Article 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union states that the EU’s role in education is limited to supporting, coordinating, or supplementing the actions of its Member States.
Member States remain solely responsible for the content of teaching and the organisation of their education systems. The Commission monitors and supports Member States’ education policies under the European Education Area cooperation framework (see Education and Training Monitor[1]), the European Semester and through EU funds to help Member States ensure access to quality education and lifelong learning to all.
While the learning environment is essential in this respect, defining common technical specifications for schools is not in the competence of the EU.
According to the information available, Ktiriakes Ypodomes S.A. is Greece’s sole authority that undertakes the construction of public buildings including schools. The municipalities are responsible for the maintenance of schools.
EU funding for education and training tripled during the 2021-27 period compared to the 2014-20 period, with the total allocation exceeding EUR 130 billion, including EUR 75 billion under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).
In Greece some EUR 470 million public funding have been allocated under the cohesion policy programmes for the development and modernisation of infrastructure and equipment for all levels of education.
In addition, Greece supports under the RRF investments related to education, training and skills representing more than 10% of the budget allocated amounting at EUR 30.5 billion.
Greece supports the modernisation of its education and training system, including by upgrading digital infrastructure and equipment.
Question for written answer E-002766/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Konstantinos Arvanitis (The Left)
There has been a particularly strong re-emergence of sheep pox and goat pox in Greece, mainly in Thessaly, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Chalkidiki and Fokida. As a result of this crisis, tens of thousands of animals have been killed, extensive areas have been placed under quarantine, animal movements have been prohibited, slaughterhouse operations have been suspended and livestock farmers, especially pastoral farmers, have seen their incomes plummet.
This all takes place in a broader context of lack of prevention, inadequate checks on imports from non-EU countries (in particular the Balkans) and understaffing of veterinary services. This new combination of factors comes on top of a series of natural disasters (Cyclone Ianos, storms Daniel and Elias), which have already placed considerable strain on livestock farming in the Greek region, which is now under threat of total collapse, with wider consequences for the agri-food sector, landscape conservation, the local economy and national livestock production.
In view of the seriousness of the situation, will the Commission say:
1.Does it intend to activate European mechanisms for affected Greek farmers?
2.Does it intend to strengthen monitoring, checks and veterinary care, particularly in border regions, through animal health protection programmes?
3.Does it consider that pastoral livestock farming – as a form of sustainable and extensive farming – requires specific support under the new CAP and the EU’s mountain and rural policies?
Question for written answer E-002822/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Mihai Tudose (S&D)
The heat wave in Europe in June and July 2025 has pushed up daily electricity demand by as much as 14 % owing to the intensive use of air conditioners. According to the energy think tank Ember, this increased demand, combined with interruptions in thermal power plant operations and reductions in nuclear power plant production capacity, have led to a significant rise in prices, which have exceeded EUR 400/MWh in Germany and EUR 470/MWh in Poland.
This was despite the fact that June saw the highest levels of solar energy production ever recorded in the EU.
Since heat waves are becoming ever more intense and frequent from one year to another, what solutions does the Commission have for preparing the EU energy sector for heat-wave summers (particularly as regards storage and interconnection capacities)?
Under the Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) framework, social contribution projections, including those paid into the pension system, are ordinarily assumed to remain constant as a ratio to gross domestic product (GDP) during the 10 years that follow the end of the adjustment period, i.e. from 2032 to 2041, unless different assumptions are duly justified.
In the case of Spain, its medium-term fiscal structural plan (MTFSP) internalises the impact of compensatory revenue measures legislated in 2023 (along with the pension reform) that will materialise after 2031.
The cumulative increase in social contributions over the following 10 years is estimated at 1.8 percentage points of GDP, which improves the debt dynamics.
This assumption relies on the legislated measures described in Spain’s Country Fiche accompanying the 2024 Ageing Report. These measures lower the adjustment required to put debt on a plausibly downward path and enable a higher average net expenditure growth over the adjustment period.
The revenue increases over the years 2027-2031 resulting from the potential activation of the closure clause were not included in the assumption of the Spanish MTFSP.
Under the commonly agreed methodology, the activation of the closure clause would have been considered a discretionary revenue measure and would be taken into account only ex post in the assessments of compliance with the net expenditure rule.
Therefore, the updated estimates of the independent fiscal authority (AIReF) do not imply that the Spanish plan deviates from the debt reduction requirement.
The Commission assesses fiscal sustainability in a comprehensive way, considering a country’s overall public finances at different time horizons.
For this, the Commission accounts for the expected change in age-related spending, including for pension and healthcare systems. Long-term projections are prepared and discussed with all Member States within the Ageing Working Group and published in a triennial ‘Ageing Report’.
If pensions contribute to an identified sustainability risk, the Commission will signal this through several channels, including through the European Semester of economic and fiscal policy coordination.
With the introduction of the Recovery and Resilience Facility an extra incentive was provided for Member States to implement reforms. Spain committed to a pension reform in its recovery plan.
The Commission preliminary assessment of the fourth payment request[1] considered the fiscal sustainability requirements of the pension reform as satisfactorily fulfilled[2], noting that ‘the closure clause legislated as part of Milestone 409 ensures that corrective measures enter into force as soon as necessary so that the long-term fiscal sustainability of the pension reforms […] is preserved even under less favourable developments than assumed’.
Since 2024, under the revamped fiscal rules, Member States commit to a 4-year plan during which public finances are put on a sustainable footing.
This adjustment period can be extended from four to seven years — as is the case for Spain — if Member States commit to set of reforms and investments, notably to improve the long-term budgetary and economic outlook.
[2] These requirements are set out in the Council Implementing Decision: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-10150-2021-ADD-1-REV-2/en/pdf.
A strong European Parliament delegation of 10 MEPs from the Development (DEVE) and Environment (ENVI) Committees will travel to New York from 21 to 23 July to participate in the 2025 United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF).
The delegation will meet with high-level representatives from the United Nations, international organisations, national parliaments, youth networks, civil society, and other key stakeholders to discuss progress on the SDGs – with a particular focus on health, gender equality, decent work, ocean protection, and global partnerships.
Members will take part in official proceedings, present the European Parliament’s SDG resolution at side events and in bilateral meetings. The Parliament will also host a dedicated event titled “Parliaments as Drivers of SDG 17: Strengthening Democratic Partnerships for Sustainable Development.List of participants:
A project funded by the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is under implementation.
It aims to promote modernisation of the mining sector in Rwanda and specifically supports technical and vocational education training, skills training , improvement of safe working conditions based on international standards, and digitalisation of mining sector services.
The project was approved under the multiannual indicative programme for Rwanda, for 2021-2023. Project activities do not involve direct mining investments, nor the extraction, transformation or processing of minerals.
The project is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) with the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) and the Integrated Polytechnic Regional College in Kigali, as the two main local partners.
The project is co-financed with BMZ and implemented by GIZ, with whom the Commission has signed a Delegation Agreement. The EU funds under this project are administered directly by GIZ, applying standard regulations in terms of justification of expenses. GIZ is a pillar assessed Member State organisation and project implementation is subject to GIZ contractual rules and internal controls
This means that it is GIZ and not the Commission, who has signed a contract with RMB according to their own pillar-assessed rules. Oversight is also ensured through the Project Steering Committee including the EU Delegation, which provides strategic guidance and oversight.
