Source: Government of Sweden
The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration has entered into two agreements with ammunition manufacturers Nammo and Rheinmetall Denel Munition. The orders include a substantial amount of artillery shells and represent the largest investment in artillery ammunition in Sweden since the 1980s.
Source: Government of Sweden
Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard travelled to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 10–11 July to attend a memorial ceremony marking the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica. Thirty years have passed since the genocide and the subsequent conclusion of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which brought the war to an end.
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
Taipower held its 2025 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting today (June 27), briefing shareholders on its mission to ensure stable power supply for Taiwan while helping the government mitigate the impact of global developments on households and industries in recent years. Taipower noted that despite financial challenges, it sought a total of NT$300 billion in government budget subsidies over the past year, but none were approved by the legislature. To maintain the sustainable operation of Taiwan’s electricity supply, secure the nation’s power needs, and support economic development, Taipower will continue to seek government funding while doing its utmost to improve its own financial operations. Compared with the same period last year, losses from January to May this year have already narrowed by nearly NT$32 billion, a decline of over 50%.
The 2025 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting was chaired by Taipower Chairman Wen-Sheng Tseng, with President Yao-Ting Wang delivering the 2024 Business Report. During the meeting, shareholders were also briefed on last year’s corporate bond issuance, financial statements, and the approval of its deficit compensation proposal. Additionally, the biennial board member election was conducted during the meeting.
Taipower explained that the Russia-Ukraine war led to surging fuel prices globally. While other countries substantially raised electricity rates, further fueling inflation, Taipower instead chose to absorb nearly NT$600 billion in electricity costs for households and industries over the past three years to protect livelihoods and cushion inflationary pressures, resulting in significant financial losses. In 2023, Taipower recorded total revenue of NT$871.4 billion and expenditures of NT$912.5 billion, with a pre-tax net loss of NT$41.1 billion. After factoring in tax credits, the net loss remained NT$41.1 billion. As of the end of last year, cumulative losses stood at NT$422.9 billion.
Taipower stressed that a stable financial footing is crucial to protecting the public’s right to reliable power and supporting social and industrial development. In April this year, the Electricity Price Review Committee decided, in light of global trade tariffs and political-economic conditions, to freeze electricity prices, meaning Taipower continues to bear external cost pressures on behalf of households and businesses. To maintain financial soundness, Taipower has, over the past year, repeatedly sought a total of NT$300 billion in government funding to cover the costs it has absorbed to stabilize power prices, essentially subsidizing electricity for the entire nation, but these proposals have not been approved by the legislature. Taipower hopes for greater understanding and support from all sectors of society.
In addition to pursuing government subsidies, Taipower is also working to improve its own finances. For electricity price subsidies for schools and social welfare organizations, Taipower has, in accordance with the Electricity Act and the March 2024 resolution of the Electricity Price Review Committee, maintained preferential electricity rates but will reduce its direct subsidies starting this year. Relevant funding will now revert to the respective competent authorities for budgeting, which is expected to increase Taipower’s annual revenue by nearly NT$4 billion. As for subsidized electricity for offshore islands, Taipower has absorbed losses exceeding NT$100 billion to date. Moving forward, Taipower will handle related matters through the national budgeting process under the Offshore Islands Development Act and will actively seek government budget allocations to cover them.
Furthermore, Taipower has adopted four key strategies to boost revenue and reduce expenses to strengthen its financial foundation: On the power generation and procurement side, it has refined its fuel procurement strategies. On the electricity retailing side, it has expanded green power resale and low-carbon power sales. In transmission and distribution, it has reduced expenditures by adjusting line installation fees and optimizing ancillary services. Furthermore, Taipower is investing in asset revitalization to expand revenue sources, making every effort to reduce losses. From January to May this year, Taipower recorded a loss of NT$28.5 billion, nearly NT$32 billion less than the same period last year, marking a reduction of more than 50%.
Spokesperson: Vice President Chih-Meng Tsai
Tel: (02 )2366-6271/0958-749-333
Email: u910707@taipower.com.tw
Contact Person: Chief Secretary of Board Secretariat Shou-Fu Cheng
Tel: (02 )2366-6210/0900-781-357
Email: u026726@taipower.com.tw
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia
Senator Reverend Warnock leads the Democratic caucus in demanding the Trump administration explain its rollback of the medical debt rule finalized in January 2025
In the final days of the Biden Administration, Senator Warnock successfully pressed the CFPB to ban credit lenders from including medical bills in credit reports and prohibit lenders from using medical information in lending decisions
In Georgia, 27% of rural citizens have medical collections on their credit report, ten percentage points higher than the national average due in part to the state’s refusal to expand Medicaid
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Banking Committee Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and 26 other senators pushed the Trump administration for answers regarding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) decision to vacate the medical debt rule finalized in January 2025. The letter demands CFPB share any data the agency relied on in deciding to petition a court to vacate the rule and any communications it had with entities during the process that would profit from its decision.
“On April 30, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) asked a court to vacate the agency’s recently released rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. We write to request the information you relied on in making that determination, including any communications with collection agencies that stand to profit from it,” the senators said.
“Medical debt collections information is often inaccurate, and studies show that it is not useful in determining a consumer’s ability to repay other debts…Almost half of all medical bills contain at least one error, and almost half of nonprofit hospitals have routinely and mistakenly billed patients who were eligible for free or discounted care,” they continued.
At the conclusion of the letter, the senators emphasize the need for transparency into the agency’s decision-making process.
“On April 30, the CFPB filed a joint motion with the industry groups that oppose the rule, petitioning the court to vacate it – lining the pockets of corporations off the backs of American consumers. Given the substantial evidence that the CFPB’s rule was well-considered and would help consumers without reducing the accuracy of their credit scores, we write to request that the CFPB make public all information relied on by the agency in its decision to drop the rule, including any communications with the debt collection industry,”the senators closed.
Senator Warnock continues to stand up in defense of Georgia consumers by holding the CFPB under President Trump accountable. In February, Senator Warnock questioned Trump administration CFPB nominees at a Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Hearing. During the hearing, Senator Warnock asked the nominees if they agreed with President Trump on the CFPB being, ‘A very important thing to get rid of’ and if the agency would address the 266,560 outstanding complaints from Georgians in a timely manner. In May, President Trump withdrew his nominee for the CFPB. OMB Director Russell Vought serves as acting director of the agency.
In Georgia, roughly 640,000 people don’t have access to affordable health care because state leaders have refused to expand Medicaid. 27% of rural citizens have medical collections on their credit report – ten percentage points higher than the national average. Senator Warnock has a long track record of working to address the harmful consequences of medical debt on working families including calling on the CFPB to establish an ombudsman position for consumer medical debt and urging the CFPB to protect Americans from predatory medical debt collection practices.
In addition to Senators Warnock, Warren, Schumer, and Merkley the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Adam Schiff (D-CA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jack Reed (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Angus King (I-ME), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).
Read the full letter HERE, and the text is below
Dear Acting Director Vought,
On April 30, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) asked a court to vacate the agency’s recently released rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. We write to request the information you relied on in making that determination, including any communications with debt collection agencies that stand to profit from it.
Medical debt collections information is often inaccurate, and studies show that it is not useful in determining a consumer’s ability to repay other debts. One major credit scoring company, VantageScore, has stopped using medical debt in its newer models entirely. Almost half of all medical bills contain at least one error, and almost half of nonprofit hospitals have routinely and mistakenly billed patients who were eligible for free or discounted care. People often receive collection notices for debts they did not owe, in the wrong amount, or that should have been covered by insurance—but still end up experiencing long-lasting damage to their credit scores.
Listing medical debt on a person’s credit report drives down their credit score, which hurts their ability to purchase a car, buy a home or rent an apartment, get utility service, start a business, or access other banking services. This has profound effects on families that can last generations. To make matters worse, medical debt is the most common reason debt collectors contact consumers; the debt collection industry makes one-fourth of its annual revenue from health care debt. Including medical debt on credit reports makes consumers more vulnerable to predatory debt collection practices.
Medical debt on credit reports also blocks working families from access to credit that they would be able to repay.The CFPB found that people who had all their medical debts completely removed from their credit reports experienced an average credit score increase of 20 points, in some cases elevating families into a higher credit score tier.
In response to growing data that medical debt is not a good indicator of creditworthiness, states across the country have acted to ban the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports. And on January 7, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a final rule to remove medical debt from consumer credit reports. The rule would remove an estimated $49 billion in medical bills from the credit reports of 15 million Americans, prohibit credit reporting companies from sharing medical debt information with lenders, and bar lenders from considering medical debt in underwriting decisions. It was designed to help the millions of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet, by lowering costs and increasing access to affordable credit for working families without affecting the predictive value of their credit reports. The rule would also help reduce the effects of structural racism and other prejudices. People of color are disproportionately harmed by the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports. Meanwhile, adults with a disability and new moms are more than twice as likely to carry medical debt.
Despite the critical importance of the medical debt rule, on April 30, the CFPB filed a joint motion with the industry groups that oppose the rule, petitioning the court to vacate it—lining the pockets of corporations off the backs of American consumers. Given the substantial evidence that the CFPB’s rule was well-considered and would help consumers without reducing the accuracy of their credit scores, we write to request that the CFPB make public all information relied on by the agency in its decision to drop the rule, including any communications with the debt collection industry, by July 28, 2025. We specifically request that CFPB publicly publish all data about how medical debt relates to key economic indicators, including:
We are particularly concerned about the outsize impact that medical debt has on the credit scores of seniors, veterans, new parents, people with disabilities, cancer patients and survivors, and small business owners.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic attends a joint press conference in Brussels, Belgium, July 14, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen condemned the Trump administration’s threat to impose 30 percent tariffs on European Union (EU) exports as “absolutely unacceptable” during a joint press conference with EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic on Monday.
