The Eastern Cape Province has officially been declared a national disaster zone in response to the widespread destruction caused by recent severe weather events.
Eastern Cape Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) MEC, Zolile Williams said the declaration, made under the Disaster Management Act (Act No. 57 of 2002), comes amid heavy rainfall, flooding, strong winds, and snowfall that have battered large parts of the country, with the Eastern Cape being the hardest hit.
Highlighting the provincial government response to the June disaster, Williams said the Department of Social Development, in partnership with private sector organisations, has extended crucial psychosocial support to displaced families, bereaved communities, and schools affected by the loss of learners.
“These services, which encompass counselling and emotional debriefing, are foundational to the healing and recovery process. Given the profound impact of the incident, we recognise this journey may be prolonged for those most deeply affected,” the MEC said.
The Department of Health has also deployed on-site healthcare services, providing medical assistance and replacing chronic medication that was swept away by the floods to those in need.
Ongoing assessments are also being conducted to assess health risks in temporary shelters.
Over 400 ID applications received
Williams also reported that the Department of Home Affairs has been active in various shelters across the Amathole and OR Tambo districts, assisting families with applications for essential documents, including Identity Documents (ID), birth and death certificates.
To date, 478 identity document replacement applications have been submitted, through assistance from three mobile units deployed in each of the two districts.
Local schools have resumed classes and provisions were made for learners who missed exams due to the disaster. Postponed examination papers were also written on 23 June 2025.
“Through the Department of Education, we have begun to deliver Learner and Teacher Support Material lost or destroyed during the disaster. We are also ensuring that uniform sets for learners in the flood affected schools has also resumed through the Provincial Department of Education.”
Restoration of basic services
Despite the devastation, significant progress has been made with the restoration of water and electricity in affected areas.
According to Williams, the electricity supply has been restored to over 80% of affected customers, with over 95% of the water supply having been restored in OR Tambo and Amathole District Municipalities, which were the most affected areas.
However, Williams noted that the floods caused significant damage to roads, schools, and healthcare facilities.
He said the costs of repairing damaged infrastructure is estimated at R5. 1 billion, and this include about R3. 2 billion required across sector departments and R 1. 8 billion for the Municipal Infrastructure, as per MISA [Municipal Infrastructure Support Management] assessments.
A total of 6 869 households were affected, with 4 724 people left homeless across the province, except for the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, whilst 2 145 homes were partially damaged.
“R461 million is required for Temporary Residential Units (TRUs), however, the province has R120 million rand, and we are looking to national government for an intervention in this area,” Williams said.
Housing support and temporary shelters
The Department of Human Settlements, in partnership with OR Tambo District Municipality, has activated mass-care shelters, including community halls and bed-and-breakfast facilities for displaced families in OR Tambo and Mnquma.
Williams said these arrangements will be operational for at least 30 days.
“The Provincial Government is [also] securing land to facilitate the delivery of Temporary Residential Units and permanent housing, ensuring that our response addresses both urgent needs and long-term stability for these vulnerable communities.
“Currently, land has been identified in Mnquma for approximately 1 100 temporary residential units, while in the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality, land has been identified and we await a council resolution on the matter,” the MEC said.
The floods caused extensive damage to road infrastructure, with the total repair estimated at R935 million. The Department of Transport has reprioritised R102 million from its budget, leaving a shortfall of R832 million.
Emergency road clearance operations are underway, but 29 roads in Chris Hani and 22 in OR Tambo districts remain impassable. Internal teams began major repairs on 23 June 2025, and alternative routes are currently being used.
In terms of public facilities, 431 schools and 69 health centres have been affected across the province. suffered damage. Repair work to the value of R600 000 has been completed on healthcare facilities.
In the agricultural sector, interventions have been made in terms damage assessment, provision of veterinary services and technical advice.
“In the main, farmers have lost 1 339 units of livestock, 1 803 hectares of crops have been destroyed, suffered damages to machinery, irrigation material such as pipes and risers, water tanks and fencing materials,” Williams said. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: The Conversation – France – By Jacques Rupnik, Directeur de recherche émérite, Centre de recherches internationales (CERI), Sciences Po
Karol Nawrocki in the Oval Office with Donald Trump on May 25th 2025, ten days before the first round of the Polish presidential election. It is very rare for a sitting US president to receive a candidate in a foreign election. White House X account
Nawrocki’s narrow victory (50.89%) over Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw and candidate of the government coalition, illustrates and reinforces the political polarisation of Poland and the rise of the populist “Trumpist” right in Central and Eastern Europe. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, there has been much speculation about whether Europe’s geopolitical centre of gravity is shifting eastwards. The Polish election seems to confirm that the political centre of gravity is shifting to the right.
A narrow victory
We are witnessing a relative erosion of the duopoly of the two major parties, Civic Platform (PO) and Law and Justice (PiS), whose leaders – the current Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, and Jarosław Kaczyński respectively – have dominated the political landscape for over twenty years.
Kaczyński’s skill lay in propelling a candidate with no responsibilities in his party, who was little known to the general public a few months ago, and, above all, who is from a different generation, to the presidency (a position held since 2015 by a PiS man, Andrzej Duda). Nawrocki, a historian by training and director of the Polish Institute of National Remembrance, has helped shape PiS’s memory policy. He won the second round, despite his troubled past as a hooligan, by appealing to voters on the right.
In the first round, he won 29.5% of the vote, compared to Trzaskowski’s 31.36%, but the two far-right candidates, Sławomir Mentzen (an ultra-nationalist and economic libertarian) and Grzegorz Braun (a monarchist, avowed reactionary, and anti-Semite), won a total of 21% of the vote. They attracted a young electorate (60% of 18–29-year-olds), who overwhelmingly transferred their votes to Nawrocki in the second round.
A weekly email in English featuring expertise from scholars and researchers. It provides an introduction to the diversity of research coming out of the continent and considers some of the key issues facing European countries. Get the newsletter!
Despite a high turnout of 71% and favourable votes from the Polish diaspora (63%), Trzaskowski was unable to secure enough votes from the first-round candidates linked to the governing coalition, including those on the left (who won 10% between them) and the centre-right (Szymon Hołownia’s Third Way movement, which won 5% in the first round).
A Tusk government struggling to implement its programme
There are two Polands facing each other: the big cities, where incomes and levels of education are higher, and the more rural small towns, which are more conservative on social issues and more closely linked to the Catholic Church.
The themes of nationhood – Nawrocki’s campaign slogan was “Poland first, Poles first” – family, and traditional values continue to resonate strongly with an electorate that has been loyal to PiS for more than twenty years. The electoral map, which shows a clear north-west/south-east divide, is similar to those of previous presidential elections and even echoes the partition of Poland at the end of the eighteenth century. The PiS vote is strongest in the part of the country that was under Russian rule until 1918. A more traditional Catholicism in these less developed regions, coupled with a strong sense of national identity, partly explains these historical factors.
The economic explanation for the vote is unconvincing. Over the past 25 years, Poland has undergone tremendous transformation, driven by steady economic growth. GDP per capita has risen from 25% to 80% of the EU average, although this growth has been unevenly distributed. Nevertheless, a relatively generous welfare state has been preserved.
Clearly, however, this growth, driven by investment from Western Europe (primarily Germany) and European structural funds (3% of GDP), does not provide a sufficient electoral base for a liberal, centrist, pro-European government.
It is precisely the government’s performance that may hold the key to Trzaskowski’s failure. Having come to power at the end of 2023 with a reformist agenda, Donald Tusk’s government has only been able to implement part of its programme, and it is difficult to be the candidate of an unpopular government. Conversely, the governing coalition has been weakened by the failure of its candidate.
The main reason for the stalling of reforms is the presidential deadlock. Although the president has limited powers, he countersigns laws and overriding his veto requires a three fifth majority in parliament, which the governing coalition lacks.
The president also plays a role in foreign policy by representing the country, and above all by appointing judges, particularly to the Supreme Court. This has hindered the judicial reforms expected after eight years of PiS rule. It is mainly in this area that Duda has obstructed progress. The election of Nawrocki, who is known for his combative nature, suggests that the period of cohabitation will be turbulent.
What are the main international implications of Nawrocki’s election?
Donald Tusk is now more popular in Europe than in Poland; in this respect, we can speak of a “Gorbachev syndrome”. In Central Europe, the Visegrad Group (comprising Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia) is deeply divided by the war in Ukraine, but it could find common ground around a populist sovereignty led by Hungary’s Viktor Orbán. Orbán was the first to congratulate Nawrocki on his victory, followed by his Slovak neighbour Robert Fico. The Czech Republic could also see a leader from this movement come to power if Andrej Babiš wins the parliamentary elections this autumn. Nawrocki would fit right into this picture.
Since Donald Tusk returned to power, particularly during Poland’s EU presidency, which ends on 30 June, the focus has been on Poland’s “return” to the heart of the European process. Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and Poland’s pivotal role in coordinating a European response, the Weimar Group (comprising Paris, Berlin, and Warsaw) has emerged as a key player. Three converging factors have made this possible: the French president’s firm stance toward Russia; the new German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, breaking a few taboos on defence and budgetary discipline; and Donald Tusk, the former president of the European Council, regaining a place at the heart of the EU that his predecessors had abandoned. A framework for a strategic Europe was taking shape.
However, President Nawrocki, and the PiS more generally, are taking a different approach to the EU: they are positioning themselves as Eurosceptic opponents defending sovereignty. They are playing on anti-German sentiment by demanding reparations 80 years after the end of the Second World War and asserting Poland’s sovereignty in the face of a “Germany-dominated Europe”. The Weimar Triangle, recently strengthened by the bilateral treaty between France and Poland signed on 9 May 2025, could be weakened on the Polish–German flank.
As a historian and former director of the Second World War Museum in Gdansk and the Institute of National Remembrance, Nawrocki is well placed to exploit this historical resentment. He has formulated a nationalist memory policy centred on a discourse of victimhood, portraying Poland as perpetually under attack from its historic enemies, Russia and Germany.
While there is a broad consensus in Poland regarding the Russian threat, opinions differ regarding the government’s desire to separate the traumas of the past, particularly those of the last war, from the challenges of European integration today.
Memory issues also play a prominent role in relations with Ukraine. There is total consensus on the need to provide military support to Ukraine, under attack: this is obvious in Poland, given its history and geography – defending Ukraine is inseparable from Polish security. However, both Nawrocki and Trzaskowski have touched upon the idea that Ukraine should apologise for the crimes committed by Ukrainian nationalists during the last war, starting with the massacre of more than 100,000 Poles in Volyn (Volhynia), north-western Ukraine) by Stepan Bandera’s troops.
Alongside memory policy, Nawrocki and the PiS are calling for the abolition of the 800 zloty (190 euros) monthly allowance paid to Ukrainian refugees. Poland had more than one million Ukrainian workers prior to the war, and more than two million additional workers have arrived since it started, although around one million have since relocated to other countries, primarily Germany and the Czech Republic.
