voluntary, permanent or temporary, even seasonal. Some communities and people resist relocation plans and stay put.
Families Like Ours reinforces longstanding narratives that frame certain parts of the world as destined to become uninhabitable. Even UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned of a “mass exodus of entire populations on a biblical scale” due to sea level rise.
As a researcher working on climate adaptation, I notice that sea level rise and climate migration are increasingly discussed at the global level. Discussions focus, for example, on the protection of affected populations and continued statehood of nations after their potential submergence. A new global alliance of cities and regions tackling sea level rise called the Ocean Rise & Coastal Resilience Coalition considers a “managed retreat” not only as inevitable but as a rational and desirable adaptation pathway for many cities and regions.
Scientists have warned that creative storylines highlighting the “uninhabitability” of low-lying countries and regions, such as the Pacific, are not helpful. The mass migration narrative can be used by governments to justify extreme protectionist action and sideline urgent adaptation debates.
States are not helpless in the face of sea level rise and submergence is not inevitable. As geographer Carol Farbotko and colleagues suggest, “habitability is mediated by human actions and is not a direct consequence of environmental change”. People often develop their own ways of living with rising waters, resisting narratives of submergence. State-led adaptation is possible, but depends on finance, which is unequally distributed.
People’s migration decisions can seldomly be attributed to just climate impact. A community’s capacity to respond hinges on social, political, economic and demographic factors. Adaptation measures are costly. This raises deeply political questions over who gets to be protected, who is left behind, and how managed retreat can benefit the most affected people and places in a fair way. We need to overcome mass migration myths and start a serious and justice-focused debate about the future of our shorelines.
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Florian Steig receives funding from the German Academic Scholarship Foundation (Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes).
– ref. What Danish climate migration drama, Families Like Ours, gets wrong about rising sea levels – https://theconversation.com/what-danish-climate-migration-drama-families-like-ours-gets-wrong-about-rising-sea-levels-259234
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Daniel O’Brien, Lecturer, Department of Literature Film and Theatre Studies, University of Essex
It has now been four decades since Marty McFly first hit 88 miles per hour in a time-travelling DeLorean. Robert Zemeckis’s sci-fi adventure blockbuster didn’t just navigate the space-time continuum onscreen (thanks to the flux capacitor). It also found a lasting place in the hearts of its audience.
Personally, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone speak badly about the Back to the Future trilogy (aside from certain cast members, which I’ll touch on later). It has thankfully avoided the common traps of remakes and the sprawling expanded universe trend, which has diluted so many other beloved franchises (yes, Star Wars, Indiana Jones and The Lord of the Rings, I’m talking to you).
Naturally, the success of Back to the Future has inspired a range of adaptations, including a computer game, an immersive Secret Cinema event, as well as a more recent West End stage musical. But each version stays true to the spirit of the original, reinforcing what feels like an unspoken rule in Hollywood: Back to the Future is off-limits to a cinematic or televised remake.
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Zemeckis and Bob Gale, who co-wrote the screenplay for all three films, have repeatedly shut down the idea of a fourth instalment, declaring that the trilogy is complete. In fact, aside from a few delightful Back to the Future references in other shows made by the original stars themselves, the only remake you’re likely to come across is BBTF Project 85. It’s a multi-fan-made, shot-for-shot collaboration and true labour of love, created not for profit but out of pure admiration for the original.
The success of the Back to the Future trilogy can be attributed to several factors, not least the undeniable charisma and chemistry between Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd. The wholesome, inter-generational friendship of their characters is never explicitly explained, but also doesn’t need to be. It simply works. The dynamic between Doc and Marty captures a timeless, heartfelt bond between two generations who respect and learn from each other, much like the relationship between Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid (another trilogy that has since found itself in the rebooted camp).
Michael J. Fox was the original choice for Marty McFly but due to scheduling conflicts with his role on sitcom Family Ties, production began with Eric Stoltz in the role. Over half the film was shot before Zemeckis made the difficult decision to recast.
As Stoltz later said in an interview, the change came because he “wasn’t giving the performance [Zemeckis] wanted for his film”. Stoltz, a talented performer, brought a darker, moodier and more intense interpretation to Marty, a version that was replaced by Fox’s lighter, more comedic approach, channelled through his effortless charm.
Stoltz wasn’t the only cast member to leave Back to the Future with a sense of disappointment. Crispin Glover, who played George McFly, also famously fell out with Zemeckis and Gale over creative differences. One of which was Glover’s objection to the film’s ending that presented Marty’s family being financially wealthier in comparison to the start. Glover felt this idea sent a negative message of money equating to happiness. This artistic clash (and ironically, dispute over salary) ultimately led to him being recast in Back to the Future Parts II and III, with actor Jeffrey Weissman stepping in.
In the sequels, Weissman wears a facial prosthetic designed from Glover’s likeness from the first film (where George is made to look older). This enraged Glover further, who responded by filing a lawsuit, arguing that the use of his image without consent was illegal.
He has since been openly critical of Weissman’s “bad performance” and has expressed ongoing frustration that many viewers still mistakenly assume the “bad acting” to be his own. As he notes, this explicitly contrasts with the more obvious recasting of Jennifer Parker (Marty’s girlfriend) performed by Claudia Wells in the first film and later replaced by Elisabeth Shue in the sequels.
The recasting reflects the first film’s unexpected success. Back to the Future was never intended to have a sequel, but the overwhelming popularity of the original prompted the rapid development of two back-to-back follow-ups released in 1989 and 1990.
Once again, the film’s success can be credited to the electric chemistry between its leads and the unforgettable music, from Huey Lewis’s Power of Love to Chuck Berry’s “new sound” in Johnny B. Goode, and Alan Silvestri’s hauntingly triumphant score. Silvestri’s music seems to capture the spirit of wide-eyed adventure, nostalgia and wisdom all at once, like a journey through time, composed entirely for the ears, affording the trilogy a sense of timelessness.
Another charm of the Back to the Future trilogy (which stood out to me in a more recent viewing) lies in its use of printed media, which inspired me to create my video essay, Back to Printed Media.
As indicated in the video, Back to the Future begins with the sound and image of clocks before panning to a framed newspaper article, a fitting introduction to how all three instalments use print to convey plot, emotion and shifts across timelines.
Beyond newspapers, the trilogy gives prominence to photographs, handwritten letters, phone books, a sports almanac, transparent receipts of the future, and even printed faxes (in the future of 2015). This tactile world of ink and paper evokes a deep nostalgia, underscoring the emotional weight of physical communication, something that has steadily faded with the rise of digital screens and indeed the loss of physical touch.
Doc even comments in the third instalment (when reading a letter from his future self) that he never knew he could write anything so touching.
In an era where glowing rectangles dominate both our lives and our storytelling, Back to the Future offers a refreshing contrast. It reminds us of the human connection and the need to be with others, packaged in a blockbuster narrative about one of the most universal cinematic themes: finding your way back home.
As a trilogy, Back to the Future has stood the test of time for four decades, and I’m confident it will continue to resonate with both new and nostalgic audiences well into the future.
Daniel O’Brien 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. Back to the Future at 40: the trilogy has never been remade – let’s hope that doesn’t change – https://theconversation.com/back-to-the-future-at-40-the-trilogy-has-never-been-remade-lets-hope-that-doesnt-change-259725
Source: Government of Qatar
Doha – June 27, 2025
The State of Qatar strongly condemns the attacks carried out by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, which resulted in deaths and injuries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms that these heinous attacks are part of a series of ongoing crimes against the defenseless Palestinian people. In this context, it emphasizes the urgent need for the international community to act promptly to provide the necessary protection for civilians and ensure that the perpetrators of such atrocities do not escape accountability.