Rasmussen said that the bloc views the threat as “absolutely unacceptable and unjustified” and is prepared to respond if talks with Washington fail to produce a viable outcome.
“We are committed to continuing working with the United States on a negotiated outcome,” he said, but the agreement has to be “mutually acceptable” on both sides.
He revealed that the EU will react with robust and proportionate countermeasures if required.
Sefcovic noted that the 27-country bloc is preparing potential countermeasures worth 72 billion euros (84 billion U.S. dollars).
“We must be prepared for all outcomes, including, if necessary, well-considered proportionate measures to restore balance in our transatlantic relationship,” he stressed.
Sefcovic said that he believes there is “still a potential to continue the negotiations” but stressed any deal will need the backing of all EU member states and the European Parliament. (1 euro = 1.17 U.S. dollar)
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Inbound passengers line up for documents checking at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in southwest China’s Chongqing, July 8, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
China is experiencing a surge in foreign tourist arrivals as the summer vacation season kicks off, with increasing numbers of international travelers drawn to the country’s unique blend of ancient culture and modern vitality.
Thomas Watts, a short video creator from the United States, said he invited friends to Chongqing this summer after seeing numerous online posts highlighting the city’s steep hills and bold flavors.
“It reminds me of San Francisco, but with spicier food and a spectacular neon-lit skyline. I came to experience it and film it myself,” he said.
He is not alone in choosing China as a summer destination. Kittiphume Pannil, a university student from Thailand, arrived in China for the first time last week and plans to spend his summer break on an exchange program at a local university in Chongqing.
“When I saw Chongqing from the plane, it looked like a city of dazzling lights and towering skyscrapers, like something straight out of the future,” Pannil said.
Official data showed that in the first half of 2025, Chongqing’s border checkpoints handled more than 1.14 million inbound and outbound travelers, a 35 percent year-on-year increase. Among them, over 330,000 were foreign nationals, setting a new record for the city.
The country’s capital is also drawing a growing number of international visitors. According to official data, Beijing’s ports of entry handled over 640,000 inbound and outbound travelers from July 1 to 10, including 171,000 foreign tourists, marking a 22.1 percent year-on-year increase.
Among the newcomers is Robert Alex Barbender, a traveler from the Netherlands. “A friend told me Beijing is beautiful, and now with the visa-free policy, I thought why not come and have a look?” he said.
“Honestly, it feels like I’ve stepped into a video game, everything is busy and crowded, but still runs in perfect order,” he added.
Other major cities are also welcoming record numbers of international visitors. According to official data, a total of 2.56 million foreign travelers entered China through Shanghai’s Pudong and Hongqiao international airports in the first half of this year, marking a 44.7 percent year-on-year increase.
Meanwhile, Xi’an, a cultural hub known for its Terracotta Warriors, has welcomed more than 135,000 foreign visitors this year, a 124 percent jump from the same period last year. Notably, over 100,000 of them arrived under visa exemption policies, including unilateral and mutual visa-free entry as well as the visa-free transit policy, marking a staggering 290 percent surge compared to 2024.
To meet the growing demand, immigration authorities at major border checkpoints have introduced a range of measures to reduce waiting times and improve the travel experience.
Tourism destinations across the country are also tailoring experiences for international visitors. In Beijing, the Palace Museum offers foreign-language tours focusing on the architectural significance of the landmark spots. In Xi’an, tourists can immerse themselves in China’s rich history by dressing in traditional Tang Dynasty costumes.
This significant rise in inbound tourism this summer is no coincidence. Summer is traditionally a major vacation season for travelers from Europe, North America and Southeast Asia, leading many to choose China as their preferred destination during these months.
The surge has also been driven by China’s continued easing of entry policies for foreign visitors. As of now, China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy applies to 55 countries, while nationals from 47 countries are eligible for unilateral visa-free entry.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, July 14 — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Ian Borg, Malta’s deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs and tourism, in Beijing on Monday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that Malta plays a unique and positive role in world peace and stability.
China is willing to maintain high-level political mutual trust, mutual respect, mutual understanding and mutual support with Malta, and will honor its commitments on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns, Wang said.
Wang said that China will work with Malta to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, investment, culture and tourism, science and education, and continue to maintain good communication and coordination in international affairs.
On China-EU relations, Wang pointed out that the most important experience and enlightenment from the 50-year development of bilateral ties is that China-EU relations are positioned as partners rather than rivals, with a tone of dialogue and cooperation.
As the world’s two major forces, civilizations and markets, China and the EU should understand, respect and appreciate each other, Wang said.
Wang called on the two sides to view the mutually beneficial and win-win essence of their relations with a developmental perspective, jointly promote the process of human civilization and maintain world peace and stability.
Borg stated that Malta highly values its relations with China, always take relations with China in its diplomatic priority, firmly adheres to the one-China principle, actively participates in the Belt and Road Initiative, and welcomes more Chinese friends to visit Malta.
The Maltese side also believes that the EU and China should be partners rather than rivals, and differences should be properly resolved through dialogue and consultation, Borg said, expressing a willingness to continue playing an active role in promoting EU-China relations.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s reported demotion at Barcelona has raised fresh concerns about his standing in Germany’s national team just a year before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to Spanish and German media reports, including Sport, Mundo Deportivo and Kicker, new Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has informed the 33-year-old goalkeeper that he will serve as third-choice next season, behind new signing Joan Garcia and 35-year-old Wojciech Szczesny.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes (R) argues with Barcelona’s goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen during the UEFA Europa League play-off 2nd leg match between Manchester United and Barcelona in Manchester, Britain, Feb. 23, 2023. (Xinhua)
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has publicly sought clarification on Ter Stegen’s future, warning that regular playing time is essential for selection. “Rhythm and consistent match practice are inevitable for anyone wanting to be part of the World Cup squad,” Nagelsmann said.
Garcia, 24, joined Barcelona from local rivals Espanyol for a reported 25 million euros on a contract through 2031, while Szczesny has agreed to a two-year extension. Despite being under contract until 2028, Ter Stegen’s demotion threatens his role with Germany.
Reports indicate that a transfer may be the only solution to safeguard Ter Stegen’s World Cup hopes. Clubs including Galatasaray, Monaco, and several Premier League sides have reportedly shown interest.
Ter Stegen had previously insisted he would fight for his place at Barcelona. However, Flick’s stance may alter his plans. The German keeper had only recently returned to action after a long-term knee injury, reclaiming the starting spot during last month’s UEFA Nations League Finals.
Kicker described Barcelona’s approach as a clear signal the club wants to move on from Ter Stegen, despite his decade of service, 422 appearances and 19 trophies. Complicating matters further, the goalkeeper recently separated from his wife but remains committed to staying in Barcelona for personal reasons, as his children live there.
Former Germany international and ex-Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler criticized Barcelona’s treatment of Ter Stegen as disrespectful, given his years of elite performances. Adler advised him to seek a transfer to protect his chances of being Germany’s No. 1 at the World Cup.
Ter Stegen, according to reports, is both surprised and disappointed by the decision, though polls in Spanish media suggest the majority of Barcelona supporters back Flick’s move.
The 2026 tournament represents Ter Stegen’s first chance to start at a major tournament after having spent much of his international career as backup to Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer, who withdrew from Germany duty after Euro 2024.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne
A new Tasmanian DemosAU poll gives the Liberals a 34.9–24.7 statewide vote lead over Labor, implying the Liberals will win the most seats but be short of a majority at this Saturday’s election. I also cover the Coalition’s vote was inefficiently distributed at the federal election, as well as US and UK politics.
The Tasmanian state election will be held this Saturday. Tasmania uses the proportional Hare-Clark system for its lower house elections. The five Tasmanian seats used at federal elections each have seven members, for a total of 35 MPs. A quota for election is one-eighth of the vote, or 12.5%.
A DemosAU poll for Pulse Tasmania, conducted July 6–10 from a sample of 3,421, gave the Liberals 34.9% of the vote (up 0.9 since the June 19–26 DemosAU poll), Labor 24.7% (down 2.6), the Greens 15.6% (up 0.5), the Nationals 2.7%, the Shooters 1.8% and independents 20.3% (up 1.0).
The Nationals are only contesting Bass, Braddon and Lyons, and the poll would not have included them in the other two electorates of Clark and Franklin, so the Nationals’ vote in the electorates they are contesting would be higher than their statewide vote.
With a total sample of over 3,400, the sample size per electorate would be over 680. Using the results in individual electorates, this poll has the Liberals on a total of 13–14 seats out of 35, Labor on 9–10, the Greens on 6–7, independents on 4–6 and both the Nationals and Shooters either winning zero or one seat.
If the election results reflect this poll, the Liberals would easily be the largest party, but they would not win the 18 seats needed for a majority. There would probably be a majority for Labor, the Greens and left-wing independents, but Labor did not attempt to form government in a similar situation after the March 2024 election.