Prior to the second round of the presidential election, Nawrocki readily signed the eight demands of the far-right candidate Sławomir Mentzen, which included ruling out Ukraine’s future NATO membership. Playing on anti-Ukrainian (and anti-German) sentiment, alongside Euroscepticism and sovereignty, is one of the essential elements of the new president’s nationalist discourse.
A Central and Eastern European Trumpism?
Certain themes of the Polish election converge with a trend present throughout Central and Eastern Europe. We saw this at work in the Romanian presidential election, where the unsuccessful far-right nationalist candidate, George Simion, came to Warsaw to support Nawrocki, just as the winner, the pro-European centrist Nicușor Dan, lent his support to Trzaskowski. Nawrocki’s success reinforces an emerging “Trumpist” movement in Eastern Europe, with Viktor Orbán in Budapest seeing himself as its self-proclaimed leader. A year ago, Orbán coined the slogan “Over there (in the United States), it’s MAGA; here, it will be MEGA: Make Europe Great Again”. The “Patriots for Europe” group, launched by Orbán last year, is intended to unify this movement within the European Parliament.
American conservative networks, through the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), a gathering of international hard-right figures, and the Trump administration are directly involved in this process. Shortly before the presidential election, Nawrocki travelled to Washington to arrange a photo opportunity with Trump in the Oval Office.
“If you (elect) a leader that will work with President Donald J. Trump, the Polish people will have a strong ally that will ensure that you will be able to fight off enemies that do not share your values. […] You will have strong borders and protect your communities and keep them safe, and ensure that your citizens are respected every single day. […] You will continue to have a U.S. presence here, a military presence. And you will have equipment that is American-made, that is high quality.”
“Fort Trump”, that is how the outgoing President Andrzej Duda named the US military base financed by Poland after a bilateral agreement was signed with Donald Trump during his first term in office, in 2018. Similarly, the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs sent a letter to the President of the European Commission accusing her of applying “double standards”, pointing out that EU funds had been blocked when the PiS was in power, and claiming that European money had been used to influence the outcome of the Polish presidential election in favour of Trzaskowski. The letter was posted online on the State Department website. Prioritising the transatlantic link at the expense of strengthening Europe was one of the issues at stake in the Warsaw presidential election.
CPAC is playing a significant role in building a Trumpist national-populist network based on rejecting the “liberal hegemony” established in the post-1989 era, regaining sovereignty from the EU, and defending conservative values against a “decadent” Europe. Beyond the Polish presidential election, the goal seems clear: to divide Europeans and weaken them at a time when the transatlantic relationship is being redefined.
Jacques Rupnik ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.
The Transport Department today announced today that official Taxi Fleet Licences will be issued to all five taxi fleets in July.
The issuance of the licences means the fleets can build confidence with the public and marks an important step in reforming the taxi trade, the department added.
The five operators have been conducting trial operations after being granted provisional Taxi Fleet Licences in July last year. They have provided nearly 120,000 trips to date.
Stressing that public feedback on the taxi fleets has been positive, the Transport Department said that, after careful consideration, it had decided to adopt a flexible licensing approach in order to benefit the public as soon as possible in terms of service provision. It added that that more and more passengers will come to know and use taxi fleet service upon their official launch.
The department elaborated that this in turn will provide fleet drivers with more stable income, thereby attracting more taxi drivers to join the fleets.
After the licences are issued, the five fleets will be able to use about 80 designated taxi fleet stopping places in 13 locations to pick up passengers on pre-booked trips. The locations include the airport, certain cross-boundary control points and various tourist hotspots.
Since being issued with their provisional licences, the five operators have been procuring new vehicles, carrying out modifications, installing in-vehicle safety devices, setting up electronic payment systems, developing and testing online hailing applications and training drivers.
Additionally, they have implemented various measures to recruit taxi owners and drivers, such as participating in thematic job fairs, hosting fleet introduction sessions and recruitment events, and organising activities to showcase new taxi models.
The Transport Department will closely monitor the performances of the fleets to ensure their services meet public expectations.
The Hospital Authority (HA) announced today that starting July 3, selected medications prescribed for “as needed” use will be dispensed with a maximum of eight weeks’ supply.
The selected medications under the new measure, including laxatives, medications to loosen sputum, topical preparations for bruises and pain, are mainly for relieving the symptoms of episodic illnesses.
HA Chief Pharmacist William Chui said patients may stockpile medications at home, particularly those for use “as needed”. The new arrangement can avoid wastage and lead to more efficient use of medication resources.
This medications list will be regularly reviewed and updated as necessary. Visit the HA website for more details.
Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan will visit Guangzhou on Monday to attend a meeting of the task force for collaboration on Guangdong-Hong Kong transportation.
Ms Chan will meet Guangdong officials to discuss the implementation of the Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles scheme and to streamline the operation of the Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles scheme.
She will also take the opportunity to visit a local vehicle examination centre to learn about its operations.
The transport chief will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon. Commissioner for Transport Angela Lee will join the visit.
Headline: Disaster Recovery Center Opening in Hazelwood
Disaster Recovery Center Opening in Hazelwood
A Disaster Recovery Center with FEMA Individual Assistance staff is opening in St
Louis County to help people affected by the May 16 tornado and storms
The Disaster Recovery Center opens this Friday, June 27
At all locations, FEMA and the U
S
Small Business Administration will help impacted residents with their disaster assistance applications, answer questions, and upload required documents
An additional location in St
Louis County will be announced in the coming days
Opening Friday, June 27LOCATIONHOURS OF OPERATIONSt
Louis County Library – Prairie Commons Branch915 Utz Ln
Hazelwood, MO 63042Monday-Thursday: 8 a
m
-7 p
m
Friday-Saturday: 8 a
m
-5 p
m
Sunday: ClosedLocations Currently Open in St
Louis CityLOCATIONSHOURS OF OPERATIONSumner High School — Parking Lot 4248 Cottage Ave
St
Louis, MO 63113Monday-Saturday: 8 a
m
-7 p
m
Sunday: 8 a
m
-6 p
m
Union Tabernacle M
B
Church626 N
Newstead Ave
St
Louis, MO 63108Monday-Saturday: 8 a
m
-8 p
m
Sunday: ClosedTo save time, please apply for FEMA assistance before coming to a Disaster Recovery Center
Apply online at DisasterAssistance
gov or by calling 800-621-3362
If you are unable to apply online or by phone, someone at the Disaster Recovery Center can assist you
You may visit any location, no matter where you are staying now
If your home or personal property sustained damage not covered by insurance, FEMA may be able to provide money to help you pay for home repairs, a temporary place to live, and replace essential personal property that was destroyed
Written by Scott VanBommel, Planetary Scientist at Washington University in St. Louis Earth planning date: Monday, June 23, 2025 Curiosity was back at work on Monday, with a full slate of activities planned. While summer has officially arrived for much of Curiosity’s team back on Earth, Mars’ eldest active rover is recently through the depths of southern Mars winter and trending toward warmer temperatures itself. Warmer temperatures mean less component heating is required and therefore more power is freed up for science and driving. However, the current cooler temperatures do present an opportunity to acquire quality short-duration APXS measurements first thing in the morning, which is what Curiosity elected to do once again. Curiosity’s plan commenced by brushing a rock target with potential cross-cutting veins, “Hornitos,” and subsequently analyzing it with APXS. A sequence of Mastcam images followed on targets such as “Volcán Peña Blanca,” “La Pacana,” “Iglesia de Jarinilla de Umatia,” and “Ayparavi.” ChemCam, returning to action after a brief and understood hiatus, rounded out the morning’s chemical analysis activities with a 5-point analysis of Ayparavi. After some images of the brush, and a handful of MAHLI snaps of Hornitos, Curiosity was on its way with a planned drive of about 37 meters (about 121 feet).Curiosity’s night would not be spent entirely dreaming of whatever rovers dream, but rather conducting a lengthy APXS analysis of the atmosphere. These analyses enable Curiosity’s team to assess the abundance of argon in the atmosphere — from a volume about the size of a pop can (or soda can, depending on your unit of preference) — which can be used to trace global circulation patterns and better understand modern Mars. Recently, Curiosity has been increasing the frequency of these measurements and pairing them with ChemCam “Passive Sky” observations. These ChemCam activities do not utilize the instrument’s laser, but instead use its other components to characterize the air above the rover. By combining APXS and ChemCam observations of the atmosphere, Curiosity’s team is able to better assess daily and seasonal trends in gases around Gale crater. A ChemCam “Passive Sky” was the primary observation in the second sol of the plan, with Curiosity spending much of the remaining time recharging and eagerly awaiting commands from Wednesday’s team.
For some people, a passion for space is something that might develop over time, but for Patrick Junen, the desire was there from the beginning. With a father and grandfather who both worked for NASA, space exploration is not just a dream; it remains a family legacy. Now, as the stage assembly and structures subsystem manager at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the BOLE (Booster Obsolescence Life Extension) Program — an advanced solid rocket booster for NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) heavy lift rocket — Junen is continuing that legacy. “My grandfather worked on the Apollo & Space Shuttle Programs. Then my dad went on to work for the Space Shuttle and SLS Programs,” Junen says. “I guess you could say engineering is in my blood.” In his role, he’s responsible for managing the Design, Development, Test, & Evaluation team for all unpressurized structural elements, such as the forward skirt, aft skirt, and the integration hardware that connects the boosters to the core stage. He also collaborates closely with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems at Kennedy Space Center in Florida to coordinate any necessary modifications to ground facilities or the mobile launcher to support the new boosters. Junen enjoys the technical challenges of his role and said he feels fortunate to be in a position of leadership — but it takes a team of talented individuals to build the next generation of boosters. As a former offensive lineman for the University of Mississippi, he knows firsthand the power of teamwork and the importance of effective communication in guiding a coordinated effort. “I’ve always been drawn to team activities, and exploration is the ultimate team endeavor,” Junen says. “On the football field, it takes a strong team to be successful — and it’s really no different from what we’re doing as a team at NASA with our Northrop Grumman counterparts for the SLS rocket and Artemis missions.” As a kid, Junen often accompanied his dad to Space Shuttle launches and was inspired by some of the talented engineers that developed Shuttle. Years later, he’s still seeing some of those same faces — but now they’re teammates, working together toward a greater mission. “Growing up around Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, there was always this strong sense of family and dedication to the Misson. And that has always resonated with me,” Junen recalls. This philosophy of connecting family to the mission is a tradition Junen now continues with his own children. One of his fondest NASA memories is watching the successful launch of Artemis I on Nov. 16, 2022. Although he couldn’t attend in person, Junen and his family made the most of the moment — watching the launch live beneath the Saturn V rocket at Huntsville’s U.S. Space & Rocket Center. With his dad beside him and his daughter on his shoulders, three generations stood beneath the rocket Junen’s grandfather helped build, as a new era of space exploration began. In June, Junen witnessed the BOLE Demonstration Motor-1 perform a full-scale static test to demonstrate the ballistic performance for the evolved booster motor. This test isn’t just a technical milestone for Junen — it’s a continuation of a lifelong journey rooted in family and teamwork. As NASA explores the Moon and prepares for the journey to Mars through Artemis, Junen is helping shape the next chapter of human spaceflight. And just like the generations before him, he’s not only building rockets — he’s building a legacy.