On 17 March 2025, the EU adopted restrictive measures against, among others, sanctions on the current RMB’s chief executive officer[1]. RMB as an institution has not been sanctioned.
The Commission has requested that GIZ as the implementing partner put in place all possible measures to ensure that the RMB’s chief executive officer does not benefit directly or indirectly, from any support provided to the RMB as an institution.
The Commission is fully committed to upholding democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in the Member States and is monitoring developments at national level, including through the annual Rule of Law Reports[1].
The Commission, however, does not have a general power to examine how an individual case relating to the functioning of a national political party is addressed by a Member State. It is for national competent authorities and courts to ensure compliance with relevant national and EU law.
Under the EU Treaties, Member States also remain responsible for safeguarding their national security. Their intelligence services collect and analyse information on threats related to national security in accordance with national law.
Regarding the Honourable Members’ first question on Amazon’s 2022 antitrust commitments, the Monitoring Trustee appointed in accordance with the Commitments Decision[1] has been evaluating Amazon’s compliance and provides bi-annual reports to the Commission.
The Commission has been carefully assessing both the Monitoring Trustee’s reports and Amazon’s compliance and is continuously engaging with both to ensure Amazon’s effective compliance with the commitments.
In parallel, and as announced on 25 March 2024, the Commission has been taking steps to assess Amazon’s compliance with Article 6(5) of Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 (Digital Markets Act — DMA)[2] and continues to look into potential self-preferencing practices by Amazon on the Amazon Marketplace.
Regarding the Honourable Members’ second question on Amazon’s automated pricing systems, the Commission is aware of the Federal Trade Commission’s and Bundeskartellamt’s investigations into Amazon’s pricing behaviour.
The Commission is assessing Amazon’s compliance with Article 5(3) DMA and is closely coordinating with the Bundeskartellamt on the investigation into Amazon’s pricing practices.
Regarding the Honourable Members’ third question on Amazon’s compliance report, the Commission shares the view that transparent and complete compliance reports are fundamental to ensuring that all relevant stakeholders can scrutinise DMA compliance.
The Commission is engaging with Amazon to make sure that these reports are as informative and detailed as possible.
[1] Commission Decision of 20 December 2022 relating to a proceeding under Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and Article 54 of the EEA Agreement, Cases AT.40462 — Amazon Marketplace and AT.40703 — Amazon Buy Box, C(2022) 9442 final.
[2] Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2022 on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector and amending Directives (EU) 2019/1937 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Digital Markets Act), OJ L 265, 12.10.2022, p. 1-66.
The number of people being released from prison in London rose by 5 per cent in the year to March 2024, increasing from 9,070 to 9,520.1
Prison leavers who get a job are almost 10% less likely to reoffend, but London is below the national average for people finding employment within six weeks of leaving prison.2
Tomorrow, the London Assembly Economy, Culture and Skills Committee will meet with charities and a prison service representative to understand the challenges prison leavers face when seeking employment.
The guests are:
Panel 1 (14:00 – 15:25):
Jon Collins, Chief Executive, Prisoners’ Education Trust
Paul Clarkson, Director of Quality and Training, The Clink Charity
Helena Hamilton, Head of Education, Skills and Work, HMP Wandsworth
Panel 2 (15:30 – 17:00):
Matt Randle, Director of Justice, Catch22
Penny Parker, Chief Executive Officer, StandOut
Sian Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Switchback
The meeting will take place on Wednesday 16 July 2025 from 2pm in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, July 15 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday called on China and Australia to further strengthen cooperation ties, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, form stronger development synergy and effectively deal with environmental uncertainty.
Li Qiang made the remarks at the 8th China-Australia Business Leaders Roundtable, which he co-hosted with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Beijing.
About 30 heads of chambers of commerce and enterprises of the two countries took part in the round table.
Li Qiang recalled that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, and noted that over the past decade, bilateral economic and trade cooperation has demonstrated remarkable resilience and vitality.
As the Premier of the State Council pointed out, the economic structures of the two countries are highly complementary and have a solid foundation for linking industrial sectors and markets, making China and Australia natural partners for cooperation.
Li Qiang noted that China’s vast market will continuously unleash its huge consumer potential, creating more business opportunities for enterprises in both countries. He called on the two sides to strengthen cooperation in cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and life sciences to expand the capabilities of the Chinese and Australian industrial sectors.
With joint efforts by enterprises from the two countries to enhance cooperation in areas such as clean energy, electric vehicles and energy storage, a world-class green industrial chain with sustainability and competitiveness can be built, the premier stressed.
Li Qiang said governments and enterprises should move in the same direction to better promote development. He said China will continue to promote high-level opening-up, treat domestic and foreign enterprises equally, and protect the rights and interests of foreign companies and entrepreneurs in China in accordance with the law.
The Chinese leader also expressed hope that Australia would treat Chinese enterprises doing business in the country fairly and properly address issues related to market access and investment screening.
Li Qiang called on Chinese and Australian companies to maintain openness, seek cooperation, and further promote market convergence and industrial integration between the two countries.
E. Albanese noted in his speech that bilateral relations are currently developing steadily and the enthusiasm of business circles of both countries for cooperation is growing sharply.
The Australian side is ready to strengthen dialogue with the Chinese side, expand cooperation in various fields, including trade, agriculture, industry, energy resources and green development, jointly counter such a global challenge as climate change, and uphold international justice and free trade, added E. Albanese. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Mauro Micillo, Chief of the IMI CIB Division at Intesa Sanpaolo
LONDON, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division of Intesa Sanpaolo hosted the conference “Infrastructure and Growth Opportunities for Europe and the UK: Focus on the UK Infrastructure Strategy” in London, bringing together institutions, companies and investors to discuss the growth prospects linked to the United Kingdom’s new ten-year infrastructure plan.
“Intesa Sanpaolo is playing a catalytic role in supporting investments alongside institutions, corporates, funds and investors to support the key projects of the United Kingdom’s new 10-year infrastructure plan. Financing sustainable infrastructure, while supporting the so-called twin transition (green and digital), will continue to be a strategic pillar of the IMI CIB Division’s strategy.”
Mauro Micillo, Chief of the IMI CIB Division at Intesa Sanpaolo
The United Kingdom’s Plan outlines investments of more than €846 billion between 2025 and 2035, centred on three strategic pillars:
infrastructure works
energy transition
enhancement of social and environmental systems.
The Conference stems from the belief that a constructive public-private dialogue is key to accelerating projects that strengthen the competitiveness of the United Kingdom and Europe.
In 2024 alone, global project finance volumes surpassed €300 billion, with transactions involving Intesa Sanpaolo’s IMI CIB Division representing around €45 billion — nearly 15% of the global total.
IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division’s Activities in the United Kingdom
The London branch of Intesa Sanpaolo’s IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division serves as the main hub for the UK & MEA Region, which also includes operations in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Istanbul.
In 2024, total financing volumes for corporate and financial institution clients in the Region amounted to approximately €8.5 billion (as of 31/12/2024).
Since 2023, the IMI CIB Division has participated in numerous international transactions originating in the United Kingdom, supporting transition and innovation, for a total value of approximately €11 billion.
Key projects supported by the IMI CIB Division include:
CO₂ transport and storage – Liverpool Bay T&S.
Acquisition of National Grid Transmission by Macquarie AM.