It’s been 11 years since Labor last held government in Tasmania, with the Labor/Greens government at that time widely blamed for Labor’s heavy defeat in the March 2014 election. But with the continuing decline of the major parties, Labor may have to reach an agreement with the Greens if they want to form government again in Tasmania.
Labor and the Liberals have both supported construction of a new AFL stadium. I believe this partly explains the drop in Labor’s vote, as many on the left would oppose this stadium. Labor’s refusal to attempt to form government after the March 2024 election probably also contributed to its low vote.
Voters may also be blaming Labor for this early election, just 16 months after the previous Tasmanian election. This election is just over two months after the federal election.
Analyst Kevin Bonham has a pendulum of House of Representatives seats after the results of the May 3 federal election. There are likely to be federal redistributions from July 2026 in some states, so this won’t be the pendulum used at the next federal election.
Labor won 94 of the 150 seats, the Coalition 43 and all Others 13, from a two-party vote of 55.2–44.8 to Labor. Assuming the Others are unchanged, Labor would need to lose 19 seats to drop below the 76 needed for a majority. On the pendulum, this occurs when the seat of Whitlam falls, but Labor won Whitlam by 56.3–43.7, more than 1% higher than their national vote.
This means that, using a uniform swing on the actual results, Labor would have won a majority even if they had lost the national two-party vote by 51.0–49.0, despite 13 Other seats.
Despite the electoral hammering, the Coalition retained many regional seats by large margins. This contributed to an inefficiently distributed vote. With voters in the cities making up a majority of all Australian voters, the Coalition can’t win by appealing just to voters in the regions.
The Coalition would be the largest party if they won 26 seats from Labor. This happens when the Coalition gains Braddon, which Labor won by 57.2–42.8, so the Coalition would need a 51.9–48.1 national two-party margin. For a Coalition majority, they would need 33 gains, and need a 53.7–46.3 national two-party win.
I wrote for The Poll Bludger on Saturday that United States President Donald Trump’s net approval was nearly unchanged at -6.7 after the passage of the “big beautiful bill” through Congress. I also covered Elon Musk’s new party and New York City mayoral general election polls.
In the United Kingdom, a Labour MP has defected to a potential Jeremy Corbyn-led party. The far-right Reform has led Labour in UK national polls since the early May local elections. In a House of Commons vote on a welfare reform bill, 49 Labour MPs rebelled.
A Queensland state DemosAU poll, conducted July 4–9 from a sample of 1,027, gave the Liberal National Party a 55–45 lead (53.8–46.2 to the LNP at the October 2024 election). The Poll Bludger said this was a one-point gain for the LNP since a February DemosAU poll.
Primary votes were 40% LNP (steady), 28% Labor (down two), 13% Greens (up one), 12% One Nation (up two) and 7% for all Others (down one). On the recent Queensland state budget, 24% thought it would be good for the Queensland economy, 19% bad and 57% were unsure. By 43–26, respondents thought Labor would not have delivered a better budget.
A Queensland state Redbridge poll gave the LNP a 56–44 lead. Primary votes were 43% LNP, 29% Labor, 11% Greens and 17% for all Others (there was no One Nation breakdown).
Queensland was the only state the Coalition won at the federal election, though only by 50.6–49.4. The state LNP is still benefiting from a honeymoon after ousting Labor at last year’s election.
Adrian Beaumont does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Hung parliament still likely outcome of Tasmanian election, with Liberals well ahead of Labor in new poll – https://theconversation.com/hung-parliament-still-likely-outcome-of-tasmanian-election-with-liberals-well-ahead-of-labor-in-new-poll-261073
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne
A new Tasmanian DemosAU poll gives the Liberals a 34.9–24.7 statewide vote lead over Labor, implying the Liberals will win the most seats but be short of a majority at this Saturday’s election. I also cover the Coalition’s vote was inefficiently distributed at the federal election, as well as US and UK politics.
The Tasmanian state election will be held this Saturday. Tasmania uses the proportional Hare-Clark system for its lower house elections. The five Tasmanian seats used at federal elections each have seven members, for a total of 35 MPs. A quota for election is one-eighth of the vote, or 12.5%.
A DemosAU poll for Pulse Tasmania, conducted July 6–10 from a sample of 3,421, gave the Liberals 34.9% of the vote (up 0.9 since the June 19–26 DemosAU poll), Labor 24.7% (down 2.6), the Greens 15.6% (up 0.5), the Nationals 2.7%, the Shooters 1.8% and independents 20.3% (up 1.0).
The Nationals are only contesting Bass, Braddon and Lyons, and the poll would not have included them in the other two electorates of Clark and Franklin, so the Nationals’ vote in the electorates they are contesting would be higher than their statewide vote.
With a total sample of over 3,400, the sample size per electorate would be over 680. Using the results in individual electorates, this poll has the Liberals on a total of 13–14 seats out of 35, Labor on 9–10, the Greens on 6–7, independents on 4–6 and both the Nationals and Shooters either winning zero or one seat.
If the election results reflect this poll, the Liberals would easily be the largest party, but they would not win the 18 seats needed for a majority. There would probably be a majority for Labor, the Greens and left-wing independents, but Labor did not attempt to form government in a similar situation after the March 2024 election.
It’s been 11 years since Labor last held government in Tasmania, with the Labor/Greens government at that time widely blamed for Labor’s heavy defeat in the March 2014 election. But with the continuing decline of the major parties, Labor may have to reach an agreement with the Greens if they want to form government again in Tasmania.
Labor and the Liberals have both supported construction of a new AFL stadium. I believe this partly explains the drop in Labor’s vote, as many on the left would oppose this stadium. Labor’s refusal to attempt to form government after the March 2024 election probably also contributed to its low vote.
Voters may also be blaming Labor for this early election, just 16 months after the previous Tasmanian election. This election is just over two months after the federal election.
Analyst Kevin Bonham has a pendulum of House of Representatives seats after the results of the May 3 federal election. There are likely to be federal redistributions from July 2026 in some states, so this won’t be the pendulum used at the next federal election.
Labor won 94 of the 150 seats, the Coalition 43 and all Others 13, from a two-party vote of 55.2–44.8 to Labor. Assuming the Others are unchanged, Labor would need to lose 19 seats to drop below the 76 needed for a majority. On the pendulum, this occurs when the seat of Whitlam falls, but Labor won Whitlam by 56.3–43.7, more than 1% higher than their national vote.
This means that, using a uniform swing on the actual results, Labor would have won a majority even if they had lost the national two-party vote by 51.0–49.0, despite 13 Other seats.
Despite the electoral hammering, the Coalition retained many regional seats by large margins. This contributed to an inefficiently distributed vote. With voters in the cities making up a majority of all Australian voters, the Coalition can’t win by appealing just to voters in the regions.
The Coalition would be the largest party if they won 26 seats from Labor. This happens when the Coalition gains Braddon, which Labor won by 57.2–42.8, so the Coalition would need a 51.9–48.1 national two-party margin. For a Coalition majority, they would need 33 gains, and need a 53.7–46.3 national two-party win.
I wrote for The Poll Bludger on Saturday that United States President Donald Trump’s net approval was nearly unchanged at -6.7 after the passage of the “big beautiful bill” through Congress. I also covered Elon Musk’s new party and New York City mayoral general election polls.
In the United Kingdom, a Labour MP has defected to a potential Jeremy Corbyn-led party. The far-right Reform has led Labour in UK national polls since the early May local elections. In a House of Commons vote on a welfare reform bill, 49 Labour MPs rebelled.
A Queensland state DemosAU poll, conducted July 4–9 from a sample of 1,027, gave the Liberal National Party a 55–45 lead (53.8–46.2 to the LNP at the October 2024 election). The Poll Bludger said this was a one-point gain for the LNP since a February DemosAU poll.
Primary votes were 40% LNP (steady), 28% Labor (down two), 13% Greens (up one), 12% One Nation (up two) and 7% for all Others (down one). On the recent Queensland state budget, 24% thought it would be good for the Queensland economy, 19% bad and 57% were unsure. By 43–26, respondents thought Labor would not have delivered a better budget.
A Queensland state Redbridge poll gave the LNP a 56–44 lead. Primary votes were 43% LNP, 29% Labor, 11% Greens and 17% for all Others (there was no One Nation breakdown).
Queensland was the only state the Coalition won at the federal election, though only by 50.6–49.4. The state LNP is still benefiting from a honeymoon after ousting Labor at last year’s election.
Adrian Beaumont does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Hung parliament still likely outcome of Tasmanian election, with Liberals well ahead of Labor in new poll – https://theconversation.com/hung-parliament-still-likely-outcome-of-tasmanian-election-with-liberals-well-ahead-of-labor-in-new-poll-261073
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
NEW YORK, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Class Action Attorney Juan Monteverde with Monteverde & Associates PC (the “M&A Class Action Firm”), has recovered millions of dollars for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2024 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. The firm is headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and is investigating Signature Bank of Georgia (OTCMKTS: SGBG) related to its merger with First Community Corporation. Upon completion of the proposed transaction, Signature Bank shareholders will receive 0.6410 shares of First Community common stock per Signature Bank share. Is it a fair deal?
Click here for more info https://monteverdelaw.com/case/signature-bank-of-georgia/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE EQUAL. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:
About Monteverde & Associates PC
Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholders…and we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
No one is above the law. If you own common stock in the above listed company and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.
Contact:
Juan Monteverde, Esq.
MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
The Empire State Building
350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740
New York, NY 10118
United States of America
jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
Tel: (212) 971-1341
Attorney Advertising. (C) 2025 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
NEW YORK, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Class Action Attorney Juan Monteverde with Monteverde & Associates PC (the “M&A Class Action Firm”), has recovered millions of dollars for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2024 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. The firm is headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and is investigating Signature Bank of Georgia (OTCMKTS: SGBG) related to its merger with First Community Corporation. Upon completion of the proposed transaction, Signature Bank shareholders will receive 0.6410 shares of First Community common stock per Signature Bank share. Is it a fair deal?
Click here for more info https://monteverdelaw.com/case/signature-bank-of-georgia/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE EQUAL. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:
About Monteverde & Associates PC
Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholders…and we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
No one is above the law. If you own common stock in the above listed company and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.
Contact:
Juan Monteverde, Esq.
MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
The Empire State Building
350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740
New York, NY 10118
United States of America
jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
Tel: (212) 971-1341
Attorney Advertising. (C) 2025 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States will send weapons to Ukraine through NATO, and threatened “severe tariffs” targeting Russia if a ceasefire deal is not reached in 50 days.
Trump announced an agreement with NATO regarding weapons to assist Ukraine while meeting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office.
“We are going to be sending them weapons and they’re going to be paying for them,” said Trump, adding that the United States will manufacture those weapons.
“We’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days,” Trump said of Russia.
Trump noted there would be “secondary tariffs” of about 100 percent, multiple news outlets reported.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick clarified later that Trump meant “economic sanction” when he threatened “secondary tariffs” against Russia if it did not reach a deal to end the war in Ukraine within 50 days, The Washington Times reported.
Speaking to reporters after the Oval Office meeting, Trump said that the deal with the NATO allies was done and fully approved, The New York Times reported.
“We’ll send them a lot of weapons of all kinds,” Trump said. “And they’re going to deliver those weapons immediately to the site, to the site of the war, different sites of the war, and they’re going to pay for 100 percent of them.”
Trump also told reporters that some Patriot systems will arrive in Ukraine within days, according to ABC News.
Trump said European countries that have Patriots will transfer them to Ukraine and “they’re going to start arriving very soon,” ABC News added.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
New York City, NY, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Remittix (RTX) has attracted much attention from many investors, especially in the cross-border payment market. It is hailed as the most worthwhile cryptocurrency to buy at present.
In response, LET Mining, the world’s leading intelligent cloud mining platform, launched a new mining service program that can use XRP to pay for the start-up plan, bringing a new and efficient “passive income” path to XRP holders.
For a long time, many investors have chosen to “hold coins for appreciation”, storing XRP in their wallets and waiting for the market to rise. However, this method has unstable income and cannot generate income during price sideways or adjustment periods.
LET Mining launches XRP cloud mining service plan
LET Mining’s new plan supports users to use XRP to remotely start computing power contracts and participate in the mining process of mainstream currencies such as BTC and DOGE. The advantages include:
○ XRP direct charging mining: no need to exchange other currencies, more convenient operation
○ Daily automatic settlement: income is credited in real time, support withdrawal or reinvestment at any time
○ Green energy mine: deployed in low-carbon areas such as Iceland and Switzerland, environmental protection compliance
○ Mobile terminal support: App operation is simple, control mining progress anytime, anywhere
How to quickly use XRP to start cloud computing service with one click
1. Register an account
Visit the LET Mining official website: https://letmining.com/, quickly register an account, and register new users to get a $12 registration reward.
2. Top up XRP
Select “XRP Top up” in the account, the system will generate an XRP wallet address, copy the address and transfer it from the exchange or personal wallet. (50XRP is enough to participate, the target label is the date of each day, for example: 20250714)
3. Choose a contract plan
The platform provides a variety of cloud mining contracts, including short-term stable, long-term compound interest and high-yield types, which can be freely selected.
●Experience Contract: Investment amount: $100, contract period: 2 days, daily income of $4, expiration income: $100 + $8
●BTC Classic Hash Power: Investment amount: $500, contract period: 5 days, daily income of $6, expiration income: $500 + $30
●BTC Classic Hash Power: Investment amount: $1,800, contract period: 12 days, daily income of $23.76, expiration income: $1,800 + $285.12
●BTC Advanced Hash Power: Investment amount: $5,000, contract period: 29 days, daily income of $76.5, expiration income: $5,000 + $2,218.5
●BTC Advanced Hash Power: Investment amount: $10,000, contract period: 43 days, daily income of $174, expiration income: $10,000 + $7,482
(Click here to view more high-yield contract details)
4. Start earning income
After the contract is activated, the system will distribute mining income in proportion every day, and can be withdrawn to the XRP wallet address at any time, truly realizing “holding coins to make money” and easily enjoying digital passive income.
Why is XRP so popular now?
Recently, as Ripple has made key progress in the compliance process, XRP has been re-incorporated into mainstream trading platforms in many countries and regions, further consolidating its market position. At the same time, the overall crypto market has gradually recovered, and institutions and retail investors have returned, pushing XRP to become an important part of the future mainstream asset allocation.
And LET Mining’s new strategy-users can use XRP to directly start cloud mining contracts to achieve stable daily income, and assets can increase steadily regardless of market fluctuations.
As the XRP ecosystem continues to expand and favorable policies emerge frequently, LET Mining’s smart cloud mining solution provides a risk-free and efficient asset appreciation channel for coin holders. Join LET Mining now and let your XRP no longer just be held, but create value every day!
Official website: https://letmining.com/
Contact email: info@letmining.com
Attachment
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
New York City, NY, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Remittix (RTX) has attracted much attention from many investors, especially in the cross-border payment market. It is hailed as the most worthwhile cryptocurrency to buy at present.
In response, LET Mining, the world’s leading intelligent cloud mining platform, launched a new mining service program that can use XRP to pay for the start-up plan, bringing a new and efficient “passive income” path to XRP holders.
For a long time, many investors have chosen to “hold coins for appreciation”, storing XRP in their wallets and waiting for the market to rise. However, this method has unstable income and cannot generate income during price sideways or adjustment periods.
LET Mining launches XRP cloud mining service plan
LET Mining’s new plan supports users to use XRP to remotely start computing power contracts and participate in the mining process of mainstream currencies such as BTC and DOGE. The advantages include:
○ XRP direct charging mining: no need to exchange other currencies, more convenient operation
○ Daily automatic settlement: income is credited in real time, support withdrawal or reinvestment at any time
○ Green energy mine: deployed in low-carbon areas such as Iceland and Switzerland, environmental protection compliance
○ Mobile terminal support: App operation is simple, control mining progress anytime, anywhere
How to quickly use XRP to start cloud computing service with one click
1. Register an account
Visit the LET Mining official website: https://letmining.com/, quickly register an account, and register new users to get a $12 registration reward.
2. Top up XRP
Select “XRP Top up” in the account, the system will generate an XRP wallet address, copy the address and transfer it from the exchange or personal wallet. (50XRP is enough to participate, the target label is the date of each day, for example: 20250714)
3. Choose a contract plan
The platform provides a variety of cloud mining contracts, including short-term stable, long-term compound interest and high-yield types, which can be freely selected.
●Experience Contract: Investment amount: $100, contract period: 2 days, daily income of $4, expiration income: $100 + $8
●BTC Classic Hash Power: Investment amount: $500, contract period: 5 days, daily income of $6, expiration income: $500 + $30
●BTC Classic Hash Power: Investment amount: $1,800, contract period: 12 days, daily income of $23.76, expiration income: $1,800 + $285.12
●BTC Advanced Hash Power: Investment amount: $5,000, contract period: 29 days, daily income of $76.5, expiration income: $5,000 + $2,218.5
●BTC Advanced Hash Power: Investment amount: $10,000, contract period: 43 days, daily income of $174, expiration income: $10,000 + $7,482
(Click here to view more high-yield contract details)
4. Start earning income
After the contract is activated, the system will distribute mining income in proportion every day, and can be withdrawn to the XRP wallet address at any time, truly realizing “holding coins to make money” and easily enjoying digital passive income.
Why is XRP so popular now?
Recently, as Ripple has made key progress in the compliance process, XRP has been re-incorporated into mainstream trading platforms in many countries and regions, further consolidating its market position. At the same time, the overall crypto market has gradually recovered, and institutions and retail investors have returned, pushing XRP to become an important part of the future mainstream asset allocation.
And LET Mining’s new strategy-users can use XRP to directly start cloud mining contracts to achieve stable daily income, and assets can increase steadily regardless of market fluctuations.
As the XRP ecosystem continues to expand and favorable policies emerge frequently, LET Mining’s smart cloud mining solution provides a risk-free and efficient asset appreciation channel for coin holders. Join LET Mining now and let your XRP no longer just be held, but create value every day!
Official website: https://letmining.com/
Contact email: info@letmining.com
Attachment
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
NEW YORK, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —
Class Action Attorney Juan Monteverde with Monteverde & Associates PC (the “M&A Class Action Firm”), has recovered millions of dollars for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2024 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. The firm is headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and is investigating First Community Corporation (NASDAQ: FCCO) related to its merger with Signature Bank of Georgia. Upon completion of the proposed transaction, Signature Bank shareholders will receive 0.6410 shares of First Community common stock per Signature Bank share. Is it a fair deal?