The Ministry reiterates the urgent need for global solidarity to put an end to the brutal genocide in the Gaza Strip and to achieve a just and sustainable peace in the region, which guarantees the establishment of an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE
Headline: Supply chain ethics: Promoting human rights and social responsibility on the margins of EU corporate sustainability due diligence directive conference
Supply chain ethics: Promoting human rights and social responsibility on the margins of EU corporate sustainability due diligence directive conference | OSCE
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Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE
Headline: OSCE annual meeting reinforces cybersecurity co-operation through cross-functional dialogue
The OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department convened the fifth annual meeting of national points of contact (PoC), in line with cyber/ICT security confidence-building measure (CBM) no. 8 on 23 June in Vienna, bringing together 69 policy and technical experts from 41 participating States.
This year’s meeting focused on bridging the gap between policy and technical communities to enhance national co-ordination and strengthen collective responses to cybersecurity challenges. The network of PoCs, a key element of the OSCE’s cyber/ICT security efforts, was reinforced as a dynamic platform for national co-ordination and international co-operation.
Participants engaged in open exchanges on national approaches to cybersecurity, sharing insights into how co-ordination among diplomats, cybersecurity professionals, and other relevant stakeholders is organized and can be improved. Thematic discussion groups explored concrete ways to deepen collaboration; through regular communication, joint activities, information exchange, and other trust-building measures.
The meeting was held as part of the project “Strengthening the work of the CBM 8 Points of Contact crisis communication network,” with financial support from Germany and the Netherlands.
Source: European Banking Authority
The European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA – the ESAs) today launched a public consultation on their draft Joint Guidelines on ESG stress testing, as mandated by the Capital Requirements Directive and the Solvency II Directive. The draft Guidelines set out how competent authorities for the banking and insurance sectors should integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks when performing supervisory stress tests. They aim to harmonise methodologies and practices among supervisors in banking and insurance, to ensure proportionality and to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of ESG stress testing. The consultation runs until 19 September 2025.
The draft Guidelines, put forward by the Joint Committee of the ESAs, establish a common framework for developing ESG-related stress testing methodologies and standards across the EU’s financial system. They provide comprehensive guidance on the design and features of stress tests with ESG elements, as well as the organisational and governance arrangements such stress tests would need to have. These include sufficient human resources with relevant expertise, data collection and management systems that support access to high-quality ESG data and appropriate timelines for scenario analysis.
Aiming to foster a consistent and long-term approach to ESG stress testing, the draft Guidelines are designed to accommodate future methodological advancements and improvements in data availability.
The ESAs invite stakeholders to provide their feedback on the consultation paper by responding to the questions via an online survey no later than 19 September 2025. All responses will be published on the ESAs’ respective websites unless otherwise requested.
The ESAs will hold an online public hearing on the draft Guidelines on 26 August 2025, from 10:00 to 12:00 CEST. Further details, including dial-in credentials, will be provided closer to the date of the event.
The draft Consultation Paper on Joint Guidelines on ESG stress testing has been prepared to ensure that consistency, long-term considerations, common methodologies and related standards are integrated into the stress testing of environmental, social and governance risks pursuant to Article 100(4) of the Capital Requirements Directive – CRD (Directive 2013/36/EU) and Article 304c(3) of Solvency II (Directive 2009/138/EC) which mandate the ESAs to develop Joint Guidelines on this matter by 10 January 2026.
The draft Guidelines are addressed to competent authorities in the banking and insurance sectors. They do not include new requirements for competent authorities to carry out supervisory stress tests focused on ESG risks.
The Joint Committee is a forum with the objective of strengthening cooperation between the European Banking Authority (EBA), the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), collectively known as the three European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs). Through the Joint Committee, the three ESAs coordinate their supervisory activities in the scope of their respective responsibilities and ensure consistency in their practices.
Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland
Source: Government of Canada News (2)
Ottawa, Ontario – June 27, 2025
Today, the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSE) released its unclassified Annual Report for 2024 to 2025. The report contains an overview of activities conducted by CSE and its Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre) from 2024 to 2025. Highlights include:
Premier David Eby has issued the following statement marking Canadian Multiculturalism Day:
“Today, we celebrate the many cultural communities that make B.C. the most ethnically diverse province in Canada.
“A cornerstone of Canadian identity, multiculturalism is a fundamental part of who we are as British Columbians.
“People from all over the world have been coming to B.C. for centuries – to start a new life for their families, to make their fortune, or in some cases, to escape hardship and violence in their home countries.
“Indigenous Peoples have lived on this land since time immemorial. Today, B.C. is home to more than 200 First Nations communities, Métis and Indigenous people from other parts of Canada as well as people from more than 200 countries.
“Our government remains committed to fighting racial discrimination and continuing our ongoing anti-racism work, including implementing the Anti-Racism Act and launching the Racist Incident Helpline to support people who have experienced or witnessed an act of hate.
“On this Canadian Multiculturalism Day, we honour the vibrant and diverse communities that make B.C. strong, and we recommit to continuing to build a more welcoming and inclusive province for everyone.”
Source: Government of Canada regional news
The Province is supporting 22 seafood companies and related organizations throughout Nova Scotia to support efforts in lowering their carbon emissions.
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Energy Efficiency Innovation Fund is investing $1.73 million in projects that range from electrifying vessels to installing solar systems.
“Our seafood sector is a key partner in addressing climate change,” said Kent Smith, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. “This funding will help seafood organizations in their efforts to reduce fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, while also helping the industry lower its operational costs.”
The three-year fund, administered by Efficiency Nova Scotia, will provide a total of $6.5 million to industry climate change projects.
There will be a third call for project funding applications later this year.
“Nova Scotia’s fisheries and aquaculture industry is a cornerstone of our economy, supporting jobs and communities across the province. Energy efficiency is a powerful way for organizations in the sector to reduce costs and boost productivity both in the short and long term – and this fund is helping more businesses adopt innovative, energy-efficient practices that support a more resilient and sustainable future. We’re excited to see the initiatives from these new fund recipients come to life, driving innovation and sustainability across the sector.”
— Stephen MacDonald, President and CEO, EfficiencyOne
“Nova Scotia produces the best seafood in the world and the investments announced today will help make our processing sector more efficient and productive. With the many challenges Canada has faced lately, every step in streamlining and modernizing our sector is vital in competing globally and supporting communities and jobs at home. These investments show that the Province understands these challenges and is working to grow the sector.”
— Ian McIsaac, President, Seafood Producers Association of Nova Scotia
Fisheries and Aquaculture Energy Efficiency Innovation Fund: https://www.efficiencyns.ca/business/business-types/agriculture/fisheries-and-aquaculture-energy-efficiency-innovation-fund/
Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture Loan Board lending program: https://nsfishloan.ca/energy-efficiency
Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/ns-climate-change-plan.pdf
Approved projects:
Mersey Seafoods – $28,000 toward wharf electrification infrastructure to eliminate idling of three vessels while tied up at the wharf
Waycobah First Nation – $18,953 for data logging on lobster vessel to explore potential for future vessel electrification
Membertou Fisheries Ltd. Partnership – $250,000 for charging infrastructure to support electric lobster vessel
Asadalia Fisheries – $250,000 for a hybrid diesel-electric lobster vessel
Canadian Red Crab Co. Ltd. – $38,500 for a two-degree heat exchanger in their live lobster holding facility, to reduce refrigeration loads
Saww Lobster Inc. – $18,000 for a floating head condenser refrigeration for their live lobster holding facility
RRPM Lobster Inc. – $97,500 for floating head refrigeration and two-degree heat exchanger for the refurbishment of their lobster pound
Twin Seafood Ltd. – $52,500 for floating head refrigeration in their live lobster holding facility
Deep Cove Aqua Farms Ltd. – $100,000 for floating head refrigeration and two-degree heat exchanger to expand their live lobster holding capacity
Lobster Hub Inc. – $100,000 for floating head refrigeration and two-degree heat exchanger for a new lobster pound
Age Lobster Inc. – $25,000 to add floating head refrigeration and two-degree heat exchanger to their currently unrefrigerated tanks
Emery Smith Fisheries Ltd. – $100,000 for floating head refrigeration, two-degree heat exchanger and settling tank to assist with water level issues at their live lobster holding facility
Fisherman’s Market International Inc. – $35,000 for floating head refrigeration in their live lobster holding facility to help reduce their electrical load
Hot Lobster Fisheries Ltd. – $56,984 for a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system to offset their lobster processing facility
Hailmar Investments Ltd. – $100,000 for a roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system to offset their electrical load at their lobster pound
South Shore Lobster Ltd. – $87,155 for a roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system to offset their electrical load at their lobster pound
Shoal Cove Developments – $24,826 for a roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system at their marine/boat repair shop
Shandaph Oysters Co. Inc. – $33,997 for a roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system with storage capability to electrify their off -grid aquaculture operations
Ryan’s Fancy Fisheries Ltd. – $67,571 for a roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system on infrastructure supporting their commercial fishing operations at two sites
Innovative Fishery Products – $95,165 for a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system at their operational facility
Aqualitas Inc. – $100,000 for a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system at their finfish aquaculture facility
Right Source Group Ltd. – $50,867 for a roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system at their seafood processing facility
Premier David Eby has issued the following statement marking Muharram:
“Tonight, at sunset, Muslim communities in British Columbia and around the world will mark the beginning of a new year.