Renewables and energy efficiency operations with TRIG and SEEIT.
These initiatives confirm the Intesa Sanpaolo Group’s ongoing commitment to enabling sustainable and digital transformation, in line with the Group’s 2022–2025 Business Plan
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BRUSSELS, July 15 (Xinhua) — The European Union failed to approve a new round of sanctions against Russia on Tuesday as the move was blocked by Slovakia over energy security concerns, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said. -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, July 15 /Xinhua/ — China plays an important role in promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of rare earth metals, while the negative narratives spread by the United States about the “Chinese threat” in this area sow discord and contradict the laws of economic globalization, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said in an opinion piece published in the Russian newspaper Argumenty i Fakty on Tuesday.
“China has always carried out international cooperation in the mineral resource sector on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, in accordance with the law, and has never resorted to putting pressure on other countries or putting forward political or security-related conditions,” the publication says.
As Zhang Hanhui emphasized, China has an important mission in the global supply of rare earth metals, accounting for nearly 70 percent of the world’s supply. The ambassador noted that in recent years, China has given priority to the high-quality development of the rare earth metal industry through scientific and technological innovation, consistently carries out industry regulation, and successfully mastered “green” mining technologies, solving the global pollution problem. “Strengthening the management of rare earth metal exports by China contributes to further changing the extensive development model of the industry, promoting its standardization, orderliness and sustainable development,” the Chinese diplomat said.
The author of the article recalled that in November last year, China revised its Mineral Resources Law. Article 15 of the law clearly stipulates that international cooperation in the field of mineral resources should be actively promoted, adhering to the principles of equality, mutual benefit and win-win. Zhang Hanhui cited striking examples of mutually beneficial cooperation, including the project implemented by Chinese enterprises to modernize the largest lithium deposit in Zimbabwe, as well as the construction of a modern industrial park in Indonesia that formed a complete chain of “nickel mining – material production – battery production”.
At the same time, as Zhang Hanhui noted, the US has recently been spreading negative narratives about China “weaponizing rare earth metals” and “strangling the world with rare earth metals.” Moreover, Western countries have declared their intention to build supply chains that exclude China and create a “metal NATO.” “These words are not only imbued with Cold War thinking and openly incite division, but also contradict the laws of economic globalization, threatening peace and stability,” the ambassador warned.
The author of the publication is confident that the only right way is to strengthen international cooperation. As an example, he cited China and Russia, which are linked by comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction in the new era and have a high degree of complementarity in the field of critical minerals. “Deepening cooperation in this area is important,” the Chinese diplomat emphasized.
Zhang Hanhui recalled that in a joint statement issued in May this year, China and Russia emphasized the importance of mutual supply of mineral resources, intensifying industrial cooperation, expanding cooperation in technology and innovation, and strengthening industrial chains. “The parties will jointly promote equal and mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of critical minerals, firmly defend the rights and interests of China, Russia and a wide range of developing countries, jointly achieve equal and orderly multipolarity, accessible and inclusive economic globalization, making Chinese-Russian contributions to global development and prosperity,” the Chinese Ambassador to the Russian Federation concluded. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, July 15 (Xinhua) — Russia will continue to achieve its goals through a special military operation (SMO) if Moscow’s willingness to negotiate through diplomatic means does not find a response, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Tuesday.
S. Ryabkov pointed out that Moscow is ready to negotiate, and the diplomatic path to settlement remains preferable for it. If the Russian Federation’s readiness to negotiate does not find a response, the goals set will continue to be achieved through the SVO, the Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized.
The diplomat drew attention to the fact that for Moscow “this position is unshakable.” “We would like Washington and NATO as a whole to treat it with the utmost seriousness,” S. Ryabkov pointed out.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Alexander Grushko stated that Moscow has a negative attitude towards the supply of weapons to Ukraine through NATO, “this is further evidence that NATO is not really interested in peace.”
“I would like to remind you that at the summit in The Hague /NATO Secretary General Mark/ Rutte stated that ‘our common task is to make NATO more lethal’, not in the sense that it will die in a few days, but to make it more deadly, and also to keep Ukraine in the fight,” noted A. Grushko.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump said Russia needed to reach a deal on the conflict in Ukraine within 50 days, as well as to supply American weapons to the Ukrainian Armed Forces through NATO.
Commenting on the deadlines for concluding the agreement announced by D. Trump, A. Grushko noted that “first of all, this is very strange.” As the Deputy Foreign Minister pointed out, “any agreement presupposes negotiations.”
According to A. Grushko, “yesterday no call was made to the Ukrainian side to respond to the Russian Federation’s readiness to resume negotiations.” “From this we must conclude that there is no real interest on the part of the West to facilitate the successful completion of these negotiations,” the Deputy Foreign Minister believes.
US President Donald Trump on Monday announced a new arms supply scheme for Ukraine, under which the US will sell a large batch of weapons to European countries, after which they will hand them over to Kyiv and also replenish their stockpiles through new purchases from Washington. –0–
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NEW YORK — A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation resulted in the July 10 sentencing of Hugo Hernandez-Velazquez, the leader of a Mexican sex trafficking organization, to 188 months’ imprisonment for sex trafficking multiple victims by force, fraud and coercion. The defendant was extradited from Mexico to the United States in February 2021.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations New York Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel and Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence.
Hernandez-Velazquez, 48 of Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking in April 2023. He will be deported after completing his sentence.
“For nearly a decade, the defendant and his family oversaw a vicious sex trafficking campaign wrought with violence, manipulation, coercion, and outright force against women whom they lured into romantic relationships through false promises of love and support,” stated Patel. “Every day, victims are targeted for human trafficking and other vile forms of exploitation and abuse, often at the hands of their own spouses or purported caretakers. Today’s sentencing is no doubt a direct result of the bravery of each survivor who courageously spoke up. Together with our partners, HSI is unflinchingly committed to investigating and vigorously pursuing anyone, anywhere, who sexually exploits the very individuals they claim to care for.”
Patel credited HSI New York’s Human Trafficking Task Force for leading the investigation of the Hernandez-Velazquez sex trafficking organization. Additionally, he thanked the HSI Mexico City attaché office, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Department of State, Interpol, International Affairs Department of the Attorney General’s Office in Mexico, the Law Enforcement Unit of the State of Tlaxcala Attorney General’s Office, Interpol Mexico, and the New York City Police Department for their assistance; and praised the government of Mexico for its role in advancing bilateral anti-trafficking enforcement efforts. Patel also acknowledged the non-governmental victim service providers and advocates for their dedicated efforts to restore and improve the lives of survivors of trafficking and their families.
“For years, the defendant and his siblings operated an illegal, abusive, and exploitative sex trafficking operation that stripped victims of their dignity and subjected them to inhumane violence,” stated Nocella. “It is my hope that the prosecution of their tormentors and the punishment meted out will provide a measure of closure for the brave survivors who assisted the investigation and will help them on their path to healing.”
Between approximately 2001 and 2009, the defendant and his siblings, Ernesto, Giovanni and Arcelia Hernandez-Velazquez, ran the Hernandez-Velazquez sex trafficking organization based in Mexico. The family organization used force, fraud and coercion to cause young women in Mexico to engage in prostitution in the United States. Members of the family organization lured victims into romantic relationships through false promises of love and support. The victims were pressured to travel to the United States with promises of a better life with their trafficker. Once smuggled into the United States, the victims were forced to engage in prostitution. The family organization maintained a base in Queens, New York, where victims would reside while they were forced to work in New York and other states, including Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The defendant subjected his victims to physical beatings, forced abortions, and threats. The defendant also threatened violence to the victims’ families to force the victims to continue prostituting on his behalf.