Click here for more info https://monteverdelaw.com/case/first-community-corporation/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE EQUAL. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:
About Monteverde & Associates PC
Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholders…and we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
No one is above the law. If you own common stock in the above listed company and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.
Contact:
Juan Monteverde, Esq.
MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
The Empire State Building
350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740
New York, NY 10118
United States of America
jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
Tel: (212) 971-1341
Attorney Advertising. (C) 2025 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
NEW YORK, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —
Class Action Attorney Juan Monteverde with Monteverde & Associates PC (the “M&A Class Action Firm”), has recovered millions of dollars for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2024 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. The firm is headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and is investigating First Community Corporation (NASDAQ: FCCO) related to its merger with Signature Bank of Georgia. Upon completion of the proposed transaction, Signature Bank shareholders will receive 0.6410 shares of First Community common stock per Signature Bank share. Is it a fair deal?
Click here for more info https://monteverdelaw.com/case/first-community-corporation/. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.
NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE EQUAL. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:
About Monteverde & Associates PC
Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholders…and we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
No one is above the law. If you own common stock in the above listed company and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.
Contact:
Juan Monteverde, Esq.
MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC
The Empire State Building
350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740
New York, NY 10118
United States of America
jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com
Tel: (212) 971-1341
Attorney Advertising. (C) 2025 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Car manufacturers can apply for the Electric Car Grant from 16 July 2025.
Drivers across the UK will soon enjoy discounts on dozens of new electric car models after the Transport Secretary today (15 July 2025) announced a £650 million grant scheme worth up to £3,750 per car, putting more money back in working people’s pockets as part of the Plan for Change and making owning an electric car a reality for thousands.
Supporting the manifesto commitment to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, the £650 million Electric Car Grant (ECG) will back UK and other manufacturers, with eligibility dependent on the highest manufacturing sustainability standards. Discounts up to £3,750 will be available at the point of sale for new eligible electric cars priced at or under £37,000.
Drivers will start to benefit from discounts as soon as manufacturers successfully apply for their zero emission cars to be part of the grant scheme from 16 July 2025, with funding available until the 2028 to 2029 financial year.
With drivers citing upfront costs as a key barrier to adoption, the grant will narrow the upfront cost between petrol and electric vehicles, giving thousands more drivers access to savings of up to £1,500 a year in fuel and running costs compared to a petrol car. The discount means that zero emission cars are now cheaper to buy and run than ever before and comes on top of preferential tax rates, delivering real savings for working families.
Owning and buying an electric vehicle (EV) is becoming cheaper, with 2 in 5 of used electric cars sold at under £20,000 and 34 brand new electric cars available from under £30,000.
Standing firmly on the side of British drivers, this latest investment is part of the government’s major plan to support motorists, including a record £1.6 billion invested to tackle potholes and freezing the fuel duty at 5 pence until spring 2026, saving the average motorist £50 to £60 over the year.
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said:
This EV grant will not only allow people to keep more of their hard-earned money – it’ll help our automotive sector seize one of the biggest opportunities of the 21st century.
And with over 82,000 public chargepoints now available across the UK, we’ve built the infrastructure families need to make the switch with confidence.
This is our Plan for Change in action. We’re backing British drivers, British jobs and British growth.
This latest scheme builds on the government’s major £63 million package to support at home charging for households without driveways, transition NHS fleets to electric and create thousands of chargepoints at business depots across the country.
In total, the government is investing £4.5 billion to turbocharge the switch to EVs, securing Britain’s position as a world-leader in electric vehicle adoption while helping put more money in people’s pockets. Today, the UK is already a global leader in the transition to zero emissions driving, with the largest EV market in Europe in 2024 and sales up a fifth on the previous year.
The latest update also comes as the UK hits over 82,000 public chargepoints nationwide – with one added every 30 minutes – giving peace of mind to drivers that they will be able to charge conveniently at home, work or on longer journeys.
This latest move comes alongside the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, which requires manufacturers to sell increasing percentages of zero emission vehicles each year. Recent changes to the mandate give industry the certainty, stability and support they’ve been asking for, alongside crucial trade deals with the US, India and the European Union following the recent global economic headwinds.
Simon Williams, RAC head of policy, said:
Within weeks, discounted cars should start appearing at dealerships across the country. And, as the biggest savings will be given to cars with the strongest ‘green’ manufacturing credentials, drivers will be picking models that are not only better for their wallets, but better for the planet too.
This is further welcome news following last week’s announcement about more funding for pavement gully charging solutions that will enable those without driveways to charge an EV at home. Together, these initiatives should mean more drivers than ever start benefitting from the lower costs of running an electric car.
Vicky Read, CEO of ChargeUK, said:
This announcement is brilliant news – for drivers and for the UK’s transition to electric vehicles.
With a commitment to invest £6 billion through to 2030, the UK’s charging industry has rolled out infrastructure ahead of demand to ensure that when drivers switch, the network is there to make charging as convenient as possible. There are now 82,000 public charge points and a new one goes in the ground every 29 minutes on average.
Hot on the heels of the weekend’s announcement on measures to support charging, including meeting ChargeUK’s calls for improvements to signage on main roads, today’s package is another vital boost to the charging industry, helping it invest with confidence.
Dan Caesar, CEO, Electric Vehicles UK, said:
A targeted incentive program is a significant step forward in encouraging consumers to buy battery electric vehicles and to make them more accessible. While battery-only EVs are much cheaper to buy and run than most realise, surveys show that cost misperceptions are the primary reason for hesitance.
A generous grant of this nature gives a new group of interested buyers, who might have thought that going electric was beyond them, a gentle nudge into what is great tech. More than 9 out of 10 battery EV drivers will never revert, and there’s a reason for that.
John Lewis, CEO, char.gy, said:
It’s encouraging to see the government stepping up to support consumers in making the switch to electric vehicles. This move brings us closer to a future where driving electric is accessible to everyone – not just the privileged few.
Combined with the introduction of the price cap and the additional funding for on-street charge points, we can get more affordable cars on the road and more people enjoying the benefits of EVs. The outcome will be cleaner air for all and more cash in the consumer’s wallet as they enjoy the long-term savings of driving electric.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said:
Today’s announcement of the return of government support for the purchase of electric vehicles is a clear signal to consumers that now is the time to switch.
Rapid deployment and availability of this grant over the next few years will help provide the momentum that is essential to take the EV market from just 1 in 4 today, to 4 in 5 by the end of the decade.
This announcement is a welcome response to consistent calls from the industry for more support, which will be in addition to the substantive subsidies already provided by manufacturers. Taken with recent announcements regarding infrastructure investments and the Industrial Strategy, the UK has the opportunity to maintain its position as a leader in both the manufacture and sale of zero emission vehicles.
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Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
New animated series for kids, known as Activate, will get more children across the country moving more and encouraging a healthier lifestyle.
Children across the country are being inspired to move more this summer following the launch of a new series from fitness coach, Joe Wicks MBE, backed by the government as part of a new partnership to reach schools and families across the country.
The innovative animated Activate series features five-minute episodes which combine animation with upbeat music, courtesy of Universal Music UK, encouraging children to enjoy short bursts of movement that easily fit into their day and can be transformational for their physical and mental health. The government will be backing the programme to fund a further ten episodes.
The series has been co-created by Joe and BAFTA award-winning Studio AKA (creators of Hey Duggee), bringing the nation’s favourite fitness coach to life through animation for the first time.
Activate is backed by the government’s 10 Year Health Plan, which is already hitting the ground running with its pledge to work with influencers and changemakers across society to shift the NHS from treating illness to preventing it.
The new animated series was unveiled at Ripple Primary School in Barking, east London, where Joe Wicks and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, met teachers and parents to discuss keeping kids moving over the summer holidays and beyond.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:
Childhood obesity robs our young people of their future, and inactivity is one of the biggest culprits. That’s why it’s crucial to start building healthy habits from a young age.
Our 10 Year Health Plan sets out how we would tackle obesity through prevention and today demonstrates how we’re taking action. In the spirit of mission-driven government, we’re building a coalition of the willing to tackle the obesity epidemic head-on.
This initiative directly supports our focus on giving children the best start in life—a cornerstone of our Plan for Change. By investing in prevention today, we’re building a healthier generation for tomorrow.”
Being physically active is good for physical and mental health and helps relieve pressure on the NHS, preventing an additional £10.5 billion worth of treatment a year. Despite that, inactivity levels remain stubbornly high for adults and children, with huge inequalities across the country. The Activate programme represents a collaborative approach to tackling this growing health challenge.
The first episode is now available on Joe Wicks’ The Body Coach YouTube channel, with further episodes set to be released weekly over the summer holidays.
The series is released five years after Wicks united the nation with PE With Joe, which received over 100 million views online. Now, Joe is on a renewed mission to get children moving through this series.
Joe Wicks said:
Activate is the natural next step in everything I’ve worked towards over the past decade. From my early YouTube workouts, to ‘PE with Joe’ during the pandemic, my goal has always been to get children moving and feeling good – physically and mentally.
This project brings together everything I am most passionate about, and everything I’ve learned on my journey – going back to my own childhood where I discovered movement as a way to cope with the challenges of living with parents with drug addiction and mental health issues.
Activate is designed to make movement fun and inclusive for every child, with short, high-energy workouts that fit into everyday life – these can be enjoyed in the living room, the garden, in the classroom, or anywhere else!
As a dad, I know how important it is to make movement something kids enjoy, not something they have to do. That’s exactly what Activate is all about so I hope it can be a real support for busy families, this summer and beyond.