“The sacred month of Muharram is a time for prayer and spiritual reflection, including mourning Hazrat Imam Hussain ibn Ali, the martyred grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
“Muharram is also a time for us all to reflect on the shared values of justice, respect and community.
“To all who celebrate, I wish you a blessed Muharram and a peaceful new year.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) announced the introduction of the Harley Jacobsen Clinical Trial Participant Income Exemption Act, legislation that aims to exempt all payments received by participants in clinical trials from being counted towards their gross income.
Under current law, payments that are not categorized as reimbursements are considered taxable income. This disparity can create a financial burden for participants, particularly those in lower income brackets.
“By exempting these payments from gross income, we can alleviate this burden and make participation in clinical trials more accessible and accommodating to individuals’ lives,” said Rep. Kelly. “This legislation puts the patients first and aims to improve both patient care and patient outcomes.”
“Modern medicine has shown us how crucial clinical trials are to cutting-edge research and development,” said Rep. Houlahan. “However, clinical trials often take a toll on participants’ time and finances, resulting in less economic diversity in these studies and fewer people able to take part in them. I’m proud to introduce the Harley Jacobsen Clinical Trial Participation Act, which will allow payments received by participants in clinical trials to be tax-exempt. This would not only increase access to these trials and diversify those participating but would also allow for better advancements in our medical research as a result of including a more comprehensive patient population.”
Reps. Kelly and Houlahan previously introduced this legislation in the 118th Congress.
BACKGROUND
The Harley Jacobsen Clinical Trial Participant Income Exemption Act aims to:
You can read the full bill here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)
Reps. Jack Bergman (MI-01) and Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) introduced the bipartisan Military PFAS Transparency Act to shine a light on PFAS cleanup efforts by the Department of Defense (DoD), and get more answers for over 600 communities across the country that have been contaminated by “forever chemicals.”
“Our government owes the communities and people affected by PFAS clarity and answers,” said Congresswoman McDonald Rivet. “The Military PFAS Transparency Act will help Michigan families by requiring regular updates from DoD on their PFAS cleanup efforts, making the process more responsive and accountable. Congressman Bergman has been a terrific partner, and I won’t stop fighting to get communities in Michigan and across the country the answers they deserve.”
“I’m proud to introduce this important bipartisan legislation alongside Rep. McDonald Rivet as we push federal bureaucracies to take real, meaningful action on PFAS cleanup. The problem has been studied extensively—it’s time to act,”said Congressman Bergman. “This bill is about turning analysis into accountability and moving the Pentagon from paperwork to real-world cleanup.”
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” are used in a wide array of products like firefighting foams, food packaging, cosmetics, and fabrics. Their widespread use has contaminated soil, surface water, groundwater, and food across the country. These forever chemicals have also contaminated hundreds of military installations and surrounding communities across the country, including over a dozen in Michigan. Some PFAS can cause harmful health effects and have been linked to health complications, including damage to the immune system and an increased risk of developing certain cancers.
The Military PFAS Transparency Act would:
The Military PFAS Transparency Act is endorsed by the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, and the Great Lakes Commission.
“This bipartisan bill is an important step to put impacted communities at the center of Pentagon PFAS cleanups and to encourage real collaboration with people on the ground who best understand what needs to be done,” said Tony Spaniola, Co-Chair of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network. “The Pentagon’s interim action policy, which was developed by community experts in Oscoda, Michigan, is designed to strategically cut off PFAS exposures and make every federal dollar count. I commend Representatives McDonald Rivet and Bergman for their critical work to ensure that the policy actually brings results for the people and communities it is supposed to protect.”
“For far too long, people living near military bases exposed to toxic PFAS chemicals have been in the dark in terms of Department of Defense cleanup efforts, which puts our water and our health in danger,” said Bentley Johnson, federal government affairs director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “The Military PFAS Transparency Act will make sure that impacted residents and the general public know the status of the military PFAS remediation, which can help reduce exposure to contamination. Better transparency and improved cleanup strategies will save lives, and so we applaud the bill’s sponsors and urge that Congress enact this critical legislation into law.”
“PFAS pose a grave threat to drinking water and public health – a threat that is felt acutely in the Great Lakes. It is critical, then, that residents of the Great Lakes region and beyond know how their government is responding, in order to improve outcomes for all affected communities,” said Dr. Michael J. Goff, President and CEO of the Northeast-Midwest Institute. “We thank Congresswoman McDonald Rivet and Congressman Bergman for their leadership on this important issue.”
This legislation is also supported by the other co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force: Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02).
Source: United States Air Force
Headline: Around the Air Force: Human-Machine Teaming, Sonic Boom Research, Survivable Communication Networks
In this week’s look Around the Air Force, human-machine teaming for better decision-making in battle sprints forward, researchers study the impact of sonic booms, and Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminal system enhances warfighting with a strategic communication network.
Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
A man who posted supportive messages on social media about proscribed terrorist groups as well as antisemitic posts has been jailed.
Zakir Hussain, 30 (09.01.95) of Harlow, was arrested in March last year after officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command linked him to an X account posting statements in support of Hamas and Hizballah.
Writing on account ‘@lewiswarren911”, Hussain posted a series of messages on X between November 2023 and January 2024 that celebrated the October 7 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. He also wrote numerous antisemitic comments, including praise for the actions of Adolf Hitler.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This investigation started as the result of an anonymous report by a member of the public appalled by the content of Hussain’s X account.
“Our Counter-Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) assessed the content of the posts as being in breach of terrorism legislation and a proactive investigation was launched.
“This case demonstrates, yet again, that we will act when we receive information about social media content that is unlawful. When this happens those responsible can expect to be investigated and prosecuted where the evidence allows.”
At the time of his arrest, Hussain was already serving a suspended sentence for a conviction of malicious communications offences committed in 2021 and 2022. This involved him sending threatening and abusive posts on X to the sister of a man who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
Hussain was charged on 27 March last year with four counts of supporting a proscribed organization, contrary to section 12 (1A) of the Terrorism Act 2000 and seven counts of publishing threatening, abusive or insulting material, contrary to section 19 of the Public Order Act.
Hussain pleaded guilty to all the charges on the first day of his trial at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 20 March. He was sentenced at the same court on 26 June to five years and eight months’ imprisonment, plus another three years on extended licence.
He has been remanded in custody for the past year.
Anyone wanting to report something to Counter Terrorism Policing can visit www.act.campaign.gov.uk
Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
A man who posted supportive messages on social media about proscribed terrorist groups as well as antisemitic posts has been jailed.