Jonathan DealMarshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. 256-544-0034 jonathan.e.deal@nasa.gov
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:
Kira Younger, of Fair Oaks, has been appointed Chief Financial Officer and Director of the Finance and Accounting Division at the California Department of Social Services. Younger has been Chief of Fiscal Forecasting at the California Department of Social Services since 2021, where she has held several roles since 2016, including Budget Officer and Staff Services Manager. She was Financial Manager at the California Office of Systems Integration from 2018 to 2019. Younger earned a Master of Business Administration degree in Strategic Management and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Western Governors University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $176,160. Younger is a Democrat.
Lauren Gavin Solis, of Los Angeles, has been appointed Deputy Director of the Office of Medicare Innovation and Integration at the Department of Health Care Services. Solis has been Acting Group Director for the Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office at Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services since 2025, where she has held several roles since 2013, including Team Lead and Health Insurance Specialist. She was a Health Policy Scholar at the National Coalition on Health Care from 2012 to 2013. Solis was a Presidential Management Fellow at the National Institutes of Health from 2011 to 2013. She held several roles at Triage Consulting Group from 2005 to 2010, including Legal Services Manager, Senior Associate, and Associate. Solis earned a Master of Public Health degree in Health Systems and Policy from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of California, Davis. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $187,020. Solis is a Democrat.
Julia Parish, of Oakland, has been appointed Deputy Director of Legislation, Regulation, and Policy at the California Civil Rights Department. Parish has been a Senior Staff Attorney at Legal Aid at Work since 2019, where she has held multiple positions since 2011, including Staff Attorney, and Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellow. She was a Research Assistant to Professor David Oppenheimer at University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2010. Parish earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, a Master of Science degree in Education from Pace University, and a Bachelor of the Arts in Political Science and Spanish from University of California, Berkeley. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and compensation is $146,268. Parish is a Democrat.
Juliet Michelson Wahleithner, of Fresno, has been appointed Director of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment at the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Wahleithner has been a Special Consultant for the Office of Policy and Continuous Improvement at the Commission on Teacher Credentialing since 2025. Wahleithner has been an Associate Professor for Literacy Education at California State University, Fresno since 2021, where she has held several roles since 2015 including Director of Educator Preparation and Accreditation, Director of San Joaquin Valley Writing Project, and Assistant Professor. She held several roles at University of California, Davis School of Education from 2008 to 2015, including Postdoctoral Researcher, Lecturer, Accreditation coordinator, and Graduate Student Assistant. Wahleithner held several roles at Lodi Unified School District from 1999 to 2007, including Differentiated Instruction Curriculum Coach and an English and Journalism Teacher. She is a Member of the American Educational Research Association, California Council on Teacher Education, and Board of Directors of Saint Agnes Child Development Center. Wahleithner earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Education, a Master of Arts degree in Education, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from University of California, Davis. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $163,788. Wahleithner is a Democrat.
Sophear Price, of Santa Rosa, has been appointed Skilled Nursing Facility Administrator at the Yountville Veterans Home of California. Price has been the Standards Compliance Coordinator at the Yountville Veterans Home of California since 2018. Price held multiple roles at the Sonoma Development Center from 2014 to 2017, including Community Programs Specialist II and Individual Programs Coordinator. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University, Sonoma. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $159,120. Price is registered without party preference.
Press releases, Recent news
Recent news
Jun 26, 2025
News What you need to know: La Passeggiata on Lindsey Street in Stockton is the latest site to be transformed from excess, underutilized state land into affordable housing under Governor Newsom’s executive order. STOCKTON — Today, state leaders broke ground on a new…
Jun 25, 2025
News What you need to know: There are many disingenuous claims swirling about California gas prices “set to soar” – the truth is that gas prices won’t come anywhere close to increasing by 65 cents, as many would have you believe. SACRAMENTO – California gas prices…
Jun 25, 2025
News What you need to know: Governor Newsom announced $135 million is available for wildfire prevention grants – protecting communities from catastrophic wildfire at the same time as President Trump adds new strain to firefighting resources. SACRAMENTO – As President…
HONOLULU – Governor Josh Green, M.D., signed three bills into law today in support of the Hawai‘i State Judiciary’s efforts to facilitate fair and effective justice, promote rehabilitation and reduce recidivism.
The signed legislation includes the Judiciary’s budget bill, which appropriates funds to meet the resource needs — ensuring that the courts function efficiently and continue to serve the people of our state at a time when demand for judicial services is increasing. Additional measures support initiatives aimed at bridging gaps in the justice system, particularly for nonviolent offenders who are disproportionately affected and face a higher risk of recidivism due to their circumstances.
“This is a proud moment. Signing these bills demonstrates the power of collaboration between all branches of government to advance legislation that strengthens Hawai‘i’s judiciary and benefits the people we serve,” said Governor Green. “We are not only facilitating change — we are doing so through a restorative approach that addresses the root causes of recidivism.”
“These justice reform bills strengthen the support systems that help people avoid legal trouble in the future and make the community safer,” said Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Karl Rhoads (District 13 – Dowsett Highlands, Pu‘unui, Nu‘uanu, Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Punchbowl, Pālama, Liliha, Iwilei, Chinatown and Downtown). “By expanding key programs like the Adult Client Services Branch, Community Outreach Court and Women’s Court, we are building a more effective justice system that helps keep our communities in Hawai‘i safer and stronger.”
HB 400: RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY House Bill 400, Act 227, appropriates $214 million for fiscal year 2026 and $212 million for fiscal year 2027 for the Judiciary’s operating budget. The funds established in this bill will support operating costs and new permanent staff positions, including an additional District Court Judge and support staff in Kona. The bill also funds the permanent establishment of three specialty courts on O‘ahu: Women’s Court, Driving While Impaired Court, and Truancy Court and Early Education Intervention Court, as well as essential support for cybersecurity and technology costs across the judiciary.
Additional funds are appropriated in the budget for the planning and design of a new South Kohala District Courthouse to improve access to judicial services for residents on the Hawaiʻi island.
By signing this measure, Governor Green ensures that residents across the island chain continue to have access to essential judicial services that grow in step with the evolving needs of the judicial system.
HB 727: RELATING TO THE WOMEN’S COURT In response to the increasing number of women in the criminal justice system, a need arose to assist nonviolent women in the criminal justice system by providing resources and guidance to those who have suffered abuse, trauma, poverty, substance-use disorders and mental illness. From Session Laws of Hawai‘i 2022, Act 243 established Mohala Wahine, a three-year pilot program that offers women at high risk of recidivism access to critical resources such as substance abuse treatment, housing assistance, and therapy, while helping nurture and educate participants throughout the program.
HB 727, now Act 228, makes the Mohala Wahine pilot program permanent in the First Circuit Court of O‘ahu, continuing its invaluable work supporting the most vulnerable women. To further expand access to trauma-informed, evidence-based practices, HB 727 additionally establishes a two-year Women’s Court pilot program in the Third Circuit Court in Kona. This new program addresses a critical need for community-based services on Hawai‘i Island and offers the same supportive services established under Mohala Wahine. This measure appropriates $514,900 for fiscal year 2026 and $557,000 for fiscal year 2027.
“HB727, championed by the Women’s Legislative Caucus, seeks to permanently establish the Mohala Wahine program in the First Circuit as a proven alternative to incarceration and a pathway to reintegration for women,” said Representative Mahina Poepoe, introducer of the bill and vice chair of the House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee. “I believe that all women who find themselves in a position of being involved with our court system for nonviolent offenses could benefit from having the option of a pathway that avoids incarceration. Many of these women are mothers and caregivers and with personalized, supportive care focused on healing rather than punishment, we can help them rehabilitate. Expanding this program to Hawaiʻi Island will strengthen families and communities across our state.”
The complete list of bills signed includes the following. Click the links to see full details of the bills enacted into law.
HB280 HD3 SD1 CD1 RELATING TO THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH COURT – Act 229
HB398 HD1 SD2 CD1 – RELATING TO COMPENSATION FOR COURT-APPOINTED REPRESENTATION – Act 230 HB399 HD1 SD2 CD1 – RELATING TO DISTRICT COURT JUDGES – Act 231 HB401 HD1 SD2 CD1 – RELATING TO DISTRICT COURT JUDGES – Act 232 SB304 SD1 HD2 CD1 – RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY – Act 233
DLNR News Release-Boating Engineer Blown Away by Pohoiki Dredging Progress, June 26, 2025
Posted on Jun 26, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom
STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA OHAWAIʻI
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURALRESOURCES
KA ‘OIHANA KUMUWAIWAI‘ĀINA
DAWNCHANG CHAIRPERSON
BOATING ENGINEER BLOWN AWAY BY POHOIKI DREDGING PROGRESS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2025
PUNA DISTRICT, Hawai‘i Island – It’s the largest dredging job ever for the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR). The removal of 42,000 cubic yards of black sand, rocks and boulders, deposited by the 2018 eruption of Kilauea, has been underway for two weeks to clear the boat ramp at Pohoiki. Forty-two-thousand cubic yards in volume is equivalent in size to 42,000 large refrigerators.
When DOBOR Engineer Finn McCall made a site visit to Pohoiki on Tuesday, he was astounded by the progress crews from the contractor, Goodfellows Bros., LLC, have made, particularly with a required completion of next February, and a stated expectation of November.
“I mean I’m absolutely blown away. I was not expecting them to get this far. I’d say they’re about halfway done with the excavation portion of the project. So, it’s looking really good. Looking like we may be done ahead of schedule,” McCall said.
Heavy equipment is being used to scoop large buckets of volcanic debris from near the boat ramp to near the shoreline. Once the inner basin is cleared, a crane will be brought to the site to create a wide entrance.
McCall added, “The entrance will be approximately 320 feet wide. There really wasn’t a channel before. It was just an open bay, but the designated entrance, I think, was 40 feet.”
Pohoiki and the adjoining Isaac Hale Beach Park have long been a gathering place for people and families to have fun. The boat ramp was critical to Puna area fishers and since it was blocked, boats have had to launch from and travel to and from the Wailoa Small Boat Harbor in Hilo. It was expensive and time consuming and several small commercial fishing operations reportedly went out of business during the blockage.
“This has been one of the highest-priority projects I’ve worked on. The community is excited, and fishermen can’t wait to have the ramp and entrance restored,” McCall said.