A U.S. District Court judge previously sentenced Hernandez-Velazquez’s siblings, who also pleaded guilty to sex trafficking: Ernesto Hernandez-Velazquez and Giovanni Hernandez-Velazquez were each sentenced to 210 months’ imprisonment; and Arcelia Hernandez-Velazquez, who pleaded guilty to a Mann Act violation, was sentenced to time served after approximately 60 months in U.S. custody.
NEW YORK — A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation resulted in the July 10 sentencing of Hugo Hernandez-Velazquez, the leader of a Mexican sex trafficking organization, to 188 months’ imprisonment for sex trafficking multiple victims by force, fraud and coercion. The defendant was extradited from Mexico to the United States in February 2021.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations New York Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel and Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence.
Hernandez-Velazquez, 48 of Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking in April 2023. He will be deported after completing his sentence.
“For nearly a decade, the defendant and his family oversaw a vicious sex trafficking campaign wrought with violence, manipulation, coercion, and outright force against women whom they lured into romantic relationships through false promises of love and support,” stated Patel. “Every day, victims are targeted for human trafficking and other vile forms of exploitation and abuse, often at the hands of their own spouses or purported caretakers. Today’s sentencing is no doubt a direct result of the bravery of each survivor who courageously spoke up. Together with our partners, HSI is unflinchingly committed to investigating and vigorously pursuing anyone, anywhere, who sexually exploits the very individuals they claim to care for.”
Patel credited HSI New York’s Human Trafficking Task Force for leading the investigation of the Hernandez-Velazquez sex trafficking organization. Additionally, he thanked the HSI Mexico City attaché office, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Department of State, Interpol, International Affairs Department of the Attorney General’s Office in Mexico, the Law Enforcement Unit of the State of Tlaxcala Attorney General’s Office, Interpol Mexico, and the New York City Police Department for their assistance; and praised the government of Mexico for its role in advancing bilateral anti-trafficking enforcement efforts. Patel also acknowledged the non-governmental victim service providers and advocates for their dedicated efforts to restore and improve the lives of survivors of trafficking and their families.
“For years, the defendant and his siblings operated an illegal, abusive, and exploitative sex trafficking operation that stripped victims of their dignity and subjected them to inhumane violence,” stated Nocella. “It is my hope that the prosecution of their tormentors and the punishment meted out will provide a measure of closure for the brave survivors who assisted the investigation and will help them on their path to healing.”
Between approximately 2001 and 2009, the defendant and his siblings, Ernesto, Giovanni and Arcelia Hernandez-Velazquez, ran the Hernandez-Velazquez sex trafficking organization based in Mexico. The family organization used force, fraud and coercion to cause young women in Mexico to engage in prostitution in the United States. Members of the family organization lured victims into romantic relationships through false promises of love and support. The victims were pressured to travel to the United States with promises of a better life with their trafficker. Once smuggled into the United States, the victims were forced to engage in prostitution. The family organization maintained a base in Queens, New York, where victims would reside while they were forced to work in New York and other states, including Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The defendant subjected his victims to physical beatings, forced abortions, and threats. The defendant also threatened violence to the victims’ families to force the victims to continue prostituting on his behalf.
A U.S. District Court judge previously sentenced Hernandez-Velazquez’s siblings, who also pleaded guilty to sex trafficking: Ernesto Hernandez-Velazquez and Giovanni Hernandez-Velazquez were each sentenced to 210 months’ imprisonment; and Arcelia Hernandez-Velazquez, who pleaded guilty to a Mann Act violation, was sentenced to time served after approximately 60 months in U.S. custody.
NEW YORK — A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation resulted in the July 10 sentencing of Hugo Hernandez-Velazquez, the leader of a Mexican sex trafficking organization, to 188 months’ imprisonment for sex trafficking multiple victims by force, fraud and coercion. The defendant was extradited from Mexico to the United States in February 2021.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations New York Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel and Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence.
Hernandez-Velazquez, 48 of Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking in April 2023. He will be deported after completing his sentence.
“For nearly a decade, the defendant and his family oversaw a vicious sex trafficking campaign wrought with violence, manipulation, coercion, and outright force against women whom they lured into romantic relationships through false promises of love and support,” stated Patel. “Every day, victims are targeted for human trafficking and other vile forms of exploitation and abuse, often at the hands of their own spouses or purported caretakers. Today’s sentencing is no doubt a direct result of the bravery of each survivor who courageously spoke up. Together with our partners, HSI is unflinchingly committed to investigating and vigorously pursuing anyone, anywhere, who sexually exploits the very individuals they claim to care for.”
Patel credited HSI New York’s Human Trafficking Task Force for leading the investigation of the Hernandez-Velazquez sex trafficking organization. Additionally, he thanked the HSI Mexico City attaché office, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Department of State, Interpol, International Affairs Department of the Attorney General’s Office in Mexico, the Law Enforcement Unit of the State of Tlaxcala Attorney General’s Office, Interpol Mexico, and the New York City Police Department for their assistance; and praised the government of Mexico for its role in advancing bilateral anti-trafficking enforcement efforts. Patel also acknowledged the non-governmental victim service providers and advocates for their dedicated efforts to restore and improve the lives of survivors of trafficking and their families.
“For years, the defendant and his siblings operated an illegal, abusive, and exploitative sex trafficking operation that stripped victims of their dignity and subjected them to inhumane violence,” stated Nocella. “It is my hope that the prosecution of their tormentors and the punishment meted out will provide a measure of closure for the brave survivors who assisted the investigation and will help them on their path to healing.”
Between approximately 2001 and 2009, the defendant and his siblings, Ernesto, Giovanni and Arcelia Hernandez-Velazquez, ran the Hernandez-Velazquez sex trafficking organization based in Mexico. The family organization used force, fraud and coercion to cause young women in Mexico to engage in prostitution in the United States. Members of the family organization lured victims into romantic relationships through false promises of love and support. The victims were pressured to travel to the United States with promises of a better life with their trafficker. Once smuggled into the United States, the victims were forced to engage in prostitution. The family organization maintained a base in Queens, New York, where victims would reside while they were forced to work in New York and other states, including Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The defendant subjected his victims to physical beatings, forced abortions, and threats. The defendant also threatened violence to the victims’ families to force the victims to continue prostituting on his behalf.
A U.S. District Court judge previously sentenced Hernandez-Velazquez’s siblings, who also pleaded guilty to sex trafficking: Ernesto Hernandez-Velazquez and Giovanni Hernandez-Velazquez were each sentenced to 210 months’ imprisonment; and Arcelia Hernandez-Velazquez, who pleaded guilty to a Mann Act violation, was sentenced to time served after approximately 60 months in U.S. custody.
ATLANTA – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that Georgia has again had the highest ratings of AAA reaffirmed with a stable outlook by each of the three main credit rating agencies: FitchRatings, Moody’s Investors Service, and S&P Global Ratings. This follows last week’s release of Moody’s reaffirmation of this coveted level of financial trustworthiness.