Zakir Hussain, 30 (09.01.95) of Harlow, was arrested in March last year after officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command linked him to an X account posting statements in support of Hamas and Hizballah.
Writing on account ‘@lewiswarren911”, Hussain posted a series of messages on X between November 2023 and January 2024 that celebrated the October 7 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. He also wrote numerous antisemitic comments, including praise for the actions of Adolf Hitler.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This investigation started as the result of an anonymous report by a member of the public appalled by the content of Hussain’s X account.
“Our Counter-Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) assessed the content of the posts as being in breach of terrorism legislation and a proactive investigation was launched.
“This case demonstrates, yet again, that we will act when we receive information about social media content that is unlawful. When this happens those responsible can expect to be investigated and prosecuted where the evidence allows.”
At the time of his arrest, Hussain was already serving a suspended sentence for a conviction of malicious communications offences committed in 2021 and 2022. This involved him sending threatening and abusive posts on X to the sister of a man who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
Hussain was charged on 27 March last year with four counts of supporting a proscribed organization, contrary to section 12 (1A) of the Terrorism Act 2000 and seven counts of publishing threatening, abusive or insulting material, contrary to section 19 of the Public Order Act.
Hussain pleaded guilty to all the charges on the first day of his trial at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 20 March. He was sentenced at the same court on 26 June to five years and eight months’ imprisonment, plus another three years on extended licence.
He has been remanded in custody for the past year.
Anyone wanting to report something to Counter Terrorism Policing can visit www.act.campaign.gov.uk
Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)
BOSTON – This week, a federal judge in Boston ordered restitution in the amount of $1,510,300 to be paid to the survivors victimized by Jermall Anderson who sex trafficked seven women over the span of four years.
On March 12, 2025, Anderson, 45, of Tewksbury, Mass. was sentenced to 15 years in prison for sex trafficking women throughout New England, New York and New Jersey. In November 2024, Anderson pleaded guilty to seven counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; one count of coercion and enticement; and one count of interstate transportation for the purpose of prostitution. He was indicted in August 2023 along with two co-conspirators.
In today’s order, the Court awarded the following restitution amounts directly payable to each of the seven separate survivors, based upon their testimony and other information regarding Anderson’s sex trafficking operation:
From 2012 through 2016, Anderson, along with his co-conspirators, used physical violence, threats and the giving and withholding of heroin and cocaine to force seven different women to prostitute on their behalf. Anderson and his co-conspirators targeted vulnerable victims, specifically those struggling from drug addiction, homelessness and lack of economic resources. Anderson recruited women struggling with drug addiction directly from detox and drug rehabilitation facilities and forced and coerced them into providing commercial sex for his financial benefit.
Under federal criminal code, 18 USC § 1593, victims of sex trafficking offenses are entitled to restitution for losses associated with the criminal offense. The United States Attorney’s Office is charged with the enforcement of court-imposed restitution orders or judgments. Collection will continue for 20 years after a defendant has completed any period of incarceration or until restitution is paid in full.
If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the HSI Office in New Haven, Conn., the Lynn and Tewksbury Police Departments (Mass.) and the Hampden (Conn.) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Brian J. Phillips, Reader (Associate Professor) in International Relations, University of Essex
The UK’s home secretary, Yvette Cooper, plans to proscribe the protest group Palestine Action under anti-terror law. This move, if approved by parliament, would criminalise the group’s existence, making it a crime to be a member of the group or to support it in any way.
Palestine Action emerged in 2020, first drawing attention when its members broke into and spray painted red the UK headquarters of Elbit Systems, an Israeli defence contractor. In the years since, the group has sprayed paint, blockaded or otherwise vandalised a number of institutions it sees as complicit in Israeli military actions, such as a Lockheed Martin facility and two Barclays branches.
The group’s website describes it as a “direct action movement committed to ending global participation in Israel’s genocidal and apartheid regime”.
The term “direct action” has historically been used for tactics ranging from legal protest to traffic obstruction and property damage, such as animal rights activists smashing laboratory equipment used for experiments on animals. Or, more recently, the roadblocks carried out by Extinction Rebellion.
Palestine Action’s campaign has caused substantial property damage. Five activists were jailed after a 2022 protest at a Glasgow weapons equipment factory that caused more than an estimated £1 million in damage due to pyrotechnics thrown inside the building.
Activists are also accused of causing £1 million in damages to Elbit property near Bristol in 2024. Eighteen face charges of aggravated burglary and criminal damage, 16 of whom also face a charge of violent disorder. Nine have pleaded not guilty, while others have not yet entered a plea. During the Bristol attack, one person was accused of assaulting police officers with a sledgehammer, and has pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
The group’s recent spray-painting of two military jets at RAF Brize Norton – reportedly causing millions of pounds in damage, combined with the military nature of the target – seems to have been the breaking point for the home secretary.
The question is whether all this makes the group a terrorist organisation.
The UK’s list of proscribed groups currently contains 81 organisations, from radical Islamists such as al-Qaida to neo-Nazis such as the Base.
The legislation behind the list, the Terrorism Act 2000, imposes serious punishments for proscribed organisations’ members or supporters, from a fine to a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. Even wearing clothing or publishing an image supporting a proscribed group can be punished by up to six months in prison or a fine of up to £5,000.
For a group to be proscribed, it needs to be determined by the secretary of state to be “concerned in terrorism”, basically meaning committing or planning terrorist acts. The definition of terrorism is long and legalistic, but is, essentially, the politically-motivated use or threat of actions to intimidate the government or public through violence or destruction, including “serious damage to property”.
This latter justification, serious property damage, has been invoked by the home secretary in discussing Palestine Action’s planned proscription. So, technically, Palestine Action appears to meet the criteria.
But there are a variety of groups carrying out serious property damage that have not (yet) been proscribed under anti-terrorism law. Following the same logic, the government could theoretically proscribe Extinction Rebellion and other groups that might not be widely thought of as terrorist organisations.
Whether it makes sense to proscribe the group, however, is a matter of debate. Proscribing Palestine Action on the basis of its alleged property damage would set a precedent in legally declaring that this type of direct action – vandalism – is considered significant enough to invoke the Terrorism Act in this way.
Palestine Action is different in an important way from currently proscribed terrorist organisations.
In Palestine Action’s five years of attacks, it has never killed anyone, or apparently attempted to do so. There have, though, been several injuries allegedly associated with the group. Two people were charged with assaulting an emergency worker at a protest – after the intention to proscribe the group was announced. At some of the group’s actions, members have been charged with assaulting security guards.
In her statement to parliament, Cooper cited the group’s “impact on innocent members of the public fleeing for safety and subjected to violence”. But the primary focus of the government’s intention to proscribe the group seems to be around serious damage to property, particularly related to national security.
Many currently proscribed groups have killed thousands of people, from al-Qaida on September 11 or 7/7 to groups like Hamas or Hezbollah attacking Israelis or Boko Haram’s killing sprees in Nigeria.
There are some less violent proscribed groups. For example, UK-based Islamist group al-Ghurabaa (and the related Saved Sect, also known as al-Muhajiroun) have not been clearly linked to actual violence, although the group is accused of glorifying violence, for example celebrating the 9/11 attacks. It has also apparently inspired terrorist attacks.
The government’s choice to start using serious property damage as sufficient criteria for terrorist designation would be a substantial change in how anti-terrorism law is applied.
If Palestine Action were to be proscribed, the consequences could be substantial.
Since any support of the group would be a crime, a protest in support of the group – like the one that happened June 23 – could lead to thousands of arrests. If supporters failed to turn out, and the members stopped participating out of fear, it could lead to the end of the group.
Or the group might shift to strictly legal or less damaging direct actions, like permitted marches or blockades. This would be a clear victory for the government.
An ultimate goal of proscription is to keep dissident groups protesting legally. It sometimes works. Al-Muhajiroun and other local groups seemingly often tried to walk the fine line of being as extreme as possible, while staying “just within the law”.