He describes the Pohoiki dredging as unprecedented. For most dredging projects at state small boat harbors, fine sediment and sand is removed. For this one, a lot of heavy material is being hauled away.
Most harbors need to be dredged every seven or eight years. “For Pohoiki it remains to be seen. We really can’t predict how quickly the new channel might fill back in and how soon we’d have to dredge. We’re just going to have to closely monitor it after the project is complete,” McCall concluded.
Many people have enjoyed the “hot pond” that formed at the bottom of the blocked boat ramp. People are reminded that entering the project area to swim is strictly prohibited as it is an active construction area.
# # #
RESOURCES
(All images/video Courtesy: DLNR)
HD video – Pohoiki dredging project (June 24, 2025):
Headline: Thales and KONGSBERG to establish new major Defence communications joint venture in Norway
Thales and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace have agreed to combine two of their businesses – KONGSBERG’s secure communications unit and Thales’ crypto and secure communications business in Norway – in a joint venture designed to meet the growing connectivity needs of defence forces in Norway, NATO countries and other nations. This new company is a response to European armed forces’ call for greater interoperability, sovereignty, and the urgent need for large-scale equipment delivery.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Deputy PM pledges more support for terminally ill workers
Ministers have signed a charter on behalf of the Civil Service committing to best practice for supporting civil servants diagnosed with a terminal illness.
The Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has pledged more support for those diagnosed with a terminal illness, as the Civil Service joins hundreds of employers already leading the way in ensuring best practice for people facing the most difficult time of their lives – by signing the Dying to Work Charter.
While many employers take great care already, a campaign called Dying to Work raises awareness of the important steps they can take to provide employees with dignity and peace of mind as they navigate a terminal diagnosis in work.
These steps are listed in this charter created by the TUC and founder Jacci Woodcock MBE, who was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2012. It encourages employers to sign up as a promise to ensuring additional support for terminally ill staff and making sure the employee is involved any decision-making around how they continue in work.
The charter already has over 400 employers signed up all over the UK – from local businesses to public services big and small, covering over 1.5 million employees. Now with the Civil Service signed up, around 2 million employees are now protected by it.
The move adds to the leading support the Civil Service already provides for civil servants living with a terminal illness and government work supporting thousands of employers through DWP’s Disability Confident campaign, which also supports the charter.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said:
No one battling terminal illness should ever have to face extra stress and worry over their job security at what is already the most challenging time for them and their loved ones.
It is vital at such a difficult time that employees with a terminal diagnosis are treated sensitively and with the best support – that’s why I’m so proud we are backing this charter.
Minister for Employment Rights Justin Madders said:
The bare minimum people facing terminal illness would expect is to have a sympathetic employer who treats them with dignity and respect, whilst dealing with the difficulties this brings.
While many employers take great care already, we know this isn’t always the case. That’s why today, the Civil Service is setting the standard, protecting vulnerable workers and giving them the freedom to decide whether to stay in work with the support they need.
TUC Director of Organising Sian Elliott said:
We all hope our employer would support us if we were diagnosed with a terminal illness – but sadly, that’s not always the case.
We welcome the government’s decision to sign the Dying to Work Charter, improving support for civil servants. No one should face the added burden of losing their job at the most difficult time of their life.
The charter is about dignity, security, and choice. Two million workers are now covered by it across both the public and private sectors. We hope many more employers will sign up too.
The Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Minister for Employment Rights Justin Madders and Cabinet Office Minister Georgia Gould all signed the charter together on behalf of the Civil Service. The signing took place on Thursday (26 June) with trade unions present.
The government’s help to raise awareness of better practices for terminally ill staff is part of its plan to make work pay, which is the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
According to Cancer Research UK, 1 in 3 people are projected to be diagnosed with cancer and currently in 1 in 10 cases are in people under 50.
In 2023/24, over 345,000 people were on the palliative care register in England – a list held by GPs of people who are under their care and approaching end of life and are likely to have less than 12 months to live.
Guidance for trade mark applicants following judgment in SkyKick v Sky
New guidance for trade mark applicants following Supreme Court judgment in the case of SkyKick UK Ltd and another v Sky Ltd and others.
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has issued important new guidance for trade mark applicants following a Supreme Court judgment in the case of SkyKick UK Ltd and another v Sky Ltd and others.
The updated Practice Amendment Notice (PAN 1/25) clarifies what is expected when filing specifications, and outlines changes to examination practices.
These changes will take effect immediately.
Important changes trade mark applicants and their representatives need to know
The Supreme Court judgment addresses bad faith in trade mark applications, particularly concerning overly broad specifications where applicants have no intention to use the mark across all the claimed goods or services.
Examiners will now actively consider whether specifications are “manifestly and self-evidently broad”, and may raise bad faith objections during the examination process.
What you need to do
Trade mark applicants should:
ensure specifications represent fair and reasonable claims for their business
be cautious when filing for large numbers of goods and services across multiple classes
consider whether broad terms like “computer software” or “clothing” truly reflect intended use, or whether sub-categories are more appropriate
be ready to explain their commercial reasons if challenged on the scope of an application
What to expect during examination
If examiners raise a bad faith objection, applicants will have two months to respond by either:
providing an explanation of their commercial reasons for the broad specification
restricting the goods/services to reflect their business more appropriately
Certain applications will automatically trigger objections, including claims covering all 45 classes or all goods in Class 9. (Class 9 covers a significant range of goods related to technology, science, information processing and software).
However, there will be other scenarios where examiners may raise objections, which will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Our aim is to strike a pragmatic balance, and the focus will be on manifestly and self-evidently broad specifications.
The IPO’s Deputy CEO and Director of Services Andy Bartlett said:
Following the Supreme Court’s judgment in the ‘Skykick’ case, we are issuing guidance to provide greater clarity and certainty for trade mark applicants and their representatives.
The ruling represents a significant development in trade mark law, and this Practice Amendment Notice explains what is expected from applicants, and how our examination practices will change as a result.
Understanding these changes will help our customers prepare appropriate specifications and avoid potential challenges and unnecessary delays in the application process.
Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –
According to the survey, 8 out of 10 school graduates prepare for admission on their own, 69% participate in specialized Olympiads for this purpose, and 60% study in additional courses. Most respondents are convinced that studying at a university should give them the skills necessary for a career (82%) and, as a result, they expect to become sought-after specialists (75%).
When choosing a university, applicants focus on the prestige of the educational institution (76%), the availability of programs in the chosen specialty (74%) and the demand for graduates in the labor market (73%).
63% of respondents expect to continue their education in a master’s program, and 20% – on the employer’s side. After completing their studies, every second respondent (51%) plans to develop IT products and technologies, 18% – to create their own startup, and 9% – to engage in science and research. A fifth of respondents (21%) have not decided on their career plans before enrolling.
Prospective students choose a specialty based on their personal interest in a specific area (79%), the prospects of the field (68%), and the potential for high income from work in this field (55%). The most popular IT areas among the surveyed applicants were artificial intelligence (67%), data analysis (55%), IT infrastructure development (44%), information systems development (41%), and systems programming (37%).
More than half of future IT specialists (52%) are convinced that basic knowledge in AI is necessary regardless of their training profile. Among specific AI specialties, applicants named machine learning (67%), generative AI (55%), computer vision (42%), intelligent systems (35%) and natural language processing (34%) as the most interesting. The list of in-demand specializations among applicants also included recommender systems (29%) and ethical aspects and regulation of AI (17%).
The survey was conducted in June 2025 among 1.3 thousand applicants planning to enroll in IT programs.
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.
Police must ensure that people can celebrate in safety
81+ Amnesty International delegates to march, including Secretary General
Global petition with more than 120,000 signatures handed into police HQ
Authorities must ensure people’s right to protest is protected, as is their ability to take part safely in Saturday’s Budapest Pride, free from intimidation, harassment or violence, said Amnesty International ahead of tomorrow’s 30th anniversary Budapest Pride March, which has been banned by the police.
More than 200 Amnesty International delegates from 17 of the organization’s sections will join the march, including the organization’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard. A petition, signed by more than 120,000 people from 73 countries, was handed in to the Police Headquarters on Wednesday by Dávid Vig, Director of Amnesty International Hungary, reminding the city’s chief of police of his duty to respect, protect and facilitate people’s right to peacefully protest.
“The attempted ban on Budapest Pride has exposed the depths to which the Hungarian authorities will sink to try and roll back fundamental rights. But it has also shown the heights that can be achieved when we come together to resist,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.
The full-frontal attack on Hungary’s LGBTI people and the right to peaceful assembly has been met with a steely response by so many people across the country. I am proud to march alongside them through the streets of Budapest. As the outpouring of solidarity from across the globe has shown, the world is watching.
Agnès Callamard, Secretary General
In April, discriminatory legislation came into force that has already been used to ban Pride marches and other protests supporting equal rights of LGBTI people in Hungary. Under its terms it is ‘forbidden to hold an assembly in violation’ of 2021 legislation banning the ‘depiction and promotion’ of homosexuality and diverse gender identities to people under 18. The law grants authorities the power to use facial recognition technology to identify participants and to fine those who participate in any prohibited assembly. According to the Criminal Code, organizers of an assembly which is banned may risk criminal charges and up to one year of imprisonment.
On 17 June, Budapest’s mayor announced that the city would host the official Pride as a municipal event and therefore not require police approval. Police issued a ban on the event arguing that it is actually a public assembly. On 19 June, Budapest’s mayor announced that Pride will go ahead anyway.
“We will not be intimidated by bans, threats and strong-arm tactics. Instead, those of us marching, and those cheering us on from afar, will draw strength from one another and from our shared certainty that, ultimately, humanity will win,” said Agnès Callamard.
“For the last 30 years, people in Hungary have celebrated Pride in Budapest peacefully. Hungarian authorities must stop this attempt to turn the clock back. They must lift the bans, repeal the discriminatory laws, and ensure people taking part in Budapest Pride can march free from intimidation, harassment or violence.”
“Amnesty International will be at Pride with a delegation of more than 200 people because no matter where we live, we all believe in equality, love and justice. This is a historic moment for Hungary where authorities must guarantee the human rights of the people, rather than pleasing a government which wants to silence us,” said Dávid Vig, Director of Amnesty Hungary.
Background
The Amnesty International delegation to Budapest Pride includes over 200 people from 17 countries.
As revealed in a 2024 Amnesty report, Hungary is one of several European countries flouting its international and regional human rights obligations to respect, protect and facilitate peaceful assemblies, to remove obstacles and to avoid unwarranted interferences with people’s right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.
The Budapest municipality announced that Budapest Pride will take place as a municipal event. This means that, formally, it does not require police notification, unlike regular assemblies. However, the Budapest police interpreted this announcement as a notification for a demonstration and issued a ban, claiming it is an unauthorized assembly. At the same time and location, a counter-protest has also been organized, with their notification to the police submitted before the municipality’s announcement. The police have stated that this counter-protest will take precedence over the Pride.