“I am proud to report that thanks to our state’s resilient economy and commitment to conservative budgeting, Georgia has once again secured the highest bond rating possible from all three main credit rating agencies,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “Georgia continues to be a safe and stable bet for job creators. That’s why we continue to see record investment and economic development, and it’s one of the many reasons we are well-positioned to save Georgia taxpayers tens of millions of dollars with low interest borrowing rates in the years to come.”
For the second year in a row, Georgia has not issued general obligation bonds and has instead funded capital projects with cash, generating a net estimated savings of about $2.81 billion over a 20-year period.
Bond Rating Agency Report Excerpts
Fitch Ratings:“Georgia’s affirmed ‘AAA’ IDR, GO and guaranteed revenue bond ratings reflect the state’s proven willingness and ability to maintain fiscal balance and a broad-based, growth-oriented economy that supports solid revenue gains over time.”
Moody’s Investors Service:“Georgia’s Aaa issuer rating reflects the state’s large and diverse economy, strong population and employment growth, robust reserves and liquidity, strong fiscal governance and flexibility and low direct leverage from debt, pension and OPEB liabilities.”
S&P Global Ratings:“The ‘AAA’ long-term rating reflects our view of Georgia’s demonstrated resilient budgetary performance across credit cycles, coupled with responsive financial management that has enabled the state to make timely adjustments to general fund expenditures.
The rating also incorporates our view of the state’s favorable population growth trends, and ability to attract diversified business developments and expansion within Georgia’s already large and diverse economic base, and our expectation that the state’s annual growth rates will match or be slightly above that of the nation.”
One hundred years after a Tennessee teacher named John Scopes started a legal battle over what the state’s schools can teach children, Americans are still divided over evolution.
Scopes was charged with violating Tennessee law by teaching evolution, in a highly publicised July 1925 trial that led to national debate over evolution and education. The trial tested whether a law introduced that year really could punish teachers over evolution lessons. It could and did: Scopes was fined US$100 (£74).
But here’s the weird part: while Americans remain deeply divided about whether humans evolved from earlier species, our British predecessors largely settled this question decades before the Scopes trial.
According to thinktank Pew Research Center data from 2020, only 64% of Americans accept that “humans and other living things have evolved over time”. Meanwhile, 73% of Brits are fine with the idea that they share a common ancestor with chimpanzees. That nine-percentage-point gap might not sound like much, but it represents millions of people who think Darwin was peddling fake news.
From 1985 to 2010, Americans were in what researchers call a statistical dead heat between acceptance and rejection of evolution — which is academic speak for people couldn’t decide if we were descended from apes or Adam and Eve.
Here’s where things get psychologically fascinating. Research into misinformation and cognitive biases suggests that fundamentalism operates on a principle known as motivated reasoning. This means selectively interpreting evidence to reach predetermined conclusions. And a 2018 review of social and computer science research also found that fake news seems to spread because it confirms what people already want to believe.
Evolution denial may work the same way. Religious fundamentalism is what researchers call “the strongest predictor” for rejection of evolution. A 2019 study of 900 participants found that belief in fake news headlines was associated with delusionality, dogmatism, religious fundamentalism and reduced analytic thinking.
Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox.Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.
High personal religiosity, as seen in the US, reinforced by communities of like-minded believers, can create resistance to evolutionary science. This pattern is pronounced among Southern Baptists — the largest Protestant denomination in the US — where 61% believe the Bible is the literal word of God, compared to 31% of Americans overall. The persistence of this conflict is fuelled by organised creationist movements that reinforce religious scepticism.
Brain imaging studies
show that people with fundamentalist beliefs seem to have reduced activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex — the brain region responsible for cognitive flexibility and analytical thinking. When this area is damaged or less active, people become more prone to accepting claims without sufficient evidence and show increased resistance to changing their beliefs when presented with contradictory information. Studies of brain-injured patients show damage to prefrontal networks that normally help us question information may lead to increased fundamentalist beliefs and reduced scepticism.
Fundamentalist psychology helps explain the US position in international evolution acceptance surveys. In a 2006 study, of over 33,00 people from 34 countries from 34 countries, only Turkey ranked lower than the US, with about 27% accepting evolution compared to America’s 40% at the time. Among the developed nations surveyed, the US consistently ranks near the bottom — a pattern that persists in more recent international comparisons.
Where did humans come from? Teaching children about evolution can be controversial, depending on where they live. vovan/Shutterstuck
Research shows that political polarisation on evolution has historically been much stronger in the US than in Europe or Japan, where the issue rarely becomes a campaign talking point. In the US, anti-evolution bills are still being introduced in state legislatures.
In the UK, belief in evolution became accepted among respectable clergymen around 1896, according to church historian Owen Chadwick’s analysis of Victorian christianity. But why did British religious institutions embrace science while American ones declared war?
The answer lies in different approaches to intellectual challenges. British Anglicanism has a centuries-old tradition of seeking a “via media” — a middle way between extremes — that allowed church leaders to accommodate new ideas without abandoning core beliefs. Historian Peter documented how British religious leaders actively worked to reconcile science and religion, developing theological frameworks that embraced scientific discoveries as revealing God’s methods rather than contradicting divine authority.
Anglican bishops and scholars tended to treat evolution as God’s method of creation rather than a threat to faith itself. The Church of England’s hierarchical structure meant that when educated clergy accepted evolution, the institutional framework often followed suit. A 2024 paper argued that many UK church leaders still view science and religion as complementary rather than conflicting.
A different approach
The British experience proves it’s possible to reconcile science and faith. But changing American minds requires understanding that evolution acceptance isn’t really about biology — it’s about identity, belonging, and the fundamental question of who gets to define truth. People don’t reject evolution because they’ve carefully studied the evidence. They reject it because it threatens their identity. This creates a context where education alone can’t overcome deeply held convictions.
Misinformation intervention research suggests that inoculation strategies, such as highlighting the scientific consensus on climate change, work better than debunking individual articles. But evolution education needs to be sensitive. Consensus messaging helps, but only when it doesn’t threaten people’s core identities. For example, framing evolution as a function of “how” life develops, rather than “why it exists, allows for people to maintain religious belief while accepting the scientific evidence for natural selection.
People’s views can change. A review published in 2024, analysed data which followed the same Gen X people in the US over 33 years. It found that, as they grew up, people developed more acceptance of evolution, though typically because of factors such as education and obtaining university degrees. But people who were taught at a private school seem less likely to become more accepting of evolution as they aged.
As we face new waves of scientific misinformation, the century since the Scopes trial teaches us that evidence alone won’t necessarily change people’s minds. Understanding the psychology of belief might be our best hope for evolving past our own cognitive limitations.
Edward White is affiliated with Kingston University.
One hundred years after a Tennessee teacher named John Scopes started a legal battle over what the state’s schools can teach children, Americans are still divided over evolution.
Scopes was charged with violating Tennessee law by teaching evolution, in a highly publicised July 1925 trial that led to national debate over evolution and education. The trial tested whether a law introduced that year really could punish teachers over evolution lessons. It could and did: Scopes was fined US$100 (£74).
But here’s the weird part: while Americans remain deeply divided about whether humans evolved from earlier species, our British predecessors largely settled this question decades before the Scopes trial.