It is also possible that current Palestine Action members form renamed groups and carry on with criminal direct actions. Fragmenting and renaming groups is a common response to proscription, as we have seen with al-Ghurabaa, and with armed groups abroad like Lashkar-e-Taiba, as my own research with my colleague Muhammad Feyyaz has shown.
This results in counter-terrorism officials playing Whac-A-Mole, frequently updating legislation with aliases and chasing many smaller groups or a broader movement instead of one organisation.
Overall, the government might be legally justified to proscribe Palestine Action. What parliament must decide, however, is if the group poses enough of a threat to warrant this change to precedent. And officials should think about whether the action is likely to bring about the desired consequences, or if it could radicalise supporters into more violent action.
Brian J. Phillips works on a research project that receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.
– ref. Palestine Action: what it means to proscribe a group, and what the effects could be – https://theconversation.com/palestine-action-what-it-means-to-proscribe-a-group-and-what-the-effects-could-be-259619
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tony McNulty, Lecturer/Teaching Fellow, British Politics and Public Policy, Queen Mary University of London
The government has promised to make major concessions to its universal credit and personal independence payment bill after a large-scale and very public rebellion by Labour MPs threatened to derail a vote due on July 1.
The Commons order paper published on June 26 revealed that 126 Labour MPs had signed an amendment opposing a second reading for the bill, which proposes restricting disability benefits to levels they find unacceptable. Cleverly, the amendment stated that they accept “the need for the reform of the social security system” but they then listed a plethora of reasons as to why they declined to give the bill a second reading when it is due for a vote on July 1.
Many of these reasons related to the government’s own assessment of the impact of the bill. It openly admits, for example, that an estimated 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, would be pushed into poverty by the changes being made to the social security system.
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Faced with the possibility of losing a vote to his own MP in the week marking the first anniversary of his arrival in Downing Street, prime minister Keir Starmer is promising to make concessions. These reportedly include exempting people currently receiving disability benefits from the changes.
But whether or not this is enough to stop the rebellion, significant damage has been done. Securing the second reading on half-promised and lukewarm concessions that cannot be sustained simply stores up future strife.
How did the government reach a position where it was at risk of losing a vote on one of its key bills in the week in which it celebrates a year in office? Why has it been pushing a bill so obviously lacking in support among its own MPs? Why has no-one rolled with the political pitch and controlled the narrative?
This is not a muscle flexing exercise of the kind seen in December 1997, when Labour sought to show how tough it could be by cutting benefits for lone parents. It is not a macho attempt to see off a resurgent left flank, because effectively there isn’t one. The troublesome hard left is now tiny. Nor is it a putative rebellion that can be dismissed as dominated by the usual suspects. It is a rebellion of the mainstream core of the backbench parliamentary Labour party (PLP). Among the 126 MPs openly speaking out against the bill, 11 are Labour select committee chairs and 62 of them were only elected last year. In short, these are not the usual suspects. Their complaints cannot be readily dismissed.
There were allegedly noises off from some whips suggesting this might be a confidence issue – implying that the government could be in trouble so pressure is being piled on rebels to withdraw or risk bringing down the government. I was a government whip from 1999 to 2002, and I can attest that no whip should be running around declaring this a potential “confidence vote”. And no MP should believe that it is. It is not. Were there to be any truth in these rumours then it indicates a whips’ office either vastly inexperienced, overconfident and arrogant, or simply grossly incompetent and panicked. Both the chief whip and the No.10 political operation will come under intense scrutiny whatever happens now. How did they not see this coming?
The truth is that the only serious option at this point should be to bury the bill. It should be pulled before the vote and resurrected in the context of developing an anti-poverty strategy, including a child poverty alleviation plan. It might be that a sufficient number of “rebel signatories” are persuaded to let the second reading happen with a promise of further changes building on the concessions already announced, but this does not mean a safe passage later in the process. Many of the signatories will have already been disheartened and worried by the scrapping of the winter fuel allowance and the continuation of two-child benefit limit. They may have acquiesced on the latter and pocketed the change in policy on the former, but their disquiet and anger has not gone away.
The government should never have been in a position of seriously considering pushing the bill through hoping it will secure Conservative support for its second reading. To do so would seriously threaten if not Starmer’s position, then certainly the position of the work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall – and even perhaps that of the chancellor, Rachel Reeves. All three will still emerge from this week damaged in some fashion.
Rebellions such as this can take on a dynamic and life of their own and are likely to grow rather than diminish. Some 106 Labour MPs signed the amendment initially – only to be joined by more in short order. Backbenchers will have been worried about being asked “what did you do in the war?” by their grassroots members had they not enlisted their support.
There is also a danger that once blooded by rebellion, some of the 120 plus MPs will get a taste for it – and that spells a real danger for the government, even one with a majority of 165.
Either way, the government, which was relying on the bill to make £5bn worth of savings that would supposedly obviate the need for tax rises in the autumn, is going to have to somehow salvage both its economic and its political strategy in the wake of this crisis – and start to take its backbenchers more seriously.
It’s not how anyone would have wanted to mark a year in office. Happy birthday, one and all.
This article includes links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org The Conversation UK may earn a commission.
Tony McNulty is member of the Labour Party
– ref. Labour’s disability cuts rebellion: a former government whip asks, how did Keir Starmer not see this coming? – https://theconversation.com/labours-disability-cuts-rebellion-a-former-government-whip-asks-how-did-keir-starmer-not-see-this-coming-259856
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tony McNulty, Lecturer/Teaching Fellow, British Politics and Public Policy, Queen Mary University of London
The government has promised to make major concessions to its universal credit and personal independence payment bill after a large-scale and very public rebellion by Labour MPs threatened to derail a vote due on July 1.
The Commons order paper published on June 26 revealed that 126 Labour MPs had signed an amendment opposing a second reading for the bill, which proposes restricting disability benefits to levels they find unacceptable. Cleverly, the amendment stated that they accept “the need for the reform of the social security system” but they then listed a plethora of reasons as to why they declined to give the bill a second reading when it is due for a vote on July 1.
Many of these reasons related to the government’s own assessment of the impact of the bill. It openly admits, for example, that an estimated 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, would be pushed into poverty by the changes being made to the social security system.
Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.
Sign up for our weekly politics newsletter, delivered every Friday.
Faced with the possibility of losing a vote to his own MP in the week marking the first anniversary of his arrival in Downing Street, prime minister Keir Starmer is promising to make concessions. These reportedly include exempting people currently receiving disability benefits from the changes.
But whether or not this is enough to stop the rebellion, significant damage has been done. Securing the second reading on half-promised and lukewarm concessions that cannot be sustained simply stores up future strife.
How did the government reach a position where it was at risk of losing a vote on one of its key bills in the week in which it celebrates a year in office? Why has it been pushing a bill so obviously lacking in support among its own MPs? Why has no-one rolled with the political pitch and controlled the narrative?
This is not a muscle flexing exercise of the kind seen in December 1997, when Labour sought to show how tough it could be by cutting benefits for lone parents. It is not a macho attempt to see off a resurgent left flank, because effectively there isn’t one. The troublesome hard left is now tiny. Nor is it a putative rebellion that can be dismissed as dominated by the usual suspects. It is a rebellion of the mainstream core of the backbench parliamentary Labour party (PLP). Among the 126 MPs openly speaking out against the bill, 11 are Labour select committee chairs and 62 of them were only elected last year. In short, these are not the usual suspects. Their complaints cannot be readily dismissed.
There were allegedly noises off from some whips suggesting this might be a confidence issue – implying that the government could be in trouble so pressure is being piled on rebels to withdraw or risk bringing down the government. I was a government whip from 1999 to 2002, and I can attest that no whip should be running around declaring this a potential “confidence vote”. And no MP should believe that it is. It is not. Were there to be any truth in these rumours then it indicates a whips’ office either vastly inexperienced, overconfident and arrogant, or simply grossly incompetent and panicked. Both the chief whip and the No.10 political operation will come under intense scrutiny whatever happens now. How did they not see this coming?