Earlier this month, the government launched its 10 Year Health Plan, which outlined how a shift from sickness to prevention will safeguard the nation’s health and put forward a range of measures to tackle growing rates of childhood obesity.
Obesity rates have doubled since the 1990s, including among children. A forthcoming report by the Chief Medical Officer will show that more than 1 in 5 children are living with obesity by the time they leave primary school, rising to almost 1 in 3 in areas with higher levels of poverty and deprivation.
Measures included in the 10 Year Health Plan include:
This two-pronged approach of encouraging active lifestyles and healthy diets aims to tackle the UK’s most preventable chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, whilst tackling the £11.4 billion bill that obesity costs the NHS a year.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, said:
I know what a difference sport and physical activity make in shaping a young person’s life. It’s why we’re investing £400 million in grassroots facilities for all, joining up schools with sports clubs across the country and backing major events that inspire.
For too long, it has felt as if we have hit a ceiling on participation in this country, and for too long the dial on inactivity has gone unmoved. Together, through initiatives like this, we will put that right and deliver on our Plan for Change.
With Universal Music UK as the exclusive music partner, each episode features upbeat tunes from UK artists, including Becky Hill and Bastille. Each track has been chosen for its appeal to parents and children alike.
Sue Goffe, Chief Executive at Studio AKA, said:
We’re thrilled to bring the world of Activate to life through animation. Collaborating with Joe Wicks has been a joy, and we’re proud to be part of this creative project to inspire movement and wellbeing in children.
Sarah Boorman, General Manager, Youth Strategies at Universal Music UK, said:
Our shared goal with Joe was to make being active feel like something children genuinely want to do, powered by great music which is appropriate for them and loved by families too.
Alison Lomax, Managing Director for YouTube UK & Ireland, said:
We’re so excited that Joe Wicks is bringing his new kids’ fitness show Activate to YouTube just in time for the holidays. Joe’s fun, energetic approach to getting kids moving has already made a huge impact on our platform, and Activate is set to become a go-to for families looking to keep active over the summer. It’s great to see YouTube being used in such a positive way – bringing free, accessible, and family-friendly fitness to homes everywhere.
Created by Studio AKA, the BAFTA-winning creators of Hey Duggee, the Activate series sees Joe Wicks brought to life through animation alongside six loveable new characters, ‘The Activators’, accompanied by upbeat music from top UK artists. Together, they make movement feel personal, playful, and inclusive – so every child can find a character to connect with.
Joe and the Activators lead children through fun, five-minute bursts of movement, that can be easily integrated into their day – whether at home, at summer clubs or on the go.
With Wicks appearing as an animated character (a first for the family fitness coach), each short episode offers a burst of movement, fun, and energy to get kids’ hearts pumping and minds engaged. These include easy-to-follow exercises like jogging, squats, and burpees, wrapped up in a playful, gamified format that can keep kids active over the summer holidays and beyond.
But Activate isn’t just for the summer holidays. It will also be available to schools during term time, to help build confidence, support mental wellbeing, and help children develop healthy habits for life.
Joe added:
Being turned into an animated character has been a surreal and wonderful experience, and my dream is that it connects with millions of kids and families across the UK and beyond.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Scientists comment on NICE final draft guidance and the NHS rollout of Alyftrek for Cystic Fibrosis.
David Ramsden, Cystic Fibrosis Trust Chief Executive, said:
“Today’s announcements are a positive step in the journey to better treatments for more people with cystic fibrosis – a lifelong, life-limiting condition without a cure. It’s thanks to the incredible hard work and support of the CF community and everyone we work with that modulator drugs are now a treatment option for many, but not all people with CF.
“Cystic fibrosis continues to make lives too tough and too short, which is why we will continue funding vital research to work towards a future where everyone can benefit from a life unlimited by CF.”
Prof Kevin Southern, Professor of Child Health, Chair, UK CF Medical Association, said:
“The CFMA welcome the approval of Alyfrek, which may offer an important alternative for some people with CF who are already treated with Kaftrio, or be an option for a small number of people who are not eligible for current therapies or have not been able to tolerate them. CF remains a condition without a cure and while improvements to therapies is good news, ongoing challenges exist for people with the condition. CF clinical teams will continue to work to achieve excellent health outcomes and quality of life for all, and we hope that in the future, new therapies will become available for people with CF, particularly for those who do not respond to existing therapies.”
The NICE final draft guidance on Alyftrek was published on the NICE website at 00:01 UK time on Tuesday 15 July.
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ta11430/documents
Declared interests
No reply to our request for DOIs was received.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
STEINHAUSEN, Switzerland, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Transocean Ltd. (NYSE: RIG) announced today that it will report earnings for the second quarter 2025 on Monday, August 4, 2025. The company will conduct a teleconference starting at 9 a.m. EDT, 3 p.m. CEST, on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
Individuals who wish to participate in the teleconference should dial +1 785-424-1116 approximately 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time and refer to conference code 125397. A listen-only simulcast of the teleconference can be accessed at: www.deepwater.com, by selecting Investors, News, and Webcasts. A replay of the teleconference will be available after 12 p.m. EDT, 6 p.m. CEST, on August 5, 2025. The replay, which will be archived for approximately 30 days, can be accessed at +1 402-220-2972, passcode 125397. The replay also will be available on the company’s website.
About Transocean
Transocean is a leading international provider of offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells. The company specializes in technically demanding sectors of the global offshore drilling business with a particular focus on ultra-deepwater and harsh environment drilling services and operates the highest specification floating offshore drilling fleet in the world.
Transocean owns or has partial ownership interests in and operates a fleet of 32 mobile offshore drilling units, consisting of 24 ultra-deepwater floaters and eight harsh environment floaters.
For more information about Transocean, please visit: www.deepwater.com.
Analyst Contact:
Alison Johnson
+1 713-232-7214
Media Contact:
Pam Easton
+1 713-232-7647
Source: United States Department of Defense
Germany committed to a permanent brigade in Lithuania, a sizable purchase of F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, an increase in defense spending and being a key nexus for providing support to Ukraine during a meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Mahe, Seychelles, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BitMart Research, the research arm of BitMart Exchange, has released a critical analysis of Pump.fun’s recent token launch, spotlighting growing investor skepticism surrounding the platform’s $4 billion valuation. Once the undisputed leader in Solana’s meme token launch sector, Pump.fun is now facing mounting pressure from rising competitors and weakening user sentiment. The newly launched PUMP token—offering no governance, utility, or fee-sharing—has sparked controversy over its long-term viability, especially given its fully unlocked $1.32 billion fundraising tranche. With questions about token economics, platform alignment, and market timing, the report explores whether Pump.fun’s dominance is slipping in the face of a rapidly evolving competitive landscape.
1.Pump.fun Launches Token at $4B Valuation, Faces Market Skepticism
On July 9, Pump.fun announced the launch of its platform token PUMP, with a total supply of 1 trillion tokens and 33% allocated for fundraising at $0.004 each. This gives the project a $4 billion valuation, with all fundraising tokens unlocked at launch, creating a potential $1.32 billion in immediate sell pressure. As of July 11, the token traded around $0.0051, roughly 22% above the sale price.
The launch comes amid weak market sentiment and shrinking on-chain liquidity. Though Pump.fun has long dominated the Solana meme token launch space, its revenue, user activity, and market share have declined, while competitors like letsbonk.fun have gained ground.
Critics argue the token lacks real utility or governance rights, and fear the launch is more of a liquidity exit than a long-term plan. The team’s history of selling platform fees instead of supporting the community has only deepened concerns.
Since January 2024, Pump.fun has earned $670M in revenue, once holding over 40% market share. However, letsbonk.fun briefly overtook it, showing that Pump.fun’s dominance is no longer secure. While it has since regained the lead, the competitive landscape and high-risk token model have raised doubts about its future sustainability.
Data Source：Dune
2. PUMP Tokenomics Overview
PUMP Token Details
Token Sale Overview：
33% of the total token supply will be sold during the token offering, with 18% allocated to a private round for institutional investors and 15% to a public sale conducted across six centralized exchanges. Both rounds are priced at $0.004 per token, implying a fully diluted valuation of $4 billion. All tokens from the sale will be fully unlocked on the day of listing.
Sale Timeline
Participation Requirements
Token Utility
Data Source: Pump.fun
3. Competitor Analysis
24H DataSource: Jupiter
Pump.fun still holds a leading position in terms of market share and trading activity. However, this dominance is being eroded by the rapid rise of competitors like letsbonk.fun. More critically, Pump.fun faces structural weaknesses in its tokenomics. The platform’s native token, PUMP, has no built-in economic rights — it offers no ownership, revenue sharing, governance rights, or fee rebates. The team has made it clear that PUMP’s only function is to promote the platform. As such, the token lacks intrinsic value and is essentially a “narrative-only” asset, which makes it difficult to incentivize long-term holding or establish strong alignment between users and the platform.
In contrast, letsbonk.fun has a more robust and value-aligned token model. Although BONK also lacks ownership rights, it integrates deflationary and liquidity mechanisms that support price and holding incentives. Specifically, 35% of the platform’s 1% transaction fee is used to buy back and burn BONK, while 30% is injected into BONK liquidity pools — boosting market depth through an automated market-making loop. These features enhance token utility and long-term appeal.