According to thinktank Pew Research Center data from 2020, only 64% of Americans accept that “humans and other living things have evolved over time”. Meanwhile, 73% of Brits are fine with the idea that they share a common ancestor with chimpanzees. That nine-percentage-point gap might not sound like much, but it represents millions of people who think Darwin was peddling fake news.
From 1985 to 2010, Americans were in what researchers call a statistical dead heat between acceptance and rejection of evolution — which is academic speak for people couldn’t decide if we were descended from apes or Adam and Eve.
Here’s where things get psychologically fascinating. Research into misinformation and cognitive biases suggests that fundamentalism operates on a principle known as motivated reasoning. This means selectively interpreting evidence to reach predetermined conclusions. And a 2018 review of social and computer science research also found that fake news seems to spread because it confirms what people already want to believe.
Evolution denial may work the same way. Religious fundamentalism is what researchers call “the strongest predictor” for rejection of evolution. A 2019 study of 900 participants found that belief in fake news headlines was associated with delusionality, dogmatism, religious fundamentalism and reduced analytic thinking.
Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox.Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.
High personal religiosity, as seen in the US, reinforced by communities of like-minded believers, can create resistance to evolutionary science. This pattern is pronounced among Southern Baptists — the largest Protestant denomination in the US — where 61% believe the Bible is the literal word of God, compared to 31% of Americans overall. The persistence of this conflict is fuelled by organised creationist movements that reinforce religious scepticism.
Brain imaging studies
show that people with fundamentalist beliefs seem to have reduced activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex — the brain region responsible for cognitive flexibility and analytical thinking. When this area is damaged or less active, people become more prone to accepting claims without sufficient evidence and show increased resistance to changing their beliefs when presented with contradictory information. Studies of brain-injured patients show damage to prefrontal networks that normally help us question information may lead to increased fundamentalist beliefs and reduced scepticism.
Fundamentalist psychology helps explain the US position in international evolution acceptance surveys. In a 2006 study, of over 33,00 people from 34 countries from 34 countries, only Turkey ranked lower than the US, with about 27% accepting evolution compared to America’s 40% at the time. Among the developed nations surveyed, the US consistently ranks near the bottom — a pattern that persists in more recent international comparisons.
Where did humans come from? Teaching children about evolution can be controversial, depending on where they live. vovan/Shutterstuck
Research shows that political polarisation on evolution has historically been much stronger in the US than in Europe or Japan, where the issue rarely becomes a campaign talking point. In the US, anti-evolution bills are still being introduced in state legislatures.
In the UK, belief in evolution became accepted among respectable clergymen around 1896, according to church historian Owen Chadwick’s analysis of Victorian christianity. But why did British religious institutions embrace science while American ones declared war?
The answer lies in different approaches to intellectual challenges. British Anglicanism has a centuries-old tradition of seeking a “via media” — a middle way between extremes — that allowed church leaders to accommodate new ideas without abandoning core beliefs. Historian Peter documented how British religious leaders actively worked to reconcile science and religion, developing theological frameworks that embraced scientific discoveries as revealing God’s methods rather than contradicting divine authority.
Anglican bishops and scholars tended to treat evolution as God’s method of creation rather than a threat to faith itself. The Church of England’s hierarchical structure meant that when educated clergy accepted evolution, the institutional framework often followed suit. A 2024 paper argued that many UK church leaders still view science and religion as complementary rather than conflicting.
A different approach
The British experience proves it’s possible to reconcile science and faith. But changing American minds requires understanding that evolution acceptance isn’t really about biology — it’s about identity, belonging, and the fundamental question of who gets to define truth. People don’t reject evolution because they’ve carefully studied the evidence. They reject it because it threatens their identity. This creates a context where education alone can’t overcome deeply held convictions.
Misinformation intervention research suggests that inoculation strategies, such as highlighting the scientific consensus on climate change, work better than debunking individual articles. But evolution education needs to be sensitive. Consensus messaging helps, but only when it doesn’t threaten people’s core identities. For example, framing evolution as a function of “how” life develops, rather than “why it exists, allows for people to maintain religious belief while accepting the scientific evidence for natural selection.
People’s views can change. A review published in 2024, analysed data which followed the same Gen X people in the US over 33 years. It found that, as they grew up, people developed more acceptance of evolution, though typically because of factors such as education and obtaining university degrees. But people who were taught at a private school seem less likely to become more accepting of evolution as they aged.
As we face new waves of scientific misinformation, the century since the Scopes trial teaches us that evidence alone won’t necessarily change people’s minds. Understanding the psychology of belief might be our best hope for evolving past our own cognitive limitations.
Edward White is affiliated with Kingston University.
Flags will once again proudly fly over many of Lancaster City Council’s parks and public spaces after they retained coveted national recognition for their outstanding standards.
Happy Mount Park, Regent Park, and Torrisholme Cemetery in Morecambe, along with Williamson Park and Ryelands Park in Lancaster, have all once again received the prestigious Green Flag Award status for 2025.
The Green Flag, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, is a mark of excellence, awarded to parks and green spaces that are well-managed, beautifully maintained, and provide top-quality facilities for visitors.
Williamson Park also once again picked up the Green Heritage Site Accreditation, a special accolade which acknowledges the park’s historical and cultural significance, as well as its exceptional upkeep.
Councillor Paul Hart, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said: “Parks and open spaces are vital to the health and wellbeing of our communities, and we’re absolutely thrilled to see these beloved places recognised once again.
“This continual achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our council staff, friends’ groups, and volunteers who help maintain these spaces to such a high standard. Our combined efforts ensure that both residents and visitors can continue to enjoy our green spaces at their very best.”
We work closely with friends’ groups, who help us to make our parks and open spaces great places to enjoy. To find out more about the work of Friends of Parks across the district visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/friends-of-parks
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee Chairwoman Young Kim delivered opening remarks at a hearing titled, “Breaking China’s Chokehold on Critical Mineral Supply Chains.”
Watch Here
-Remarks-
Good morning and welcome to East Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee hearing titled Breaking China’s Chokehold on Critical Mineral Supply Chains. I want to thank our witnesses for joining us this morning. Critical minerals — lithium, cobalt, real earth elements, and others — are the building blocks of modern technology, powering electric vehicles, microchips, and advanced defense systems. Global demand for these minerals is surging. With lithium demand alone, growing nearly 30% annually from 2021 to 2024, driven by rising electric vehicle battery production. Yet, the People’s Republic of China, or PRC, controls 92% of global rare earth element processing and dominates the manufacturing of battery and magnet components. This chokehold reinforced by China’s tens of billions in global mining investments and tactics like price manipulation and export restrictions poses a direct threat to the United States and our allies. While the U.S. possesses significant mineral resources, domestic production alone cannot meet the speed or scale of this demand. The U.S. manufacturing, they operate their operation costs, increased significantly in the region, increasing the regional bureau. It will take decades to permit natural mining in America. Moreover, the federal government lacks the financial capacity to fully subsidize the level of investment needed to drive large scale private sector investment expansion of domestic production, relying solely on domestic solutions is insufficient. Therefore, we need a bold global strategy to secure resilient, diversified supply chains free from Chinese control. The current geopolitical landscape offers an opportune window to act. The recent developments such as President Trump’s critical minerals agreement with Ukraine and the U.S. facilitated peace deal in the Democratic Republic of Congo, open new opportunities to access vital resources. We’ve also seen coordination like the recently announced quad critical minerals initiative underscore the importance of critical minerals to broader regional engagement. As the administration renegotiates trade relationships, we can strengthen partnerships with our allies to build non-Chinese supply chains, enhancing both economic and national security. So in today’s hearing, we will explore these challenges and opportunities. We will examine how to build a proactive global strategy to establish supply chains free from Chinese dominance. So our goal today is very clear: to ensure the United States and its allies have secure, reliable access to the critical minerals that will define the future of technology and security. I look forward to a productive discussion.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Kyiv, July 15 (Xinhua) — Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on Telegram on Tuesday that he has resigned.