The truth is that the only serious option at this point should be to bury the bill. It should be pulled before the vote and resurrected in the context of developing an anti-poverty strategy, including a child poverty alleviation plan. It might be that a sufficient number of “rebel signatories” are persuaded to let the second reading happen with a promise of further changes building on the concessions already announced, but this does not mean a safe passage later in the process. Many of the signatories will have already been disheartened and worried by the scrapping of the winter fuel allowance and the continuation of two-child benefit limit. They may have acquiesced on the latter and pocketed the change in policy on the former, but their disquiet and anger has not gone away.
The government should never have been in a position of seriously considering pushing the bill through hoping it will secure Conservative support for its second reading. To do so would seriously threaten if not Starmer’s position, then certainly the position of the work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall – and even perhaps that of the chancellor, Rachel Reeves. All three will still emerge from this week damaged in some fashion.
Rebellions such as this can take on a dynamic and life of their own and are likely to grow rather than diminish. Some 106 Labour MPs signed the amendment initially – only to be joined by more in short order. Backbenchers will have been worried about being asked “what did you do in the war?” by their grassroots members had they not enlisted their support.
There is also a danger that once blooded by rebellion, some of the 120 plus MPs will get a taste for it – and that spells a real danger for the government, even one with a majority of 165.
Either way, the government, which was relying on the bill to make £5bn worth of savings that would supposedly obviate the need for tax rises in the autumn, is going to have to somehow salvage both its economic and its political strategy in the wake of this crisis – and start to take its backbenchers more seriously.
It’s not how anyone would have wanted to mark a year in office. Happy birthday, one and all.
This article includes links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org The Conversation UK may earn a commission.
Tony McNulty is member of the Labour Party
– ref. Labour’s disability cuts rebellion: a former government whip asks, how did Keir Starmer not see this coming? – https://theconversation.com/labours-disability-cuts-rebellion-a-former-government-whip-asks-how-did-keir-starmer-not-see-this-coming-259856
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Professor Manda Banerji, Professor of Astrophysics, School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Southampton
We are entering a new era of cosmic exploration. The new Vera C Rubin Observatory in Chile will transform astronomy with its extraordinary ability to map the universe in breathtaking detail. It is set to reveal secrets previously beyond our grasp. Here, we delve into the first images taken by Rubin’s telescope and what they are already showing us.
These images vividly showcase the unprecedented power that Rubin will use to
revolutionise astronomy and our understanding of the Universe. Rubin is truly transformative, thanks to its unique combination of sensitivity, vast sky area coverage and exceptional image quality.
These pictures powerfully demonstrate those attributes. They reveal not only bright objects in exquisite detail but also faint structures, both near and far, across a large area of sky.
The stunning pink and blue clouds in this image are the Lagoon (lower left) and Trifid (upper right) nebulae. The word nebula comes from the Latin for cloud, and these giant clouds are truly enormous – so vast it takes light decades to travel across them. They are stellar nurseries, the very birth sites for the next generation of stars and planets in our Milky Way galaxy.
The intense radiation from hot, young stars energises the gas particles, causing
them to glow pink. Further from these nascent stars, colder regions consist of
microscopic dust grains. These reflect starlight (a process known in astronomy as
“scattering”), much like our atmosphere, creating the beautiful blue hues. Darker filaments within are much denser regions of dust, obscuring all but the brightest background stars.
To detect these colours, astronomers use filters over their instruments, allowing only certain wavelengths of light onto the detectors. Rubin has six such filters, spanning from short ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths through the visible spectrum to longer near-infrared light. Combining information from these different filters enables detailed measurements of the properties of stars and gas, such as their temperature and size.
Rubin’s speed – its ability to take an image with one filter and then quickly move to the next – combined with the sheer area of sky it can see at any one time, is what makes it so unique and so exciting. The level of detail, revealing the finest and faintest structures, will enable it to map the substructure and satellite galaxies of the Milky Way like never before.
The images of galaxies powerfully demonstrate the scale at which the Rubin
observatory will map the universe beyond our own Milky Way. The large galaxies
visible here (such as the two bright spiral shaped galaxies visible in the lower right quarter of the picture) belong to the Virgo cluster, a giant structure containing more than 1,000 galaxies, each holding billions to trillions of stars.
This image beautifully showcases the huge diversity of shapes, sizes and colours of galaxies in our universe revealed by Rubin in their full technicolour glory. Inside these galaxies, bright dots are visible – these are star-forming regions, just like the Lagoon and Trifid nebulae, but remarkably, these are millions of light years away from us.
The still image captures just 2% of the area of a full Rubin image revealing a universe that is teeming with celestial bodies. The full image, which contains around ten million galaxies, would need several hundred ultra high-definition TV screens to display in all its detail. By the end of its ten-year survey, Rubin will catalogue the properties of some 20 billion galaxies, their colours and locations on the sky containing information about even more mysterious components of our universe such as dark matter and dark energy. Dark matter makes up most of the matter in the cosmos, but does not reflect or emit light. Dark energy seems to be responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe.
These unfathomable numbers demand data processing on a whole new scale.
Uncovering new discoveries from this data requires a giant collaborative effort, in which UK astronomy is playing a major role. The UK will process around 1.5 million Rubin images and hosts one of three international data access centres for the project, providing scientists across the globe with access to the vast Rubin data. Here at the University of Southampton, we are leading two critical software
development contributions to Rubin.
First of these is the capability to combine the Rubin images with those at longer infrared wavelengths. This extends the colours that Rubin sees, providing key diagnostic information about the properties of stars and galaxies. Second is the software that will link Rubin observations to another new instrument called 4MOST, soon to be installed at the Vista telescope in Chile.
Part of 4MOST’s job will be to snap up and classify rapidly changing “sources”, or objects, in the sky that have been discovered by Rubin. One such type of rapidly changing source is a stellar explosion known as a supernova. We expect to have catalogued more supernova explosions within just two years than have ever been made previously. Our contributions to the Rubin project will therefore lead to a totally new understanding of how the stars and galaxies in our universe live and die, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the grand cosmic cycle.
The Rubin observatory isn’t just a new telescope – it’s a new pair of eyes on the
universe, revealing the cosmos in unprecedented detail. A treasure trove of
discoveries await, but most interesting among them will be the hidden secrets of the universe that we are yet to contemplate. The first images from Rubin have been a spectacular demonstration of the vastness of the universe. What might we find in
this gargantuan dataset of the cosmos as the ultimate timelapse movie of our
universe unfolds?
Professor Manda Banerji receives funding from the Royal Society and the Science and Technology Facilities Council.
Dr Philip Wiseman receives funding from the Science and Technology Facilities Council
– ref. Could the first images from the Vera Rubin telescope change how we view space for good? – https://theconversation.com/could-the-first-images-from-the-vera-rubin-telescope-change-how-we-view-space-for-good-259857
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Leonie Fleischmann, Senior Lecturer in International Politics, City St George’s, University of London
With all eyes on the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, which came into effect 12 days after Israel launched a major attack on Iran’s nuclear and military structure, attention towards Gaza has waned. This is at a time when attempting to gain access to food under a new model of aid distribution has been described by the United Nations as a “death trap”.
According to the UN World Food Programme, more than 470,000 people are facing “catastrophic” hunger and the entire population is experiencing “acute” food insecurity. This was exacerbated when Israel imposed a blockade on the Strip in mid-March 2025, preventing the entry of food, medication and other aid for a period of 70 days.
Following international pressure, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, ordered the resumption of humanitarian aid through a new model of distribution, which bypasses the existing UN and NGO channels. It was devised by Israel and handed to a United States-backed organisation, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to operate.
According to Netanyahu, taking control of aid delivery would prevent Hamas from seizing and selling supplies. Two of his cabinet ministers, far-right politicians Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, objected to any aid entering Gaza, due to the risk of it serving to bolster Hamas.