The Mayor of Budapest responded by saying that since the Pride is a municipal event, it does not require notification, therefore the police’s decision should not affect it.
In response to today’s execution in Japan of a man convicted of the murder of nine people, Chiara Sangiorgio, Death Penalty Advisor at Amnesty International, said:
“The execution of Takahiro Shiraishi – the first in Japan in nearly three years – is the latest callous attack on the right to life in Japan and a major setback for the country’s human rights record.
“Last year’s acquittal of Hakamada Iwao, formerly the world’s longest-serving death row prisoner, laid bare the unfairness of Japan’s criminal justice system and use of the death penalty and was an ideal opportunity to change course.
“But instead of moving to reform and ensure full protection of human rights, the government has chosen to resume executions. This is a significant setback to efforts to end the use of the death penalty in Japan.
“As of today, 113 countries worldwide have completely abolished the death penalty in law, and more than 144 have abandoned it in law or practice, yet Japan continues to use this inhuman punishment.
“The secrecy that continues to surround the notification of executions make the use of this punishment in Japan additionally cruel. The Japanese authorities must immediately introduce a moratorium on executions as a first step toward abolishing the death penalty entirely —and commute all death sentences to terms of imprisonment.”
Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Accra, 27 June 2025 – The Government of the Republic of Ghana, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the African Union Commission (AUC), convened a National Policy Dialogue on Labour Mobility Pathways aimed at turning the potential of labour migration into sustainable development outcomes.
In 2019, more than 970,000 Ghanaians lived abroad, sending money home, sharing skills, and investing in the country. At the same time, Ghana hosted over 466,000 international migrants, mostly from countries in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), demonstrating its strong ties to the region’s labour market. With an active diaspora, a growing youth population, and strong regional partnerships, Ghana is well placed to use labour mobility to boost its economy and support development across West Africa.
“The National Policy Dialogue on Labour Mobility pathways marks a historic milestone in our collective pursuit for safe, orderly, and regular migration pathways,” said Dr. Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Minister, Labour Jobs and Employment. “This initiative will undoubtedly contribute to empowering people, bolstering economies, and advancing sustainable development aspirations.”
The three-day discussions brought together senior policymakers, regional and international organizations, the World Bank, diaspora representatives, the private sector, civil society actors, migrants, and diplomatic missions of major destination countries for Ghanaian migrants to build a coordinated vision for safe, regular, and dignified labour mobility not only in Ghana but also across West and Central Africa.
“This dialogue comes at a critical time for Ghana and the region,” said Fatou Diallo Ndiaye, IOM Ghana Chief of Mission. “At a time when irregular migration continues to expose migrants to risks of exploitation and abuse, expanding regular migration pathways is both a humanitarian necessity and a development opportunity,” she added.
As a Champion Country in the implementation of the Global Compact on Migration, Ghana continues to innovate and lead in providing protection to Ghanaians abroad, as well as migrants living in the country. In recent years, Ghana has aligned its legal policies with global and regional frameworks, including the AU Agenda 2063, the AU Migration Policy for Africa and key instruments such as the National Labour Migration Policy, the Human Trafficking Act, the Immigration Act, the National Migration Policy, and the Diaspora Engagement Policy.
Ghana is also deepening international cooperation through the development of Bilateral Labour Migration Agreements (BLMAs) and Skills Mobility Partnerships with comprehensive support through the AU-IOM-ILO Joint Labour Migration Programme (JLMP), reinforcing its commitment to safe, regular, and mutually beneficial labour mobility.
The High-Level Policy Dialogue identified key priorities, including stronger coordination among agencies and stakeholders, improved data sharing, and innovative approaches to labour mobility such as skills partnerships, complementary pathways, and schemes that combine education with work or protection.
As labour markets evolve and migration dynamics shift across West and Central Africa, IOM remains committed to its role as a trusted convener, supporting governments, communities, and partners in co-creating solutions that ensure migration is safe, regular, and beneficial for all.
The National Policy Dialogue on Labour Mobility Pathways in Ghana was implemented with support from the JLMP and funded by the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.
When I reflect on my visits to disaster-affected areas over the past thirty years, certain images return again and again: a small poultry farm flattened by the strong winds of a cyclone, scattered with the bodies of lifeless birds; a flattened betel nut plantation facing six months of toil to regain production capacity; a local musical instrument maker whose entire inventory, tools and workshop lay crushed under rubble after an earthquake.
Technically, the owners of these small and micro-enterprises are neither below poverty line nor considered amongst the “most vulnerable.” Yet even the mildest economic disruption can push them into poverty.
On the edge of insolvency
In the aftermath of disasters, micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) often face crippling disruptions to local markets and supply chains, disrupting their ability to operate. Many of them use borrowed capital, and the interruption of business only exacerbates their debt burden, pushing them closer to insolvency.
Despite the scale of economic loss and closure among MSMEs following disasters, they have little access to recovery finance, whether in the form of affordable credit or assistance from government and relief agencies. This widespread collapse of micro- and small businesses remains under-recognized, despite the long-term consequences for local employment and economic recovery.
Policy blind spot
A fundamental problem lies in how these enterprises are positioned within post-disaster frameworks. Assistance tends to focus on households and public infrastructure, and few norms exist for assistance to MSMEs – even defining such norms would be complicated, given the varied nature of these enterprises.
They are often not considered poor enough to qualify for social protection schemes, yet they lack the financial capacity to afford commercial insurance products. This leaves them in a policy blind spot.
Yet, when MSMEs do begin to recover, their communities do too. They create jobs, they stimulate local markets, they restore confidence, and instill a sense of agency.
In short, the resilience of MSMEs is a building block of community resilience.
The agenda reflects the lived reality of MSMEs. An overwhelming majority in developing and high-risk settings operate in the informal sector – unregistered, unaccounted for, and uninsured. Many are in the micro and nano categories, often operating within cash economies, with minimal savings or access to credit – but nonetheless they are often the economic backbones of their communities. The most vulnerable are frequently women-led local enterprises.
First, we need to work with formal and informal local MSME associations to develop accessible tools for risk self-assessment – both for physical disaster risks, and the financial risks they trigger. These tools should help MSMEs assess the risks to their own businesses and to all those who depend on them for their livelihood.
Second, we need a suite of solutions to reduce the risks identified by the assessments. This toolkit should be coupled with access to affordable finance so MSMEs can implement resilience measures in a prioritized and graded manner.
Third, we should create locally appropriate risk-transfer solutions. This may require aggregation across a large number of enterprises, and perhaps even the creation of risk pools.
Fourth, disaster recovery finance systems must include provisions for support to MSMEs – through a judicious combination of grants and low-interest loans.
Fifth, MSME owners should be given a clear role in developing and implementing local level disaster risk reduction and recovery strategies. In post-disaster recovery, MSMEs should be encouraged to create new and more robust livelihood opportunities in their communities. The notion of “building back better” should apply to creating more resilient MSMEs after disasters. In the broader disaster risk reduction discourse, locally-led approaches are gaining prominence. MSMEs should be leading these approaches.
We can harness innovation
Across all five of these actions, emerging digital technologies and innovative insurance models can play a catalytic role – while opening business opportunities for resilience-focused entrepreneurs.
From digital payments and financial inclusion to participatory mapping and localized risk assessments, new digital tools could help bring informal and under-served enterprises into resilience-building frameworks – and ensure they are seen, supported, and strengthened before the next crisis hits.
MSMEs need access to group-based, subsidized insurance models that pool risk across similar enterprises to reduce premiums. Governments could actively promote and enable such group-based insurance mechanisms, tailored for MSMEs, to support business continuity and faster recovery in the face of disasters.
In most regions of the developing world, there is little availability of smaller scale property insurance; and where they exist, policy structures usually fail to reward risk reduction. Insurance offers should provide incentives for investment in risk reduction (like strengthening business premises against cyclones) with lower premiums.
Parametric insurance schemes – which pay out on a pre-agreed threshold (such as storm strength) – have been shown to be successful in eliminating costly loss assessments, payout delays and disputes, providing innovative and responsive solutions for MSMEs and other small-scale policy holders.
A network for resilient businesses
For the past 15 years, UNDRR has been supporting a global community of MSMEs who prioritize disaster risk reduction through the ARISE Network. Network members have demonstrated remarkable innovation to address disaster risk in their enterprises.
It is important that we further strengthen and expand such efforts to help the small businesses that are so vulnerable to disasters, but who can offer so much in building resilience for their communities.
This high-level event will highlight the urgency of risk-informed financial governance, and foster dialogue among key stakeholders on how to scale up support for countries most in need for the implementation of the International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) outcome. The event will:
1. Promote the integration of disaster and climate risk into national planning and budgeting, with regards to SDG-aligned frameworks including Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs).
2. Share good practices and success stories from governments, financial institutions, and development partners;
3. Present the goals, structure, and expected impact of an initiative to support developing countries as they establish national financial systems for DRR, and explore opportunities for collaboration and resource mobilization;
Background
The 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), is scheduled to take place from 30 June to 3 July 2025 in FIBES Sevilla Exhibition and Conference Centre, Spain.
FFD4 aspires to build a renewed global financing framework that will unlock greater volumes of capital at a lower cost. In Sevilla, and through a renewed global financing framework, leaders are taking action to deliver an SDG investment push and to reform the international financial architecture to enable the transformative change that the world urgently needs.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 27 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Prime Minister of Senegal Ousmane Sonko in Beijing on Friday.
Li said over the years, China and Senegal have respected each other, treated each other as equals, and carried out mutually beneficial cooperation in a sincere and friendly manner, achieving fruitful results.
China is willing to enhance solidarity and cooperation with Senegal, continue two-way support, expand practical cooperation, and firmly walk hand in hand on the road to modernization, he said.
Li noted that China stands ready to strengthen the docking of development strategies with Senegal, promote the quality and efficiency of cooperation in various fields, and continuously enhance the internal impetus for development.
He called on both sides to make good use of trade and investment facilitation measures, expand the scale of bilateral trade, and explore cooperation potential in areas such as agricultural product processing, industrial parks, new energy, digital economy and information security.
China encourages Chinese enterprises to invest and start businesses in Senegal, welcomes Senegalese enterprises making good use of platforms such as the China International Import Expo to enhance the promotion of their products in the Chinese market, Li said.
Noting that 2026 is the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, Li said China is willing to work with Senegal to successfully hold a series of activities, deepen exchanges in culture, media, and think tanks and better promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
Sonko said Senegal admires the tremendous achievements made in China’s economic and social development and sincerely appreciates China for the vigorous assistance it has provided to Senegal over a long period of time.
Senegal is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, promote cooperation on economy and trade, energy and mineral resources, finance, and agriculture under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and deepen people-to-people exchanges, Sonko said.
Sonko said Senegal looks forward to working with China to strengthen multilateral communication and cooperation, safeguard multilateralism and international fairness and justice, and protect the common interests of the Global South.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 27 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Prime Minister of Senegal Ousmane Sonko in Beijing on Friday.