Other competitors, such as Jupiter Studio, are also building more comprehensive token value loops. The JUP token not only enables community governance but also offers staking rewards tied to platform incentives, forming a basic “governance-to-yield” relationship. Compared to PUMP’s hollow design, tokens like BONK and JUP demonstrate stronger user alignment and longer-term competitiveness through better utility and economic structure.
4. Summary
Pump.fun’s token launch faces strong market scrutiny amid a weak altcoin environment and its recent struggles. Key risks include:
In short, while Pump.fun still has brand strength, the tough market, weak token design, and big selling pressure create high risks. The future of PUMP depends on whether the team can build a stronger token value and regain market trust after the initial pressure.
About BitMart
BitMart is a premier global digital asset trading platform with more than 10 million users worldwide. Consistently ranked among the top crypto exchanges on CoinGecko, BitMart offers over 1,700 trading pairs with competitive fees. Committed to continuous innovation and financial inclusivity, BitMart empowers users globally to trade seamlessly. Learn more about BitMart at Website, follow their X (Twitter), or join their Telegram for updates, news, and promotions. Download BitMart App to trade anytime, anywhere.
Risk Warning:
The information provided is for reference only and should not be considered a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any financial asset. All information is provided in good faith. However, we make no representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of such information.
All cryptocurrency investments (including returns) are highly speculative in nature and involve significant risk of loss. Past, hypothetical or simulated performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. The value of digital currencies may rise or fall, and there may be significant risks in buying, selling, holding or trading digital currencies. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding digital currencies is suitable for you based on your personal investment objectives, financial situation and risk tolerance. BitMart does not provide any investment, legal or tax advice.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
National two-minute silence will be held at 12 noon on 15 August 2025 to honour the 80th anniversary of VJ Day
Members of the public are encouraged to participate in a national two-minute silence on Friday 15 August to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
A Service of Remembrance will honour and remember those who fought and died during the Second World War in the Far East at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, which will be broadcast live on BBC1 from midday.
It will host a spectacular tribute to veterans involving 400 members of the Armed Forces, the Red Arrows and historic aircraft from The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
This follows four days of events in May to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, which marked the end of the Second World War in Europe.
However, at that time 80 years ago, thousands of British and Commonwealth military personnel continued to fight Japanese forces in Asia and the Pacific for a further three months when Victory over Japan (VJ Day) was declared on 15 August 1945, following Imperial Japan’s surrender to Allied Forces. Alongside British Armed Forces, hundreds of thousands of people served in the Far East from countries including pre-partition India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Nepal and from African nations.
The Service of Remembrance will be run in partnership with the Royal British Legion and will be attended by Second World War veterans, VJ association members, senior politicians, and military personnel. It will pay tribute to the British, Commonwealth and Allied veterans who served in the Far East theatres of war, the Pacific and Indian Ocean territories.
The event will include a guard of honour of Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force and music provided by military bands. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will lead a breathtaking flypast featuring the historic Dakota, Hurricane and Spitfire aircrafts.
Veterans attending will include Burma Star recipients, British Indian Army veterans and those involved in the Battles of Kohima and Imphal, as well as Prisoners of War held across the region and veterans stationed in the UK or Commonwealth countries, who contributed to the war effort.
The service is a ticketed event, but members of the public visiting the Arboretum on the day are invited to observe the two-minute silence and watch the service on large screens at a nearby public viewing area.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:
Those who continued to fight bravely in Asia and the Pacific in those last few months of the Second World War must never be forgotten.
It is so important for us as a nation to come together on this important anniversary to remember our VJ Day veterans and hear their stories first-hand so we can ensure that their legacy is passed on to future generations and their sacrifice is never forgotten.
Defence Secretary John Healey said:
VJ Day was the final victory in a war that changed the world, and we honour those who served in the Far East with enduring gratitude.
Just as we proudly marked VE Day, we reflect on the courage, sacrifice and resilience shown by so many to secure peace.
Their legacy must never be forgotten, and it’s our duty to pass their stories on to future generations.
Mark Atkinson, Director General of the Royal British Legion, said:
We encourage everyone across the country to take a moment to reflect during the two-minute silence on VJ Day, to watch the Service of Remembrance live on the BBC or at the Arboretum, and pay tribute to those from Britain and across the Commonwealth who fought in the Far East in the Second World War.
It was so moving to see the nation come together for VE80 and to be putting veterans at the heart of these commemorations – now we have one of our last chances to honour all those VJ Day veterans whose service and sacrifice finally brought an end to the War.
Second World War veteran and RBL ambassador Tom Berry, 101, from Cheshire, who was serving on HMS Tartar in the Pacific when Japan surrendered, said:
For veterans like me and all those who carried on fighting until VJ Day was announced, this will be a very emotional day – a moment in history. I’ll be watching the service at home, and I’d ask the country to do the same – to stop and remember all those who gave so much for our freedoms, and those who never made it back.
The national commemorations will commence with a government reception to celebrate VJ Day with veterans.
Government buildings and High Commissions across the globe will also be lit up on 15 August to commemorate VJ Day.
In addition, Imperial War Museums (IWM) will be screening I Saw The World End, a digital public artwork by celebrated artist and designer Es Devlin, at Piccadilly Circus on Wednesday 6th August to commemorate the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
IWM will also invite visitors to reflect on the events leading up to the end of the Second World War through paper dove and crane making activities at IWM London and IWM North.
On VJ Day itself, IWM will premiere a new contemporary film exploring the events and significance of VJ Day and the war in Asia and the Pacific. The film, which can be seen at IWM North and outdoor screens in locations across the UK, is produced in partnership with SODA (School of Digital Arts), part of Manchester Metropolitan University. A new augmented reality experience at IWM North will also engage audiences in a deeper exploration of the Second World War in Asia and the Pacific and its significance, bringing to life some of the personal stories, sound and film from IWM’s collection.
Following the success of IWM’s VE Day Letters to Loved Ones initiative, the public are asked to delve into their family history to find letters sent by relatives to loved ones that provide fresh insight and first-hand testimonies of VJ Day and the war in the Far East. Digital copies can be uploaded onto the official VE/VJ80 website.
James Taylor, IWM’s Principal Curator of Public History said:
The story of the Second World does not finish with VE Day on 8 May 1945, with intense fighting in Asia and the Pacific continuing for another three months, and the destruction of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Through this varied programme of activities, we will shine a light on these often-overlooked stories from the final months of the Second World War. Through public film screenings, digital experiences, and artist commissions, IWM will give people the opportunity to delve deeper into the significance of the war in Asia and the Pacific and its lasting global impact.
The Government is working with partners across the UK, including the Devolved Governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, to ensure commemorations are inclusive and UK-wide.
The Commonwealth War Graves will continue their Every Story For Evermore campaign through events, new content, and augmented reality tours at international sites. These will include Commonwealth War Graves Cemeteries at Nairobi in Kenya, Sai Wan in Hong Kong, Kranji in Singapore, Kanchanaburi in Thailand, and Yokohama in Japan. This will enable international audiences to learn about the men and women who continued to serve in the Second World War after VE Day.
Director of Education, Engagement and Volunteering at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Simon Bendry, said:
As part of the anniversary commemorations marking the end of the Second World War, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is encouraging people around the world to pause and reflect on the human cost of conflict.
We commemorate more than 580,000 casualties who died during the Second World War, and we invite the public to ensure their stories are never forgotten by exploring and contributing to our online story collection, For Evermore, and by joining commemorative events taking place across the globe. From sites in the UK to Japan, from Kenya to Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore, local communities will have opportunities to honour and remember those who gave their lives and acknowledge the huge sacrifices made in pursuit of peace.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) today made this joint statement after President Trump made a series of announcements regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, including his intention to impose secondary tariffs on Russia if they do not agree to a ceasefire in the next 50 days.
Graham and Blumenthal have introduced the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, which would impose secondary tariffs and sanctions on countries that continue to fund Putin’s barbaric war in Ukraine. Their legislation has 85 cosponsors in the Senate.
“President Trump and his team have made a powerful move, implementing a new approach to end this bloodbath between Russia and Ukraine.
“Selling American-manufactured weapons to NATO – that will be used by Ukraine to defend themselves – is smart military policy and will enormously benefit the U.S. economy. Not only will these weapons be made in America, creating jobs for Americans, but they also will be purchased by the Europeans. This is a win-win scenario.
“However, the ultimate hammer to bring about the end of this war will be tariffs against countries, like China, India and Brazil, that prop up Putin’s war machine by purchasing cheap Russian oil and gas. President Trump’s decision to announce the implementation of 100 percent secondary tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil and gas if a peace agreement is not reached in the next 50 days is a real executive hammer to drive the parties to the negotiating table. The goal is not more tariffs and sanctions – the goal is to entice Putin to come to the peace table.
“It is long overdue for the financial backers of Russia’s atrocities in Ukraine to pay a price for buying cheap energy products and marking it up in order to benefit their economies. The days of doing this without consequences are coming to an end.
“Finally, as President Trump indicated, we will join our colleagues in continuing to work with the White House on our bipartisan Russia sanctions legislation that would implement up to 500 percent tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil and gas, and do not help Ukraine. The congressional legislation authorizing tariffs and sanctions would truly be a sledgehammer for President Trump to end this war, and it will allow for maximum flexibility to achieve that end. The benefit of our approach is that it blends congressional authorization of tariffs and sanctions with flexibility for presidential implementation, making it rock solid legally and politically.