A video was circulated on social media on June 26 allegedly showing armed men from Hamas commandeering aid trucks in northern Gaza. Smotrich threatened to leave the coalition if supplies continued to reach the hands of Hamas. In response, Netanyahu has since halted the entry of humanitarian aid into the north of Gaza.
GHF was ostensibly established to improve the distribution of aid in Gaza. But the UN swiftly condemned its new distribution model as “inadequate, dangerous and a violation of impartiality rules”.
Reports from one distribution site on its first day of operation on May 27 showed scenes of chaos and confusion. The site outside Rafah was described as overwhelmed with hundreds of people rushing towards the aid boxes. The New York Times reported that Israel Defense Force (IDF) personnel fired several warning shots, which sent the crowed running away in panic.
In the past two months, there have been continued reports of violence and chaos at the distribution sites, with deadly incidents a near daily occurrence. On the day the ceasefire between Iran and Israel was confirmed (June 24) at least 46 Palestinians waiting for aid in Gaza were shot by Israeli forces in two separate incidents, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency. Over 400 Palestinians have been killed around the four aid distribution centres since they began operating.
Arguably, this chaos and violence is inbuilt in the new aid delivery system. Even before it began operations, the GHF received widespread criticism.
Read more:
Lethal humanitarianism: why violence at Gaza aid centres should not come as a surprise
A letter signed by leading aid and human rights organisations criticised the GHF for not meeting the four universally recognised principles for humanitarian action: humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.
Critics say that the GHF system effectively militarises aid distribution. GHF’s leadership is made up of retired military officers and private security contractors, with some humanitarian aid officials. It coordinates with a private US security company on the ground in Gaza. Meanwhile the IDF patrols the perimeters at what it calls “secure distribution sites”.
Critics argued that the proposed model would be insufficient. The plan called for only four aid distribution centres to be established in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, compared with about 400 UN-led sites in operation across Gaza prior to October 7 2023.
The reduced number and location of the aid sites can be understood as a mechanism of forced displacement. It appears to be consistent with Netanyahu’s plan to relocate Palestinians to a “sterile zone” in Gaza’s far south. UN officials argued that the requirement for civilians to travel long distances and to cross Israeli military lines and combat zones to collect aid from the sites would “put civilian lives in danger and cause mass displacement while using aid as ‘bait’”. Forced displacement is illegal under international law.
The GHF rejected claims that the IDF have attacked Palestinians at the aid sites. Reports from Israeli news outlets have also countered the widespread media claims.
Israel Hayom, a free Israeli Hebrew-language daily newspaper criticised “inflammatory” reports that the IDF had opened fire on Palestinians lining up for food. The right-leaning news outlet, argued that it was Hamas which had shot at Gazan civilians.
The broadcaster 7 Israel National News reported that Hamas killed eight aid workers from the GHF in early June. A more positive spin from the same news outlet highlighted that improvements that have been made to security at the centres and that enough supplies for 1.4 million meals had been distributed in a single day on June 5.
Despite these claims from within Israel, evidence presented by the UN has suggested that the aid mechanisms are not only failing to meet the humanitarian needs in Gaza, but are making “a desperate situation worse”.
Following two months in operation, 15 human rights and legal organisations have called for the GHF to be suspended. They argue that “this new model of privatised, militarised aid distribution constitutes a radical and dangerous shift away from established international humanitarian relief operations”.
As a consequence of both the controversial establishment of the GHF and its failures on the ground, they believe that its operations may amount to grave violations of international humanitarian, human rights and criminal law.
Leonie Fleischmann 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. Chaotic new aid system means getting food in Gaza has become a matter of life – and often death – https://theconversation.com/chaotic-new-aid-system-means-getting-food-in-gaza-has-become-a-matter-of-life-and-often-death-259815
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Luca Stroppa, Postdoctoral Fellow on the project “Early Diagnosis – Handling Knowing”, University of St Andrews
By 2030, every baby born in the UK could have their entire genome sequenced under a new NHS initiative to “predict and prevent illness”. This would dramatically expand the current heel-prick test, which checks for nine rare genetic conditions, into a far more extensive screen of hundreds of potential risks.
On the surface, the idea sounds like an obvious win for public health: spot problems early, intervene sooner and save lives. But genetic testing on this scale carries real risks, especially if the results are misunderstood or poorly communicated.
The new plan builds on a recent NHS pilot study that sequenced the genomes of 100,000 newborns in England to identify more than 200 genetic conditions. However, these tests don’t provide clear cut answers. They don’t offer a diagnosis or certainty, just an estimate of risk.
A genetic result might suggest a child has a higher (or lower) probability of developing a certain disease later in life. But risk is not prediction. If parents, or even clinicians, misinterpret that nuance, the consequences could be serious.
Some families may come to see a child flagged as “at risk” as a patient-in-waiting. In extreme cases, they may treat a probability as a certainty; assuming, for instance, that a child “has the gene” and will inevitably become ill. That assumption could reshape how children are raised, how they’re treated and how they could see themselves.
This isn’t speculation. Research shows that while some people understand risk scores accurately, many struggle with statistical information. Words like “high risk” or “likely” are interpreted differently by different people and often more seriously than intended. Even trained doctors can overestimate what a positive test result means. When it comes to genomics, the line between “you might get sick” and “you will get sick” can blur quickly.
UK policymakers haven’t helped this confusion. Government messaging refers to “diagnosis before symptoms even occur” and “leapfrogging disease.” But this language overpromises what genomic data can do and downplays its uncertainty.
When testing is indiscriminate and communication unclear, the fallout can be wide ranging. Children identified as “high risk” may undergo years of monitoring, unnecessary medical appointments, or even treatment for diseases they never develop. In some cases, this leads to physical harms, from unnecessary medications to procedures with side effects. In others, the damage is psychological: shaping a child’s identity around an anticipated future of illness. These psychological effects can be lasting. Being told you’re likely to develop a condition like dementia may influence how a person plans their life, even if that illness never materialises.
There are also broader issues with applying this kind of screening to everyone. Risk based testing works best when it’s targeted; for example, among those with symptoms or a strong family history. But in the general population, where most people are healthy, false positives can far outnumber accurate results. Even well designed tests can produce misleading outcomes when applied at scale.
This is a well-known statistical effect, discussed during the COVID pandemic. In populations where a disease is rare, even highly accurate tests produce more false positives than true ones. If DNA screening is rolled out universally, many families will be told their child is at risk when they are not. These false positives can lead to a cascade of further tests, stress and unnecessary clinical interventions; all of which consume time and resources and may cause real harm.
This issue already affects adult testing. For example, Alzheimer’s tests that measure early changes in the brain work well in memory clinics, where patients already show symptoms. But when these same tests are used on the general population, where most people are healthy, they produce false positives in up to two-thirds of cases. If genetic screening in newborns is rolled out in the same way, it could lead to similar problems: mislabelling healthy children as sick, and causing unnecessary worry and follow-up tests.
So what’s the solution? It’s not to abandon genetic testing altogether – far from it. When used carefully, genomic data can offer real benefits, particularly for patients with symptoms or in research settings. But if we’re going to roll this out to every newborn, the surrounding infrastructure needs to be robust.
That includes:
Clear, consistent communication: Risk scores must be explained in ways that emphasise uncertainty, not oversold as definitive predictions.
Support for parents: For consent to be truly informed, parents need help understanding that a genetic flag is not a diagnosis – and that many people with elevated risk never go on to develop the condition.
Training for clinicians: Many doctors still lack the tools to interpret and explain genetic information accurately and responsibly.
A national network of genetic counsellors Genetic counsellors are essential for supporting families through testing and interpretation. But current numbers in the UK fall far short of what universal newborn screening would require.