Li said over the years, China and Senegal have respected each other, treated each other as equals, and carried out mutually beneficial cooperation in a sincere and friendly manner, achieving fruitful results.
China is willing to enhance solidarity and cooperation with Senegal, continue two-way support, expand practical cooperation, and firmly walk hand in hand on the road to modernization, he said.
Li noted that China stands ready to strengthen the docking of development strategies with Senegal, promote the quality and efficiency of cooperation in various fields, and continuously enhance the internal impetus for development.
He called on both sides to make good use of trade and investment facilitation measures, expand the scale of bilateral trade, and explore cooperation potential in areas such as agricultural product processing, industrial parks, new energy, digital economy and information security.
China encourages Chinese enterprises to invest and start businesses in Senegal, welcomes Senegalese enterprises making good use of platforms such as the China International Import Expo to enhance the promotion of their products in the Chinese market, Li said.
Noting that 2026 is the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, Li said China is willing to work with Senegal to successfully hold a series of activities, deepen exchanges in culture, media, and think tanks and better promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
Sonko said Senegal admires the tremendous achievements made in China’s economic and social development and sincerely appreciates China for the vigorous assistance it has provided to Senegal over a long period of time.
Senegal is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, promote cooperation on economy and trade, energy and mineral resources, finance, and agriculture under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and deepen people-to-people exchanges, Sonko said.
Sonko said Senegal looks forward to working with China to strengthen multilateral communication and cooperation, safeguard multilateralism and international fairness and justice, and protect the common interests of the Global South.
On June 27, Samsung Electronics released the 2025 edition of its Sustainability Report.
The report provides a comprehensive overview of the company’s strategies, initiatives and performance in environmental, social and governance — highlighting ongoing efforts to achieve sustainable growth amid rapidly evolving industry dynamics and geopolitical uncertainty.
[Environment]
Building on its New Environmental Strategy announced in September 2022, Samsung remains committed to reaching net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions, maximizing resource circularity and addressing complex environmental challenges through technological innovation. Notably, the company is expanding its use of renewable energy to meet rising demand and reduce carbon emissions against the backdrop of rapid growth in AI technologies and related industries.
In pursuit of its 2030 net zero target for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, Samsung’s Device eXperience (DX) Division recorded a renewable energy transition rate of 93.4% as of the end of 2024. By applying high-efficiency energy technologies across seven product categories, it reduced average power consumption by 31.5% compared to 2019. Additionally, the DX Division signed new solar power purchase agreements (PPAs) at its Gumi and Gwangju sites to diversify renewable energy sourcing.
As part of its goal to apply recycled materials to all plastic components by 2050, Samsung incorporated recycled content into 31% of the plastic parts used in its products as of 2024.
The company also operates a range of e-waste collection programs in approximately 80 countries, including Korea, to strengthen global recycling and recovery systems.
Meanwhile, Samsung’s Device Solutions (DS) Division aims to reach net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050 through continued investment in large-scale regenerative catalytic systems (RCS) for integrated process gas treatment and expanded use of renewable energy.
All global DS Division sites received the highest Platinum “Zero Waste-to-Landfill” certification from UL Solutions, a leading environmental and safety certifier. In addition, all Korean manufacturing sites earned top-tier certification from the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) for excellence in water resource management.
[Social and Governance]
Samsung is strengthening its health and safety management systems with the goal of achieving zero major industrial accidents and a top-tier global lost time injury rate (LTIR) by 2030, ensuring a safe, healthy workplace for all employees.
In 2024, the company conducted human rights risk assessments across Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and the Middle East to identify and address key concerns. Based on stakeholder input from international organizations, NGOs and academia, Samsung developed and implemented a human rights risk management plan.
Within the supply chain, Samsung expanded the scope of third-party audits to 33 second-tier suppliers. Beginning in 2025, the company will implement a more advanced, integrated Supplier Code of Conduct to respond proactively to evolving global regulations.
Through the Samsung Software‧AI Academy for Youth (SSAFY) — one of the company’s flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs — Samsung invested 37.5 billion won in 2024 to train approximately 2,200 young software professionals. This year, the program will introduce eight new AI training courses and upgrade infrastructure to support hands-on use of AI models. The Samsung Hope Stepping Stone program assisted 14,362 youth preparing to transition from protective care, opening new centers in North Chungcheong Province and Daejeon. Another center is scheduled to open in Incheon in 2025 to support more young people in need.
Furthermore, Samsung upholds privacy protection, information security, compliance and ethical management as core business priorities. A company-wide governance framework is in place to ensure effective oversight.
This year’s report aligns with global disclosure standards and is integrated with Samsung’s Sustainability website to improve accessibility.
The full 2025 Samsung Electronics Sustainability Report can be downloaded here.
On June 27, Samsung Electronics released the 2025 edition of its Sustainability Report.
The report provides a comprehensive overview of the company’s strategies, initiatives and performance in environmental, social and governance — highlighting ongoing efforts to achieve sustainable growth amid rapidly evolving industry dynamics and geopolitical uncertainty.
[Environment]
Building on its New Environmental Strategy announced in September 2022, Samsung remains committed to reaching net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions, maximizing resource circularity and addressing complex environmental challenges through technological innovation. Notably, the company is expanding its use of renewable energy to meet rising demand and reduce carbon emissions against the backdrop of rapid growth in AI technologies and related industries.
In pursuit of its 2030 net zero target for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, Samsung’s Device eXperience (DX) Division recorded a renewable energy transition rate of 93.4% as of the end of 2024. By applying high-efficiency energy technologies across seven product categories, it reduced average power consumption by 31.5% compared to 2019. Additionally, the DX Division signed new solar power purchase agreements (PPAs) at its Gumi and Gwangju sites to diversify renewable energy sourcing.
As part of its goal to apply recycled materials to all plastic components by 2050, Samsung incorporated recycled content into 31% of the plastic parts used in its products as of 2024.
The company also operates a range of e-waste collection programs in approximately 80 countries, including Korea, to strengthen global recycling and recovery systems.
Meanwhile, Samsung’s Device Solutions (DS) Division aims to reach net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050 through continued investment in large-scale regenerative catalytic systems (RCS) for integrated process gas treatment and expanded use of renewable energy.
All global DS Division sites received the highest Platinum “Zero Waste-to-Landfill” certification from UL Solutions, a leading environmental and safety certifier. In addition, all Korean manufacturing sites earned top-tier certification from the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) for excellence in water resource management.
[Social and Governance]
Samsung is strengthening its health and safety management systems with the goal of achieving zero major industrial accidents and a top-tier global lost time injury rate (LTIR) by 2030, ensuring a safe, healthy workplace for all employees.
In 2024, the company conducted human rights risk assessments across Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and the Middle East to identify and address key concerns. Based on stakeholder input from international organizations, NGOs and academia, Samsung developed and implemented a human rights risk management plan.
Within the supply chain, Samsung expanded the scope of third-party audits to 33 second-tier suppliers. Beginning in 2025, the company will implement a more advanced, integrated Supplier Code of Conduct to respond proactively to evolving global regulations.
Through the Samsung Software‧AI Academy for Youth (SSAFY) — one of the company’s flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs — Samsung invested 37.5 billion won in 2024 to train approximately 2,200 young software professionals. This year, the program will introduce eight new AI training courses and upgrade infrastructure to support hands-on use of AI models. The Samsung Hope Stepping Stone program assisted 14,362 youth preparing to transition from protective care, opening new centers in North Chungcheong Province and Daejeon. Another center is scheduled to open in Incheon in 2025 to support more young people in need.
Furthermore, Samsung upholds privacy protection, information security, compliance and ethical management as core business priorities. A company-wide governance framework is in place to ensure effective oversight.
This year’s report aligns with global disclosure standards and is integrated with Samsung’s Sustainability website to improve accessibility.
The full 2025 Samsung Electronics Sustainability Report can be downloaded here.
From menu boards and discount offers to promotional advertisements, digital signage has become an essential medium for delivering information in retail spaces. Now, a new display has emerged — one that can show images without a continuous power supply.
On June 8, Samsung Electronics launched the 32-inch Color E-Paper — an ultra-low-power digital signage solution capable of delivering rich, high-quality visuals.
Behind this innovative product lies Samsung’s proprietary Color Imaging Algorithm technology, developed through close collaboration between the Visual Display (VD) Business and Samsung Research at Samsung Electronics.
Samsung Newsroom spoke with two key figures behind its development — Daewoong Cho from the VD Business and Iljun Ahn from Samsung Research — to learn more about the creation of Color E-Paper.
▲ (From left) Iljun Ahn from Samsung Research and Daewoong Cho from the VD Business
Paradigm Shift: Ultra-Slim, Ultra-Light and Ultra Low-Power
The Color E-Paper sets a new benchmark for digital signage — redefining hardware, operational methods and content expressiveness.
The globally released EM32DX model (32-inch) sports an ultra-slim profile, measuring just 8.6 millimeters at its thinnest point, and boasts a lightweight structure, weighing only 2.5 kilograms with the battery.
▲ Daewoong Cho from the VD Business
“We designed the device to be ultra-slim and ultra-light so that it can be installed easily, even in tight spaces,” said Cho, who led Color E-Paper’s hardware development. “This versatility means it can serve as a menu board at a café entrance or be mounted on a wall to function as a seasonal, emotionally resonant interior display.”
One of the biggest advantages of the Color E-Paper is its ultra-low power consumption, as it draws 0.00W1 while displaying a static image. This allows content to remain visible for extended periods on battery power alone, significantly reducing energy usage in retail environments. Changing the display image requires only a minimal amount of power as well. In addition, as part of Samsung’s commitment to sustainability, the product incorporates recycled plastics in its exterior and comes in eco-friendly packaging.
▲ Content for the Color E-Paper can be easily created, replaced and managed through the Samsung VXT platform.
▲ Samsung VXT enhances the Color E-Paper experience with content visibility optimization, a preview function that ensures color accuracy before deployment, and other convenient features.
A Display That Runs Without a Continuous Power Supply
The secret behind the Color E-Paper’s ultra-low power consumption is its distinctive method of displaying images.
▲ Iljun Ahn from Samsung Research
“While conventional LCD signage uses a backlight to illuminate images, the Color E-Paper arranges six colors of digital ink in precise locations — just like printing on paper,” said Ahn, who participated in developing the product’s image enhancement technology. “This is also what gives the display its eye-friendly visual texture.”
The display consists of millions of microcups, each containing four colored ink particles (red, yellow, white and blue). When an electrical signal is applied to each cup, the designated ink particles rise to the surface to produce six colors.
“This process closely resembles the printing principle by which ink adheres to paper,” Ahn explained. “Once an image is formed, it can be semi-permanently retained without any further power consumption.”