D. Shmyhal did not explain the reason for his decision. However, a day earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed that the first vice-premier, the country’s Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko head the Ukrainian government.
D. Shmyhal has been the Prime Minister of Ukraine since March 4, 2020. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
ALMATY, July 15 (Xinhua) — Kazakhstan produced 49.9 million tons of oil and exported 39.6 million tons in the first half of 2025, the Kazinform news agency reported on Tuesday, citing Kazakh Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov.
“The volume of oil production for the reporting period amounted to 49.9 million tons, which is 111.6 percent compared to the same period last year. By the end of the year, production of 96.2 million tons of oil is expected,” noted E. Akkenzhenov.
According to him, in the first six months Kazakhstan exported 39.6 million tons of oil, which is 11.9 percent more year-on-year.
By the end of the year, Kazakhstan plans to export 70.5 million tons of oil. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By David Hastings Dunn, Professor of International Politics in the Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham
At face value, Donald Trump’s announcement about his plans on Russia and Ukraine look like a major policy change. Speaking from the Oval Office on July 14, where he had been meeting with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte, the US president said he would send “top-of-the-line-weapons” to help Kyiv and – unless a ceasefire deal is agreed inside a 50-day time limit – the US would impose secondary sanctions on any countries dealing with Russia.
But while this represents a significant departure from Trump’s previous approach, it’s more of a step back towards the policy approach of his predecessor Joe Biden than the U-turn that some commentators are claiming.
For months Russia has stepped up its bombardment of Ukraine, buoyed by the fact that neither the US Congress nor the White House has authorised any new military aid to Kyiv. Moscow would have been aware of this lack of US action and its missile and drone attacks against Ukraine have aimed to run down the stocks of air defence missiles supplied by Biden while paying lip service to the idea of peace negotiations.
For Trump the penny appears finally to have dropped as to what was happening. His frustration and disappointment in Putin is what has finally led to him calling this out. According to Trump, Putin “fooled a lot of people – Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden – he didn’t fool me. At a certain point talk doesn’t talk, it’s got to be action”.
The decision to send new supplies of defensive – and potentially even longer-range offensive missiles – to Ukraine (even if the Europeans pay for them) is an important signal to Russia. But so too is the threat of tariffs of 100% on countries, such as India and China, that sustain the Russian economy by buying its oil and gas at knockdown prices.
The US senate, led by Lindsay Graham, the influential Republican senator for South Carolina, has been itching to pass these secondary sanctions for months. Now that the Trump administration appears to have adopted this plan it is a significant policy instrument to pile the pressure on Russia.
The change in Trump’s approach may also mean that the $US8 billion (£6 billion) of frozen Russian assets in the US (and US$223 billion in Europe) could be released to aid Ukraine, which would provide a ready means to pay for the US arms transfers.
Limits to US support
What has not changed, however, is the goal of Trump’s policy towards the war in Ukraine. While the Biden administration called out the illegality of Putin’s unprovoked aggression and called for the restoration of Ukrainian sovereignty, Trump is merely calling for a ceasefire.
Trump may say he is “disappointed” with Putin, but he has not labelled him as the aggressor. In fact at one point he was blaming Ukraine for the invasion. And, significantly, he has not demanded that Russia give up the 20% of Ukraine that it currently illegally occupies.
As at July 14, Russian troops occupy about 20% of Ukraine’s sovereign territory. Institute for the Study of War
The US president is also silent on what the US would commit to in terms of security and stability for Ukraine after the fighting stops. This is a much bigger question than Ukraine’s Nato membership. America’s European allies in Nato regard some sort of stability force on Ukrainian territory as necessary to deter any future Russian aggression.
Whether or not US troops would be involved (and all the signs are that they would not), some sort of US security “back-stop” or guarantee is still seen in Europe as key to its success – as would be US logistical and intelligence support for its operation.
But why the 50-day delay?
Another aspect of the change in Trump’s policy is the long lead time that Russia has been given to come to the table. A lot of Ukrainian civilians are likely to die during this period if the intense bombardment continues. On the battlefield, 50 days would give the Russians an extended window during a renewed summer offensive to make further territorial gains inside the occupied provinces.
So Trump’s proposals have to be viewed through the prism of his propensity to set deadlines that are then pushed back multiple times – as with the on-again, off-again tariffs, which have given Trump the nickname Taco (“Trump always chickens out”) on Wall Street.
Russian senator, Konstantin Kosachev, was certainly taking this view when he told the BBC after Trump’s announcement that, “if this is all Trump had to say about Ukraine today, then so far it’s been much ado about nothing”.
This sentiment was shared by the Russian stock market which rose 2.7% in the aftermath of Trump’s announcement. Analysts had expected much worse, so the long delay in the prospect of anything actually happening was clearly seen as a long way off and potentially subject to change or cancellation. Trump is seen by many as both inconsistent in his threats and unpredictable as to where policy will eventually settle.
The fact that Trump told BBC Washington correspondent Gary O’Donoghue that while he was “disappointed” with Putin, he was “not done with him” – and his clear reluctance to act quickly and decisively in sanctioning Russia – should be seen as an important counterpart to the apparent policy shift.
Like so many things with the 47th US president, it’s important not to react to the media appearances or the headlines they provoke, without also paying attention to the policy actions of his administration.
David Hastings Dunn has previously received funding from the ESRC, the Gerda Henkel Foundation, the Open Democracy Foundation and has previously been both a NATO and a Fulbright Fellow.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Tashkent, July 15 (Xinhua) — As of April 1, 2025, more than 4.5 million cars owned by individuals were registered in Uzbekistan, local media reported on Tuesday, citing the National Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
According to the agency, as of April 1, 2025, 4.5221 million cars owned by individuals were registered in Uzbekistan.
According to statistics, the largest share of registered vehicles were passenger cars – approximately 4.2 million units.
In November 2024, the permanent population of Uzbekistan reached 37.5 million people. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By David Hastings Dunn, Professor of International Politics in the Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham
At face value, Donald Trump’s announcement about his plans on Russia and Ukraine look like a major policy change. Speaking from the Oval Office on July 14, where he had been meeting with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte, the US president said he would send “top-of-the-line-weapons” to help Kyiv and – unless a ceasefire deal is agreed inside a 50-day time limit – the US would impose secondary sanctions on any countries dealing with Russia.
But while this represents a significant departure from Trump’s previous approach, it’s more of a step back towards the policy approach of his predecessor Joe Biden than the U-turn that some commentators are claiming.
For months Russia has stepped up its bombardment of Ukraine, buoyed by the fact that neither the US Congress nor the White House has authorised any new military aid to Kyiv. Moscow would have been aware of this lack of US action and its missile and drone attacks against Ukraine have aimed to run down the stocks of air defence missiles supplied by Biden while paying lip service to the idea of peace negotiations.