Genomic data holds great promise. But using it as a blanket tool for all newborns demands caution, clarity, and investment in communication and care. Without these safeguards, we risk turning healthy babies into patients-in-waiting.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. The UK’s plan to genetically test all newborns sounds smart — until it creates patients who aren’t sick – https://theconversation.com/the-uks-plan-to-genetically-test-all-newborns-sounds-smart-until-it-creates-patients-who-arent-sick-259816
Source: United States Spaceforce
In this week’s look Around the Air Force, human-machine teaming for better decision-making in battle sprints forward, researchers study the impact of sonic booms, and Global Aircrew Strategic Network Terminal system enhances warfighting with a strategic communication network.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
SPbPU Office of Technological Leadership launches a video news digest “Polytech in Priority”.
Implementation of the program “Priority 2030” at the Polytechnic University is built on the most transparent and understandable principles. Each polytechnician and, in principle, any person from the outside should be able to understand which key scientific and technological areas (KST) of the university are supported by the program, which projects received funding, and, most importantly, how the direct work on them is carried out.
To increase information openness, the Polytechnic University’s Office of Technology Leadership has launched a video news digest, which will constantly tell about all the KNTNs and projects supported by the Priority-2030 program. The digest’s special feature is that the news will be presented by the chief designers and project managers themselves. In addition to information about the implementation of the Priority program at the current moment, the university staff will also share the expected results in the near and long term.
The digest will be published twice a month. The first issue presents Head of the SPbPU Office of Technological Leadership Oleg Rozhdestvensky.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: US State of Connecticut
In light of efforts at the federal level to restrict certain food dyes, it can be challenging to separate fact from myth when it comes to things in our food that aren’t naturally occurring.
Dr. Rebecca Andrews, UConn Health primary care physician whose roles include director of primary care, associate program director of UConn’s Internal Medicine Residency, and nationally, chair of the American College of Physicians Board of Regents, has been following the science, and joins the “UConn Health Pulse” podcast to help differentiate between the potential risks of food additives and the benefits of natural, whole foods, why we may be paying more attention to this now, and how to navigate the noise to try to make good choices.
If you make foods more attractive, more tasty, and they make us feel good, we can develop almost food addictions or unhealthy eating. — Dr. Rebecca Andrews
See transcript.
Source: US State of South Carolina
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson today praised the U.S. Supreme Court for its’ 6-3 ruling in favor of the constitutional balance of power by curbing the ability of local activist judges to block federal laws nationwide. The ruling allows President Trump’s birthright citizenship executive order to be enforced nationwide while the issue makes its way through the lower courts. Attorney General Wilson joined an amicus brief in this case supporting the position that SCOTUS adopted.
“We thank the Supreme Court for siding with common sense and reaffirming that one judge should not have the power to grind national immigration policy to a halt,” said Attorney General Wilson. “This is a big win for the rule of law, for the integrity of our borders, and for every American who believes in democratic accountability, not judicial activism. Our office will continue fighting to ensure that federal laws are enforced as written, not sabotaged by ideologically driven rulings from the bench.”
You can read the Court’s full opinion here.
Source: Frontex
Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, plans to open a new training centre in Warsaw, Poland, to train future European border guards. The centre will be based at the University of Physical Education, just a short distance from the Agency’s headquarters.
To formalise this cooperation, Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens and Poland’s Minister of Interior Tomasz Siemoniak signed a Memorandum of Understanding today, laying the groundwork for the new training centre and future collaboration.
This important step strengthens Frontex’s cooperation with Poland, which has hosted the Agency for over 20 years. It also supports the growing needs of the European Standing Corps, the EU’s first uniformed border service.
The new training facility will welcome over 200 officers later this year, with hundreds more to come in future years. It offers modern classrooms, sports and tactical training areas, and will reduce costs by keeping training close to the Agency’s base.
Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens said: “Training our border guards in the heart of Europe sends a clear message: protecting our borders is a shared European duty. This centre in Warsaw is where the future of European border management begins. High-quality training is how we ensure every officer, from across Europe, meets the same high standards and is prepared for the complex challenges at our borders.”
The opening of the centre comes as Poland concludes its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, highlighting its leading role in shaping European security and cooperation.
About Frontex
Frontex helps EU countries and Schengen Area states manage their external borders. It provides staff, equipment and training, supports returns and coast guard tasks, and helps protect fundamental rights.
About the European Border and Coast Guard Standing Corps
The Standing Corps is the first uniformed service under EU command. Its officers are deployed by Frontex to support national authorities with border management, returns, and other tasks. It consists of officers directly employed and trained by Frontex and national officers from EU and Schengen Area countries taking part in the Agency’s operation on a long-term and short-term basis.
Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis
Real gross domestic product decreased in 39 states in the first quarter of 2025, with the percent change ranging from 1.7 percent at an annual rate in South Carolina to –6.1 percent in Iowa and Nebraska, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (table 1).
Current-dollar gross domestic product (GDP) increased in 47 states and the District of Columbia, with the percent change ranging from 8.7 percent at an annual rate in North Dakota to –2.7 percent in Iowa.
Personal income, in current dollars, increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the first quarter of 2025, with the percent change ranging from 12.7 percent at an annual rate in North Dakota to 3.2 percent in Washington state (table 3).
In the first quarter of 2025, real GDP for the nation decreased at an annual rate of 0.5 percent. Real GDP decreased in 16 of the 23 industry groups for which BEA prepares quarterly state estimates. Finance and insurance; agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting; and wholesale trade were the leading contributors to the decrease in real GDP nationally (table 2).
In the first quarter of 2025, current-dollar personal income increased $407.3 billion, or 6.7 percent at an annual rate (table 3). Nationally, increases in earnings, transfer receipts, and property income (dividends, interest, and rent) contributed to the increase in personal income (chart 1).
Earnings increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, while growing 5.0 percent nationally (table 4). The percent change in earnings ranged from 13.5 percent in North Dakota to 0.1 percent in Washington state. Earnings increased in 22 of the 24 industries for which BEA prepares quarterly state estimates and was the largest contributor to growth in personal income in 28 states (table 5).
Transfer receipts increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, while growing 13.6 percent nationally. The percent change in transfer receipts ranged from 21.2 percent in Nevada to 9.1 percent in Florida (table 4). The increase in transfer receipts was due in part to an increase in Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and an annual cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits.
Property income increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, while growing 5.6 percent nationally. The percent change ranged from 7.8 percent in Idaho to 3.8 percent in Alaska (table 4).
Today, BEA also released revised quarterly estimates of personal income by state for the first through fourth quarters of 2024. This update incorporates new and revised source data that are more complete and more detailed than previously available and aligns the states with the national estimates from the National Income and Product Accounts released on June 26, 2025.
On September 26, 2025, BEA will publish quarterly GDP and personal income by state along with annual personal consumption expenditures by state in a single news release. This combined release will provide a fuller picture of the economies of all states and the District of Columbia and will replace the publication of two separate releases issued on different days. BEA will release revised annual state GDP and personal income estimates for 2020 to 2024, along with revised quarterly estimates for the first quarter of 2020 through the first quarter of 2025 and preliminary estimates for the second quarter of 2025. An upcoming article in the Survey of Current Business will describe the results.
BEA’s ongoing modernization and streamlining of news release packages will include changes in the presentation of tables starting with the September 26, 2025 release of GDP, personal income, and personal consumption expenditures (PCE) by state.
Data previously published as tables within the quarterly and annual news releases on GDP, personal income, and PCE by state will continue to be updated and available simultaneously with the release in BEA’s online Interactive Data Tables. However, tables will no longer be included in the body of the news release. This will reduce duplication, increase efficiency, and point data users directly to our most complete and flexible data tables, via links in the release. These customizable tables include full time series and can be downloaded as PDFs, in Excel, or in CSV format.
Next release: September 26, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. EDT
Gross Domestic Product by State and Personal Income by State, 2nd Quarter 2025 and Personal Consumption Expenditures by State, 2024