Rich Images With Just Six Colors Through Samsung’s Proprietary Technology
The Color E-Paper’s strengths go far beyond power efficiency. The product can reproduce vibrant, natural hues using only six colors thanks to Samsung Electronics’ independently developed Color Imaging Algorithm.
“Conventional products had limitations in accurately reproducing input colors, and issues such as distortion and noise occurred . A solution was needed to overcome these challenges, so the VD Business and Samsung Research joined forces to come up with one,” said Ahn.
The starting point for developing the Color Imaging Algorithm, which enhances both color expressiveness and visibility, was the Human Visual System (HVS). The algorithm was built around a key aspect of human vision: the eye perceives the average color across a certain region, rather than focusing on the colors of individual pixels.
“By leveraging this trait, it’s possible to create the perception of different colors by naturally combining the six colors. The key lies in optimizing the ratio and arrangement of those combinations to avoid any color distortion,” Ahn added.
▲ The Color E‑Paper’s color-rendering process, powered by the Color Imaging Algorithm.
Calculating Color Ratios: Probability Map Extraction
Conventional e‑paper relies on error-diffusion2 techniques to approximate digital images using a limited color palette. While effective, these methods carry significant drawbacks, as they are prone to visual distortion and suffer from slow computation speeds.
To overcome these limitations, Samsung devised an innovative approach that calculates the probability of placing certain colors within arbitrary regions, allowing for more precise color expression.
▲ The Color Imaging Algorithm computes color-specific weights as probability distributions.
By computing color weights as probabilities, the Color E-Paper can render nearly 2.5 million distinct hues using just six colors — a dramatic 40-fold increase in color richness compared to the roughly 60,000 hues achievable with conventional methods.
Optimizing Color Arrangement: Color Sampling
Along with color ratios, the way colors are arranged also plays a critical role in color rendition quality. Building on the probability map, Samsung developers applied blue-noise-based3 sampling (arrangement)to assign colors on a pixel-by-pixel basis, ensuring uniform and smooth color rendering.
▲ The blue-noise-based color sampling process
▲ (Left) Grocery store promotions brought to life in vivid color on a Samsung Color E-Paper display; (Right) A magnified view of the onion demonstrates how various color combinations naturally render shades and hues.
This advanced Color Imaging Algorithm technology significantly reduces eye strain and delivers images with soft, natural boundaries — just like printed material.
▲ Samsung’s Color Imaging Algorithm technology overcomes the shortcomings of conventional e-paper.
A Globally Acclaimed Technology With a Bright Future
With reactions like “I thought it was real paper!” and “Where’s the power cable?”, people are often surprised or impressed when they see the Color E‑Paper for the first time. The innovation drew significant attention at this year’s edition of Europe’s largest display exhibition, Integrated Systems Europe, where it won three Best of Show at ISE 2025 awards.
“I felt so proud when I heard that a global brand, one that had previously insisted on analog signage only, began seriously considering a digital transformation after seeing the Color E‑Paper at ISE 2025,” Daewoong Cho recalled.
“The natural, paper-like color of the Color E-Paper will offer consumers a fresh experience across various commercial settings. We plan to introduce it in a range of sizes, from small to large displays.”
“We are continuing our research with the goal of being able to render a broader range of colors more effectively. Samsung Research and the VD Business will keep working in close partnership to deliver the next breakthrough in display technology,” added Iljun Ahn.
With its paradigm-shifting power efficiency and color accuracy, the Samsung Color E‑Paper is leading the evolution of digital signage. Driven by a spirit of continuous innovation, Samsung’s product developers are committed to enhancing visual experiences in commercial spaces — setting a new standard for the displays of tomorrow.
1 Based on IEC 62301 standards from the International Electrotechnical Commission. Power consumption below 0.005W is indicated as 0.00W.
2 This method diffuses the quantization error — introduced during image quantization — by distributing it in specified proportions to adjacent pixels, ensuring the errors become visually less noticeable across the entire image.
3 Unlike white noise, blue noise is concentrated in the high-frequency spectrum, distributing fine-grained, evenly spaced patterns without large blotches — enabling smoother and more natural image rendering on displays.
From menu boards and discount offers to promotional advertisements, digital signage has become an essential medium for delivering information in retail spaces. Now, a new display has emerged — one that can show images without a continuous power supply.
On June 8, Samsung Electronics launched the 32-inch Color E-Paper — an ultra-low-power digital signage solution capable of delivering rich, high-quality visuals.
Behind this innovative product lies Samsung’s proprietary Color Imaging Algorithm technology, developed through close collaboration between the Visual Display (VD) Business and Samsung Research at Samsung Electronics.
Samsung Newsroom spoke with two key figures behind its development — Daewoong Cho from the VD Business and Iljun Ahn from Samsung Research — to learn more about the creation of Color E-Paper.
▲ (From left) Iljun Ahn from Samsung Research and Daewoong Cho from the VD Business
Paradigm Shift: Ultra-Slim, Ultra-Light and Ultra Low-Power
The Color E-Paper sets a new benchmark for digital signage — redefining hardware, operational methods and content expressiveness.
The globally released EM32DX model (32-inch) sports an ultra-slim profile, measuring just 8.6 millimeters at its thinnest point, and boasts a lightweight structure, weighing only 2.5 kilograms with the battery.
▲ Daewoong Cho from the VD Business
“We designed the device to be ultra-slim and ultra-light so that it can be installed easily, even in tight spaces,” said Cho, who led Color E-Paper’s hardware development. “This versatility means it can serve as a menu board at a café entrance or be mounted on a wall to function as a seasonal, emotionally resonant interior display.”
One of the biggest advantages of the Color E-Paper is its ultra-low power consumption, as it draws 0.00W1 while displaying a static image. This allows content to remain visible for extended periods on battery power alone, significantly reducing energy usage in retail environments. Changing the display image requires only a minimal amount of power as well. In addition, as part of Samsung’s commitment to sustainability, the product incorporates recycled plastics in its exterior and comes in eco-friendly packaging.
▲ Content for the Color E-Paper can be easily created, replaced and managed through the Samsung VXT platform.
▲ Samsung VXT enhances the Color E-Paper experience with content visibility optimization, a preview function that ensures color accuracy before deployment, and other convenient features.
A Display That Runs Without a Continuous Power Supply
The secret behind the Color E-Paper’s ultra-low power consumption is its distinctive method of displaying images.
▲ Iljun Ahn from Samsung Research
“While conventional LCD signage uses a backlight to illuminate images, the Color E-Paper arranges six colors of digital ink in precise locations — just like printing on paper,” said Ahn, who participated in developing the product’s image enhancement technology. “This is also what gives the display its eye-friendly visual texture.”
The display consists of millions of microcups, each containing four colored ink particles (red, yellow, white and blue). When an electrical signal is applied to each cup, the designated ink particles rise to the surface to produce six colors.
“This process closely resembles the printing principle by which ink adheres to paper,” Ahn explained. “Once an image is formed, it can be semi-permanently retained without any further power consumption.”
Rich Images With Just Six Colors Through Samsung’s Proprietary Technology
The Color E-Paper’s strengths go far beyond power efficiency. The product can reproduce vibrant, natural hues using only six colors thanks to Samsung Electronics’ independently developed Color Imaging Algorithm.
“Conventional products had limitations in accurately reproducing input colors, and issues such as distortion and noise occurred . A solution was needed to overcome these challenges, so the VD Business and Samsung Research joined forces to come up with one,” said Ahn.
The starting point for developing the Color Imaging Algorithm, which enhances both color expressiveness and visibility, was the Human Visual System (HVS). The algorithm was built around a key aspect of human vision: the eye perceives the average color across a certain region, rather than focusing on the colors of individual pixels.
“By leveraging this trait, it’s possible to create the perception of different colors by naturally combining the six colors. The key lies in optimizing the ratio and arrangement of those combinations to avoid any color distortion,” Ahn added.
▲ The Color E‑Paper’s color-rendering process, powered by the Color Imaging Algorithm.
Calculating Color Ratios: Probability Map Extraction
Conventional e‑paper relies on error-diffusion2 techniques to approximate digital images using a limited color palette. While effective, these methods carry significant drawbacks, as they are prone to visual distortion and suffer from slow computation speeds.
To overcome these limitations, Samsung devised an innovative approach that calculates the probability of placing certain colors within arbitrary regions, allowing for more precise color expression.
▲ The Color Imaging Algorithm computes color-specific weights as probability distributions.
By computing color weights as probabilities, the Color E-Paper can render nearly 2.5 million distinct hues using just six colors — a dramatic 40-fold increase in color richness compared to the roughly 60,000 hues achievable with conventional methods.
Optimizing Color Arrangement: Color Sampling
Along with color ratios, the way colors are arranged also plays a critical role in color rendition quality. Building on the probability map, Samsung developers applied blue-noise-based3 sampling (arrangement)to assign colors on a pixel-by-pixel basis, ensuring uniform and smooth color rendering.
▲ The blue-noise-based color sampling process
▲ (Left) Grocery store promotions brought to life in vivid color on a Samsung Color E-Paper display; (Right) A magnified view of the onion demonstrates how various color combinations naturally render shades and hues.
This advanced Color Imaging Algorithm technology significantly reduces eye strain and delivers images with soft, natural boundaries — just like printed material.
▲ Samsung’s Color Imaging Algorithm technology overcomes the shortcomings of conventional e-paper.
A Globally Acclaimed Technology With a Bright Future
With reactions like “I thought it was real paper!” and “Where’s the power cable?”, people are often surprised or impressed when they see the Color E‑Paper for the first time. The innovation drew significant attention at this year’s edition of Europe’s largest display exhibition, Integrated Systems Europe, where it won three Best of Show at ISE 2025 awards.
“I felt so proud when I heard that a global brand, one that had previously insisted on analog signage only, began seriously considering a digital transformation after seeing the Color E‑Paper at ISE 2025,” Daewoong Cho recalled.
“The natural, paper-like color of the Color E-Paper will offer consumers a fresh experience across various commercial settings. We plan to introduce it in a range of sizes, from small to large displays.”
“We are continuing our research with the goal of being able to render a broader range of colors more effectively. Samsung Research and the VD Business will keep working in close partnership to deliver the next breakthrough in display technology,” added Iljun Ahn.
With its paradigm-shifting power efficiency and color accuracy, the Samsung Color E‑Paper is leading the evolution of digital signage. Driven by a spirit of continuous innovation, Samsung’s product developers are committed to enhancing visual experiences in commercial spaces — setting a new standard for the displays of tomorrow.
1 Based on IEC 62301 standards from the International Electrotechnical Commission. Power consumption below 0.005W is indicated as 0.00W.
2 This method diffuses the quantization error — introduced during image quantization — by distributing it in specified proportions to adjacent pixels, ensuring the errors become visually less noticeable across the entire image.