“This bill has 85 cosponsors in the Senate and it would pass incredibly quickly. We will continue to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate, and with the Trump team to have this legislation ready to go at a moment’s notice.
“The combination of more American-made, European-purchased weapons for Ukraine and tariffs on the financial backers of Putin’s brutal war has changed the game. We sincerely believe President Trump has set in motion a new approach that has the highest likelihood yet of ending this bloodbath in the right way.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine looks at vapes for smoking cessation in disadvantaged groups.
Prof Leonie Brose, Professor of Addictions & Public Health at King’s College London, said:
“This very well-conducted Australian study shows that vaping is more effective than traditional nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) for helping people quit smoking. This is in line with what we know from previous evidence. What makes this study stand out is its focus on less advantaged groups, who are often hit hardest by smoking-related illnesses. And by offering participants a choice of vaping devices and flavours, the researchers created a more realistic scenario. Interestingly, the effectiveness of vaping over NRT was greater than anticipated.
“These results are particularly relevant for England, where we are currently evaluating ‘Swap to Stop’, the national initiative providing free vapes to get more people from less advantaged groups to stop smoking.”
Prof Peter Hajek, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director of the Health and Lifestyle Research Unit, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), said:
“Compared to the general population, rates of smoking are much higher and rates of quitting smoking lower among people whose lives are more stressful. In previous studies in unselected groups of smokers, e-cigarettes were up to twice as effective as NRT. In this study looking at a large sample of people on income support, the advantage of vapes over NRT was three-fold!
“As vaping poses only a small fraction of risks of smoking, encouraging smokers who find giving up nicotine difficult to use vapes seemed always a logical and sensible thing to do. This high-quality study with rigorous outcome criteria shows that it is also effective.”
‘Vaporized Nicotine Products for Smoking Cessation Among People Experiencing Social Disadvantage’ by Ryan J. Courtney et al. was published in Annals of Internal Medicine at 10pm UK time on Monday 14 July.
DOI: 10.7326/ANNALS-24-03531
Declared interests
Leonie Brose: “I have no interests to declare.”
Peter Hajek: “No COI”
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
MINSK, July 14 /Xinhua/ — Belarus plans to transport about 7 million tons of cargo via the Russian port of St. Petersburg “Bronka” in 2025. This was stated on Monday by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during a meeting with St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov. The relevant information was published by the press service of the Belarusian head of state.
A. Lukashenko noted that the project to build a Belarusian port facility for handling cargo at the Bronka sea handling complex is supported by the Russian leadership. The Belarusian leader noted that much has already been done on the territory of the complex.
“We will transport about 7 million tons of various cargo through this port this year. Both bulk cargo and oil products. We will develop this port. We also plan to go to Murmansk. This is a reserve location, but this port needs to be built there, and it will take many years,” A. Lukashenko 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.
.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Reducing the number of inspections while maintaining the level of security, confirming the effectiveness of the risk-oriented approach and new digital tools for remote control – the Government presented a report on the state of the state and municipal control system in the Russian Federation to the State Duma and the Federation Council.
The State Duma and the Federation Council reviewed the Government’s annual report on state control (supervision) and municipal control in the Russian Federation for 2024.
“The government is consistently improving the control and supervisory sphere in Russia. We have abandoned unnecessary inspections and are introducing digital forms of control. This allows us to reduce the administrative burden on businesses and remain on guard of the rights of our citizens. Now the number of inspections is at a historical minimum: in 2024, there were fewer of them than in the COVID-19 year of 2020,” commented Deputy Prime Minister – Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko.
According to the data presented, during the reporting period, the number of inspections decreased by 8.2% compared to 2023 and by more than 23% compared to 2020, when temporary restrictions related to the pandemic were in effect. Thus, in 2024, about 312 thousand inspections were carried out, in 2023 – 340 thousand, in 2020 – 408 thousand.
It is important that, despite the multiple reduction in the number of inspections, the overall level of safety is maintained. This became possible due to the introduction of a risk-oriented approach, including inspections by regulatory authorities based on the triggering of risk indicators.
Traditionally, risk indicator checks are among the most effective. In 2024, their effectiveness was 87.3%. For comparison, in 2023, this figure was 76.6%.
Special attention in 2024 was paid to the development of digitalization and the introduction of remote forms of control. An experiment was conducted on remote inspections of companies using the Inspector mobile application. Since this year, the use of the mobile application has been enshrined in law.
Another digital tool is also growing in popularity: the pre-trial appeal service on the public services portal. It enables entrepreneurs to challenge decisions of regulatory bodies without resorting to legal procedures and proceedings. In 2024, more than 7.5 thousand complaints were received from businesses, and the number of petitions more than doubled. These appeals serve as feedback for the Government on the quality of the state’s control and supervisory function.
The Government also receives feedback from citizens through various surveys. Thus, in 2024, RANEPA conducted a survey among citizens on the level of protection of legally protected assets. The survey is conducted on those risks that are controlled by control bodies operating within the framework of the Law on Control. According to the survey results, the level of protection is growing.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
State Secretary – Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia Alexey Khersontsev presented the main provisions of the Consolidated Report on State Control (Supervision) and Municipal Control in the Russian Federation for 2024 to the State Duma and the Federation Council. The activities are carried out under the supervision of Deputy Chairman – Chief of Staff of the Government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Grigorenko.
“The government is consistently improving the control and supervision sphere in Russia. We have abandoned unnecessary inspections and are introducing digital forms of control. This allows us to reduce the administrative burden on businesses and remain on guard of the rights of our citizens. Now the number of inspections is at a historical minimum: in 2024, there were fewer of them than in the COVID-19 year of 2020,” commented Dmitry Grigorenko.
According to Alexey Khersontsev, large-scale changes have occurred over several years of reform of control (supervisory) activities. The transformations, based on the introduction of a risk-oriented approach, revision of inspection planning, digitalization of control processes and strengthening of the role of preventive measures, affected all levels of government bodies – from federal to municipal.
“2024 has become an important stage in the development of these transformations. Throughout the entire period, comprehensive work was carried out to reduce the number of excessive inspections, increase the transparency of supervision and reduce the administrative burden on entrepreneurs. At the same time, the key priority remained maintaining the necessary level of protection of citizens’ rights and ensuring the sustainability of the economic system,” said Oleksiy Khersontsev.
The main trend of the past year was the reduction of control (supervisory) activities. Compared to 2023, their number decreased by 8.2% and by more than 23% compared to 2020. This was achieved by enshrining the principle of priority inspections only for high and extremely high risk categories. That is, only those organizations and enterprises are inspected where there is a risk of harm to the life and health of citizens or harm to the environment.
At the same time, a quarter of all inspections were carried out on small and medium-sized businesses. Of these, 75% concerned microenterprises, and most often, inspectors visited retail and catering facilities.
“This is explained by the high social significance of these areas and the need for constant quality control of products and services,” emphasized Alexey Khersontsev.
According to the Deputy Minister, the effectiveness of inspections based on risk indicators is growing — 87.3% in 2024 (76.6% in 2023). This is accompanied by the development of new indicators, the number of which has increased almost threefold compared to 2022: in 2024, their number reached 542. When developing them, the opinion of businesses participating in specialized working groups of the Analytical Center under the Government of the Russian Federation is taken into account.
Preventive visits have also proven their effectiveness, and their number in 2024 approached 1.2 million. Their assessment by the business community is perceived positively, emphasized Alexey Khersontsev. At the same time, the popularity of the pre-trial appeal service is growing. Last year, more than 3.5 thousand complaints were received from businesses, which is 45% more than the year before. 484 decisions were appealed in court, almost every fifth was overturned. At the same time, the legislation provides for the possibility of appealing both the decisions of inspectors and the assigned risk category.
“The growth in efficiency and effectiveness in terms of key indicators of control (supervisory) activities indicates an increase in the accuracy of inspection planning and the quality of analytical work of control bodies,” Alexey Khersontsev particularly noted, adding that the country’s population feels this security and, according to RANEPA surveys, this level of security is the highest compared to previous years.
The consolidated report also presents a rating of control bodies and subjects of the Russian Federation by the number of inspections. Roszdravnadzor became the leader in 2024, and the top 5 regions included St. Petersburg, Sevastopol, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and Moscow Oblast.
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: World Economic Forum (video statements)
How does the CEO of an organization brought in to help respond to fast-moving health crises like Mpox and other infectious diseases plan for the unexpected? Sania Nishtar heads up Gavi – The Vaccine Alliance, an organization that has helped vaccinate over one billion children in the world’s poorest countries and prevent more than 18 million deaths worldwide. Sania talks to us about the planning, mindsets, technologies and scenario planning her team uses to be ready for any emergency. She explains the importance of securing ‘crystal clarity’ in advance for what its expected to deliver and how that helps the organization prepare for a range of circumstances and efficiently coordinate with governments and other global organizations when time is of the essence. This organization was launched at Davos 25 years ago and she shares what what’s needed for global health security and strengthened public health systems now and in months and years ahead.
This interview was recorded in January 2025 at the Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
About this episode:
Gavi: https://www.gavi.org/
Transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/sania-nishtar-gavi-preparation-global-health
Related podcasts:
What most people get wrong about progress: Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2IJjZs4E7A&t=51s
We’re ‘losing the war’ on modern slavery: What leaders can do – HPE’s John Schultz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlXggC3o08I&t=1s
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