For Trump the penny appears finally to have dropped as to what was happening. His frustration and disappointment in Putin is what has finally led to him calling this out. According to Trump, Putin “fooled a lot of people – Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden – he didn’t fool me. At a certain point talk doesn’t talk, it’s got to be action”.
The decision to send new supplies of defensive – and potentially even longer-range offensive missiles – to Ukraine (even if the Europeans pay for them) is an important signal to Russia. But so too is the threat of tariffs of 100% on countries, such as India and China, that sustain the Russian economy by buying its oil and gas at knockdown prices.
The US senate, led by Lindsay Graham, the influential Republican senator for South Carolina, has been itching to pass these secondary sanctions for months. Now that the Trump administration appears to have adopted this plan it is a significant policy instrument to pile the pressure on Russia.
The change in Trump’s approach may also mean that the $US8 billion (£6 billion) of frozen Russian assets in the US (and US$223 billion in Europe) could be released to aid Ukraine, which would provide a ready means to pay for the US arms transfers.
Limits to US support
What has not changed, however, is the goal of Trump’s policy towards the war in Ukraine. While the Biden administration called out the illegality of Putin’s unprovoked aggression and called for the restoration of Ukrainian sovereignty, Trump is merely calling for a ceasefire.
Trump may say he is “disappointed” with Putin, but he has not labelled him as the aggressor. In fact at one point he was blaming Ukraine for the invasion. And, significantly, he has not demanded that Russia give up the 20% of Ukraine that it currently illegally occupies.
As at July 14, Russian troops occupy about 20% of Ukraine’s sovereign territory. Institute for the Study of War
The US president is also silent on what the US would commit to in terms of security and stability for Ukraine after the fighting stops. This is a much bigger question than Ukraine’s Nato membership. America’s European allies in Nato regard some sort of stability force on Ukrainian territory as necessary to deter any future Russian aggression.
Whether or not US troops would be involved (and all the signs are that they would not), some sort of US security “back-stop” or guarantee is still seen in Europe as key to its success – as would be US logistical and intelligence support for its operation.
But why the 50-day delay?
Another aspect of the change in Trump’s policy is the long lead time that Russia has been given to come to the table. A lot of Ukrainian civilians are likely to die during this period if the intense bombardment continues. On the battlefield, 50 days would give the Russians an extended window during a renewed summer offensive to make further territorial gains inside the occupied provinces.
So Trump’s proposals have to be viewed through the prism of his propensity to set deadlines that are then pushed back multiple times – as with the on-again, off-again tariffs, which have given Trump the nickname Taco (“Trump always chickens out”) on Wall Street.
Russian senator, Konstantin Kosachev, was certainly taking this view when he told the BBC after Trump’s announcement that, “if this is all Trump had to say about Ukraine today, then so far it’s been much ado about nothing”.
This sentiment was shared by the Russian stock market which rose 2.7% in the aftermath of Trump’s announcement. Analysts had expected much worse, so the long delay in the prospect of anything actually happening was clearly seen as a long way off and potentially subject to change or cancellation. Trump is seen by many as both inconsistent in his threats and unpredictable as to where policy will eventually settle.
The fact that Trump told BBC Washington correspondent Gary O’Donoghue that while he was “disappointed” with Putin, he was “not done with him” – and his clear reluctance to act quickly and decisively in sanctioning Russia – should be seen as an important counterpart to the apparent policy shift.
Like so many things with the 47th US president, it’s important not to react to the media appearances or the headlines they provoke, without also paying attention to the policy actions of his administration.
David Hastings Dunn has previously received funding from the ESRC, the Gerda Henkel Foundation, the Open Democracy Foundation and has previously been both a NATO and a Fulbright Fellow.
The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), the National Basketball Association (NBA) (www.NBA.com) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) today announced the 40 top high-school-age female prospects from outside the U.S. who will travel to Indianapolis, Ind., for the third Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Global women’s camp, which will be held Thursday, July 17 – Saturday, July 19 at Nicoson Hall on the University of Indianapolis campus as part of AT&T WNBA All-Star 2025.
The campers will be coached by several current and former WNBA and FIBA players and coaches, including 2025 No. 6 overall pick Georgia Amoore (Washington Mystics; Australia), 1999 WNBA All-Star and two-time NCAA champion Tonya Edwards (U.S.), two-time NCAA champion Kelly Faris (U.S.) and two-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Year Andrea Gardner-Williams. 2004 WNBA All-Star and current Vice President of Team Operations & Organizational Growth for the Boston Celtics Allison Feaster will serve as the camp director.
The players and coaches will lead the campers through a variety of activities, including movement efficiency drills, offensive and defensive skill stations, three-point contests, 5-on-5 games, and life-skills and leadership development sessions. The camp will once again be open to WNBA scouts and NCAA coaches following last year’s event where 34 of the campers received NCAA Division I scholarship offers. The campers will also attend the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19.
The event will be supported by Nike, a global partner of BWB since 2002, which will outfit participants with Nike apparel and footwear.
BWB, the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program, has reached more than 4,600 participants from 144 countries and territories since 2001, with 142 former campers drafted into the NBA and WNBA or signed as free agents. Fifteen former BWB campers have advanced to the WNBA, including Ezi Magbegor (Seattle Storm; Australia; BWB Asia 2016), Jade Melbourne (Mystics; Australia; BWB Global 2020), Aaliyah Edwards (Mystics; Canada; BWB Global 2019), Domonique Malonga (Storm; BWB Europe 2022), Nika Muhl (Storm; Croatia; BWB Europe 2018; BWB Global 2019) and Kamilla Cardoso (Chicago Sky; Brazil; BWB Global 2019). The NBA and FIBA have held 80 BWB camps in 53 cities across 33 countries on six continents.
Follow the camp using the hashtag #BWBGlobal on Facebook, Instagram and X. Find out more about BWB at BasketballWithoutBorders.com (https://BWB.NBA.com/), on YouTube (Basketball Without Borders: https://apo-opa.co/46csTll) and on Instagram (@ basketballwithoutborders: https://apo-opa.co/44O1jZs).
The following is a complete list of players participating in the third BWB Global women’s camp at WNBA All-Star (roster subject to change):
Name
Sanja Aksam
Maria Madalena Martinho Amaro
Karina Capellán
Emma D’este
Fatou Kine Diop
Misheel Elbegbayar
Haya El-Halawany
Rica Enriquez-Paea
Melissa Guillet
Amanda Guineo
Janelle Gyampo
Ayla Habbal
Wiktoria Haegenbarth
Keriana Hippolite
Hyeonjeong Hwang
Serena Ishiwatari
Ya Ida Juwara Skold
Anna Liepina
Yu Han Lin
Eiza Louveton
Erika Mace
Kartika Mahanani
Sarah Aaliyah Mellouk
Valeria Montero Piña
Lucy Nchamba
Nicole Ogun
Chen Chia Shan Pan
Maria Perez
Jasmine Perry
Maewenn Poilve
Mika Sakaguchi
Sena Sert
Binta Seye
Manon Simplot
Maxine Maria Sutisna
Tiia Talonen
Nicole Torresani
Tjasa Turnsek
Maja Uranker
Lea Vukic
– on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).
Contact: Kevin Alonzo NBA kalonzo@NBA.com (212) 407-8158
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