3 Unlike white noise, blue noise is concentrated in the high-frequency spectrum, distributing fine-grained, evenly spaced patterns without large blotches — enabling smoother and more natural image rendering on displays.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people.
The brutal homicide of 15-year-old Noongar Yamatji boy, Cassius Turvey, by a group of white men revealed the racial schisms in Western Australian society. Turvey was walking home from school in October 2022 when he was abruptly beaten to death.
On Friday, the Western Australian Supreme Court sentenced the three perpetrators. Twenty-nine-year-old Brodie Palmer and 24-year-old Jack Brearley were found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
A third man, 27-year-old Mitchell Forth, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years behind bars.
This was an opportunity for the Supreme Court to send a strong message against racial violence. While the punishment of the men involved is clear, the role of race, and what legally qualifies as racially motivated crime, is muddier.
Wrong place, wrong time?
Racism has been front and centre of the public discussion of this tragedy from the outset.
Rallies in solidarity with Turvey’s family were held across the country, with Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung, and Dunghutti activist Lizzie Jarrett declaring:
no black child is ever, ever, ever in the wrong place at the wrong time on their own land.
Racism at trial
Over the course of the trial, the court heard Turvey and his peers, a group of Aboriginal high school students, were approached by an angry group.
This comprised the three men convicted and a woman, 23-year-old Aleesha Gilmore, who was acquitted of homicide, and 21-year-old Ethan McKenzie, who with Gilmore, was convicted of other offences relating to the attack.
Turvey was chased and Brearly fatally beat him with a metal pole.
Earlier this year, the trial of the three perpetrators heard arguments by the defendants that the actions were not racially motivated.
Rather, the defence argued they were acting out of self-defence on the basis that Brearly had his car window smashed a few days prior.
In contrast, the prosecution brought evidence of a phone call that revealed Brearley was bragging about beating Turvey, stating that “he learnt his lesson”.
The prosecution argued the homicide was not a personal gripe, but a collective response.
The prosecution didn’t allege the attack was racially motivated, but it was open to the judge to consider this basis for the homicide.
At trial, 91 witnesses came forward. Witnesses gave evidence that the accused were using racial slurs.
The killing of Turvey comes after 14-year-old Elijah Doughty was targeted and killed in Kalgoorlie in 2016.
Both cases show white male motorists seeking to avenge Aboriginal children for alleged vehicle offences.
This is reinforced by a penal system in which Aboriginal children are 53 times more likely to be detained than non-Aboriginal children.
What did the judge say?
On the morning of the sentence hearings, Cassius Turvey’s mother, who described her son as respected, bright, loving and compassionate, said the killing was a “racially motivated” and based on “discriminatory targeting”.
This sentiment has been echoed across the country, including by June Oscar, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, in 2022.
Chief Justice Peter Quinlan strongly condemned the attacks.
However, he stated the attack was not racially motivated, despite recognising that the perpetrators were “calling them n-words and black c—ts — you in particular Mr Brearley used language like that”.
He noted that it creates a “fear” of racial vilification:
it’s no surprise […] that the kids would think they were being targeted because they were Aboriginal, and the attack would create justifiable fear for them and for the broader community that this was a racially motivated attack.
This amounts to a message of general deterrence about violence and vigilante behaviour.
But messages to deter racial targeting and racial violence specifically were omitted from the public safety concerns expressed by the court.
Making racial violence invisible
Munanjahli and South Sea Islander professor Chelsea Watego, and colleagues, have remarked that the Australian psyche is more comfortable with an “abstract concern with racism; racism without actors, or rather perpetrators”.
This, they argue, sanitises racial violence and holds no one responsible.
The court demonstrated this abstract concern for racism.
This Supreme Court’s reasoning has set an impossibly high bar for racial vilification, and specifically racial violence, to be identified, denounced and redressed.
The judgement seems to relegate racism to being an unfortunate and unintended incident of co-existence, rather than willed harm.
The failure to regard the racial slurs, the targeting of a group of Aboriginal children, and the killing of one of these children, as “racially motivated”, upholds the idea that white people’s racist treatment and crimes against Aboriginal people exist in a vacuum free of a long history of colonial violence, massacres and occupation.
Thalia Anthony receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Matthew Walsh 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.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people.
The brutal homicide of 15-year-old Noongar Yamatji boy, Cassius Turvey, by a group of white men revealed the racial schisms in Western Australian society. Turvey was walking home from school in October 2022 when he was abruptly beaten to death.
On Friday, the Western Australian Supreme Court sentenced the three perpetrators. Twenty-nine-year-old Brodie Palmer and 24-year-old Jack Brearley were found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
A third man, 27-year-old Mitchell Forth, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years behind bars.
This was an opportunity for the Supreme Court to send a strong message against racial violence. While the punishment of the men involved is clear, the role of race, and what legally qualifies as racially motivated crime, is muddier.
Wrong place, wrong time?
Racism has been front and centre of the public discussion of this tragedy from the outset.
Rallies in solidarity with Turvey’s family were held across the country, with Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung, and Dunghutti activist Lizzie Jarrett declaring:
no black child is ever, ever, ever in the wrong place at the wrong time on their own land.
Racism at trial
Over the course of the trial, the court heard Turvey and his peers, a group of Aboriginal high school students, were approached by an angry group.
This comprised the three men convicted and a woman, 23-year-old Aleesha Gilmore, who was acquitted of homicide, and 21-year-old Ethan McKenzie, who with Gilmore, was convicted of other offences relating to the attack.
Turvey was chased and Brearly fatally beat him with a metal pole.
Earlier this year, the trial of the three perpetrators heard arguments by the defendants that the actions were not racially motivated.
Rather, the defence argued they were acting out of self-defence on the basis that Brearly had his car window smashed a few days prior.
In contrast, the prosecution brought evidence of a phone call that revealed Brearley was bragging about beating Turvey, stating that “he learnt his lesson”.
The prosecution argued the homicide was not a personal gripe, but a collective response.
The prosecution didn’t allege the attack was racially motivated, but it was open to the judge to consider this basis for the homicide.
At trial, 91 witnesses came forward. Witnesses gave evidence that the accused were using racial slurs.
The killing of Turvey comes after 14-year-old Elijah Doughty was targeted and killed in Kalgoorlie in 2016.
Both cases show white male motorists seeking to avenge Aboriginal children for alleged vehicle offences.
This is reinforced by a penal system in which Aboriginal children are 53 times more likely to be detained than non-Aboriginal children.
What did the judge say?
On the morning of the sentence hearings, Cassius Turvey’s mother, who described her son as respected, bright, loving and compassionate, said the killing was a “racially motivated” and based on “discriminatory targeting”.
This sentiment has been echoed across the country, including by June Oscar, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, in 2022.
Chief Justice Peter Quinlan strongly condemned the attacks.
However, he stated the attack was not racially motivated, despite recognising that the perpetrators were “calling them n-words and black c—ts — you in particular Mr Brearley used language like that”.
He noted that it creates a “fear” of racial vilification:
it’s no surprise […] that the kids would think they were being targeted because they were Aboriginal, and the attack would create justifiable fear for them and for the broader community that this was a racially motivated attack.
This amounts to a message of general deterrence about violence and vigilante behaviour.
But messages to deter racial targeting and racial violence specifically were omitted from the public safety concerns expressed by the court.
Making racial violence invisible
Munanjahli and South Sea Islander professor Chelsea Watego, and colleagues, have remarked that the Australian psyche is more comfortable with an “abstract concern with racism; racism without actors, or rather perpetrators”.
This, they argue, sanitises racial violence and holds no one responsible.
The court demonstrated this abstract concern for racism.
This Supreme Court’s reasoning has set an impossibly high bar for racial vilification, and specifically racial violence, to be identified, denounced and redressed.
The judgement seems to relegate racism to being an unfortunate and unintended incident of co-existence, rather than willed harm.
The failure to regard the racial slurs, the targeting of a group of Aboriginal children, and the killing of one of these children, as “racially motivated”, upholds the idea that white people’s racist treatment and crimes against Aboriginal people exist in a vacuum free of a long history of colonial violence, massacres and occupation.
Thalia Anthony receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Matthew Walsh 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.
Government honours Mama Abigail Kubeka with tribute concert
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), through its Van Toeka Af Living Legends Recognition Series, will host a landmark tribute concert in honour of the iconic Mama Abigail Kubeka, celebrating an extraordinary 68-year contribution to South Africa’s music, arts, and cultural landscape.
This tribute forms part of the department’s ongoing commitment to “give them their flowers while they can still smell them” — a core principle of the Van Toeka Af Living Legends Recognition Series.
Launched in 2023, the Van Toeka Af Living Legends Recognition Series recognises artists whose work has left an indelible mark on South Africa’s cultural heritage. It also provides sustainable support through platforms such as the Living Legends Legacy Fraternity Trust (LLLFT).
This one-night-only event will unite more than 25 legendary performers, all offering their time and talent in tribute to a woman whose voice, grace, and artistic influence have helped shape the soul of South African culture.
Directed by renowned saxophonist and composer Khaya Mahlangu, the concert will feature performances from luminaries, such as Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Faith Kekana, Mandisa Dlanga, Khanyo Maphumulo, and Stella Khumalo.
The audience can also look forward to musical contributions from icons, including Sipho Mabuse, McCoy Mrubata, Babsy Mlangeni, and Fana Zulu, with a powerful opening performance by Zenzi Makeba Lee alongside the Miriam Makeba Band.
“Mama Abigail Kubeka is more than a performer — she is a living archive of our nation’s cultural memory. For nearly seven decades, her voice has carried the spirit of resistance, healing, and hope. Honouring her is both a duty and a privilege, reminding us that our greatest cultural treasures still walk among us, guiding us with wisdom and unmatched artistry.
“The Van Toeka Af programme is about legacy, memory, and dignity. It says to our artists: we see you; we thank you, and we honour you. It ensures that future generations know whose shoulders they stand on and gives recognition to those who created beauty and meaning during some of South Africa’s darkest hours,” the department said.
Kubeka’s career began in the 1950s, and she remains one of the last surviving artists to have performed alongside greats such as Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela during the apartheid era. Her body of work spans film, television, jazz, theatre, and activism — a legacy that continues to uplift and inspire generations.
The concert will take place on Saturday, 5 July 2025, at 6pm at the South African State Theatre in Pretoria.
This tribute follows in the footsteps of past Van Toeka Af honours bestowed on cultural giants, including Dr John Kani and Dr Tete Mbambisa.
These recognition events serve not only as emotional homecomings for the honourees, but also as national moments of reflection on the country’s cultural journey and future – SAnews.gov.za
Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
Find out all about a new member’s first appearance in the House of Lords chamber (and the only time other than State Opening they wear robes!) with Reading Clerk, Chris Johnson.
Catch-up on House of Lords business:
Watch live events: https://parliamentlive.tv/Lords
Read the latest news: https://www.parliament.uk/lords/
Stay up to date with the House of Lords on social media: