The protection of children’s rights is a priority for the Commission, as confirmed in the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child[1], and the Commission Recommendation on integrated child protection systems[2], which calls on Member States to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence, including corporal punishment and by actively raising awareness of the rights and needs of children among those who are in contact with children, including parents and care givers.
In addition, the Victims’ Rights Directive[3] recognises the special needs of child victims and the pending revision proposes an improved access to integrated and multidisciplinary support and protection services, to ensure that child victims are better supported and protected.
The directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence — which Member States need to transpose by June 2027 — equally recognises the need to protect child victims of domestic violence.
Reporting procedures need to be accessible in a child-friendly manner, the child shall be assisted by a trained professional and authorities shall implement state-wide effective, comprehensive and coordinated policies.
The Commission is fully committed to monitor implementation of the above-mentioned recommendation, pursue the adoption of the revision to the Victims’ Rights Directive and ensure the timely and appropriate implementation of the Violence Against Women Directive, which aims to ensure a speedy and coordinated response to domestic violence by competent authorities.
[1] EU strategy on the rights of the child (COM(2021) 142 final), https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52021DC0142.
[2] Commission Recommendation (EU) 2024/1238 of 23 of April 2024 on developing and strengthening integrated child protection systems in the best interests of the child, http://data.europa.eu/eli/reco/2024/1238/oj.
[3] Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA, OJ L 315, 14.11.2012, p. 57, http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2012/29/oj.
The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that according to the Emilia Romagna managing authority, this regional initiative is not financed by the European Regional Development Fund nor by the Recovery and Resilience Facility but through regional resources.
According to its Article 51(1), the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union[1] is addressed to the Member States only when they are implementing EU law. In cases falling outside the scope of EU law, such as the present one, it is for Member States, including their judicial authorities, to ensure that fundamental rights are effectively respected and protected in accordance with their national legislation and international human rights obligations.
[1] Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, OJ C 326, 26.10.2012, p. 391-407.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (Republic of the), May 28, 2025/APO Group/ —
The World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board today appointed Professor Mohamed Yakub Janabi as Regional Director of WHO African Region following his nomination during a Special Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa held on 18 May 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.
“I offer my warm congratulations to Professor Mohamed Yakub Janabi, and to the government and people of the United Republic of Tanzania, on your appointment by the Executive Board as Regional Director for Africa,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “We are grateful for your leadership and experience as we work together to navigate the challenges we face, and position our Organization to be stronger, more sustainable and more effective, using the current crisis as an opportunity.”
Professor Janabi expressed gratitude and pledged to intensify efforts to improve the health of the people of the African Region.
“It is with profound humility and a deep sense of responsibility that I accept the honour of serving as the new Regional Director for Africa. I’m deeply honoured and sincerely grateful for the trust and confidence you have placed in me,” said Professor Janabi. “Strengthening the foundation of WHO’s work in the region remains a core priority for me. By aligning every action we take with country priorities we can deliver measurable, lasting impact that transforms lives.”
A prominent cardiologist, health strategist and global health diplomat, Professor Janabi has dedicated his career to strengthening health systems, advancing equitable care, and championing innovation and collaboration to improve health outcomes in Africa.
Professor Janabi will lead WHO’s work in supporting the 47 Member States of the African Region in their efforts to improve the health and well-being of the population. Along with partners, WHO in Africa works across a range of areas — from health system strengthening, to disease prevention and emergency response — to promote, protect and provide health for all.
His term begins on 30 June 2025 for the next five years and is eligible for reappointment once. He succeeds Dr Matshidiso Moeti, who led WHO in the African Region since 2015.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) — Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met with Dan Simkowitz, co-president of U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley, in Beijing on Wednesday.
He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said China’s commitment to promoting high-quality development through high-level opening up will inject energy and new impetus into the Chinese and global economies.
The Vice Premier called on more US-invested financial institutions and US long-term capital, including Morgan Stanley, to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China and actively participate in the construction and development of China’s capital market.
D. Simkovitz, for his part, expressed satisfaction with the significant progress made in the trade and economic negotiations between the United States and China. He said that he would continue to pay close attention to the Chinese market and provide high-quality services to promote investment cooperation between American and Chinese enterprises. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) — Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC), has called for accelerating efforts to build a high-level military training support system.
Zhang Youxia, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, made the call during a two-day inspection and seminar on the construction of combined arms training grounds held by the People’s Liberation Army from Tuesday to Wednesday.
Zhang Youxia said efforts should be focused on improving the quality and effectiveness of training and enhancing combat capability.
It is necessary to direct efforts to ensure combat training to comply with the standards and requirements of real combat operations, to support comprehensive joint training, to expand capabilities and increase efficiency through information technology, emphasized the deputy chairman of the Central Military Commission.
He added that priority should be given to the construction of large training bases and the creation of conditions for training in new areas and with new quality, and also called for continuous improvement of the support system. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
HOHHOT, May 28 (Xinhua) — Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng has called for greater efforts and more pragmatic measures to achieve new important results in the Three Norths Program, the world’s largest forest planting program to combat desertification in northwest, north and northeast China.
He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks at a meeting on combating desertification in the Yellow River Bend area held in Bayannur, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, on Tuesday.
The Yellow River is the second longest river in China after the Yangtze. Areas near its bend are among the three key areas for combating desertification under the Three Norths program.
The Vice Premier visited the areas of the water conservancy project, the Yellow River quicksand control project and the new energy storage project.
Pointing out at the meeting that significant progress has been made in advancing the Three Norths program over the past two years, He Lifeng noted that the program is currently at a key stage, stressing the need to clearly understand the current situation and challenges, and steadily implement the important strategic instructions given by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The Three Norths program was launched in 1978 and is scheduled to be completed by 2050. Its goal is to restore greenery in desertification-prone areas in three northern regions of China.
By 2030, the country aims to achieve significant results in combating desertification in three regions through the Three Norths program: the Hexi Corridor and Taklamak Desert, the Khorqin and Hongshandak sandy lands, and areas near the Yellow River bend. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, May 28 /Xinhua/ — Russia is ready to provide Ukrainian negotiators with its memorandum on the terms of the conflict settlement during direct talks on June 2 in Istanbul, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.
“Our delegation, headed by V. R. Medinsky, is ready to present this memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and provide the necessary clarifications during the second round of resumed direct negotiations in Istanbul next Monday, June 2,” reads a statement by S. Lavrov published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the memorandum sets out Russia’s “position on all aspects of reliably overcoming the root causes of the crisis.”
“We hope that all those who are sincerely, and not just in words, interested in the success of the peace process will support holding a new round of direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul,” concluded S. Lavrov. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
SHANGHAI, May 28 (Xinhua) — Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing has stressed efforts to promote the healthy development of the platform economy and maintain a fair and orderly market environment.
Zhang Guoqing, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour of the east Chinese city of Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday.
During his visit to online retail, live streaming e-commerce and food delivery companies, Zhang Guoqing pointed out that the platform economy plays an important role in stimulating innovation and entrepreneurship and strengthening internal circulation. He called on relevant companies to devote more resources to providing high-quality products and services.
When developing platform rules, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the principles of openness and honesty, decisively suppressing unfair competition using bargain prices and low-quality goods, the Deputy Prime Minister of the State Council pointed out.
Zhang Guoqing said all platforms should use positive and beneficial algorithms while ensuring reasonable and transparent pricing standards. He called for stronger measures to crack down on violations, including price manipulation, false advertising and sales inflated prices.
Zhang Guoqing called for more efforts to eliminate regulations and practices that hinder the establishment of a unified market and fair competition, and stressed the need to crack down on illegal extortion from enterprises to maintain a favorable market environment.
In addition, the Vice Premier of the State Council called on market regulators to accelerate the implementation of new technologies, particularly in the field of big data and artificial intelligence, in order to improve the quality and effectiveness of regulation. –0–
overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of I LOVE NY’s new integrated summer tourism and travel campaign, highlighted by two new ads running through August across New York State, and in traditional drive markets including Canada. This includes advertising across broadcast, streaming and social platforms, and showcases some of the attractions and activities available. The summer campaign also includes I LOVE NY’s largest mobile marketing tour ever, and additional complementary travel industry efforts to promote visitation to the State’s 11 diverse vacation regions.
“Tourism is synonymous with New York State, thanks to all of our amazing attractions, from beaches to high peaks, from the Erie Canal to iconic museums and performing arts venues,” Governor Hochul said. “This vital industry is facing challenging new political and economic headwinds. That’s why supporting our tourism industry is more important than ever, and why we are getting out the message that no matter where you’re from, you’re always welcome in New York State.”
I LOVE NY’s multifaceted summer tourism campaign begins with two new ads featuring a new tagline – “New York State: Everything You Love.” – reflecting the depth and breadth of the world-class attractions and memory-making activities available in communities throughout the state. The new ads can be viewed here and www.iloveny.com/summer.
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Tourism is crucial to New York State, supporting jobs and local economies, and we have so many incredible attractions ready to welcome visitors, from Niagara Falls to Montauk Point. This summer, New York wants to extend a special invitation to travelers from across America and all around the world: this is the perfect opportunity to plan a trip to celebrate history, explore our incredible landscapes, and enjoy all that our incredible state has to offer.”
Empire State Development Division of Tourism Executive Director and Vice President Ross D. Levi said, “In addition to iconic attractions across our state’s eleven beautiful vacation regions, the next few months in New York hold special delights for travelers from near and far. Guests can look forward to special events commemorating the bicentennial of the Erie Canal, a summer of thoroughbred racing at Saratoga Race Course headlined by the Belmont Stakes and Travers races, the Ryder Cup tournament at Bethpage golf course on Long Island, and food and fun at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse. The endless variety of activities shows that there truly is everything to love in New York State.”
As part of this new campaign, I LOVE NY is extending a special invitation to international visitors – especially Canada, which represents New York’s largest inbound international market. International visitation is vital to New York State’s tourism economy. Historically, overseas visitors plan longer trips and produce more direct spending during their stays. New for this year’s campaign is a direct-to-consumer international marketing element in the United Kingdom and Australia, which includes digital billboards, plus streaming and digital advertising. I LOVE NY also continues to work with members of the travel trade industry, like tour operators and travel agents in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and Australia through trade shows, sales missions and familiarization tours.
The summer campaign also includes I LOVE NY’s largest-ever mobile marketing tour with more than 40 stops throughout the Northeast. The mobile tour will make stops at popular events such as music festivals, street fairs and sporting events where guests can interact with fun experiences to learn more about the state’s attractions, win special I LOVE NY prizes, and take pictures with a large I LOVE NY logo sculpture.
Under Governor Hochul, tourism is New York State’s second largest industry, supporting one in 10 jobs. Recently, more than 306.3 million travelers visited New York State, generating $88 billion in direct spending and a record-high economic impact of $137 billion. Each year, tourism spending saves the average New York State household $1,400 in taxes.
Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)
“Trump is working all angles on this. This is why Trump makes the ‘Art of the Deal’ right?”
Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) joined Fox News’s Sean Hannity on Hannity to discuss the recent developments in the war in Ukraine and stress that Russia’s President would be a fool to underestimate President Donald J. Trump and America’s return to ‘Peace through Strength’ policies. Highlights below.
Sen. Mullin’s full interview can be found here.
On the consequences President Vladimir Putin faces if he continues down this path of killing:
“He [President Trump] is trying to clean up a mess that he didn’t start. This war would have never taken place if Trump would have been in office, but now it is. He’s been very clear from day one he wanted the killing to stop. He’s tried to work with Putin, his patience is running thin, and you and I know both know President Trump personally. When he’s done with you, he’s done. If Putin continues to push this envelope the way that he is, he’s going to give Zelensky the tools that he needs to fight back with the full-scale, full support of the United States.
On possible Russian sanctions:
“Lindsey Graham, myself, and a few other senators led this sanction bill, but we’ve been holding off because President Trump wanted time to negotiate with Russia. Because the negotiations are breaking down, I can see as soon as soon as were ready to move this bill forward, we’ll be able to pass this in the Senate, we’ll be able to pass this in the House, and President Trump will sign it. The sanctions will cripple Russia’s economy. You’ll see the ruble crash. You’ll see the way they’ve been able to benefit from it, this won’t go.”
On President Trump’s ability to protect American interests:
“Trump is working all angles on this. This is why Trump makes the ‘Art of the Deal’ right? He’s able to back people in corners and because when he’s ready, and the iron’s ripe, he’s able to strike.”
Lauding the strengthening ties between India and Italy, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday said that the relations between the two nations are on an upward trajectory, marked by renewed momentum in political dialogue, official visits, and growing mutual interest. He reiterated India’s commitment to consolidating the India-Italy Strategic Partnership.
Speaking at Italy’s National Day celebrations in Delhi on Wednesday, Jaishankar highlighted the shared maritime interests and commitment to freedom of navigation between the two peninsular nations.
“Whether in the Indo-Pacific or the Indo-Mediterranean, India and Italy share maritime interests and a common commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation and shipping. Italy’s increased presence in the Indo-Pacific, as well as its participation under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) pillar of science and technology, will certainly enhance our cooperation further,” he said.
“India-Italy relations are undoubtedly progressing positively. There is new momentum in political dialogue, exchanges, and interest in each other’s potential, which I am confident will be fully tapped by stakeholders. Let me reaffirm our government’s commitment to strengthening the India-Italy Strategic Partnership,” he added.
Jaishankar expressed gratitude to Italy for its support following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. He noted India’s “firm, resolute, and measured response” in targeting terror centers and launch pads.
“Let me begin by conveying our best wishes to the government and people of Italy on your National Day. We are thankful, Ambassador, for Italy’s solidarity and support following the barbaric terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the attack, Jaishankar said, “India responded firmly and decisively by destroying relevant terror centers and launch pads. The global community has recognized India’s right to defend its people against acts of terror. We believe the world must uphold a zero-tolerance stance against terrorism and cross-border terrorism.”
The foreign minister noted that the strategic partnership between India and Italy is rooted in shared values and converging interests and recalled the recent meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, on the sidelines of the G20 and G7 summits.
“Our strategic partnership is founded on shared values and converging interests, as reflected in multilateral platforms such as the G20. As the Ambassador mentioned, our Prime Ministers met at both the G20 and G7 summits, and our collaboration continues through initiatives like the IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor), the Global Biofuels Alliance, the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, the International Solar Alliance, and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.”
He added, “Our bilateral relations have gained momentum following the adoption of the Joint Strategic Action Plan for 2025–29 by our Prime Ministers last November. We are optimistic that the roadmap outlined in the GASAP will yield concrete and practical outcomes for both our economies and societies.”
Jaishankar identified trade and economic cooperation as a vital pillar of the partnership and recalled attending the India-Italy Business, Science, and Technology Forum alongside Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani and Minister of University and Research Anna Maria Bernini.
“Trade and economic cooperation are vital elements of our partnership. Last month, I had the opportunity to attend the India-Italy Business, Science and Tech Forum with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tajani and Minister Bernini. The event brought together business leaders and representatives from universities and research centers in both countries to explore collaboration across multiple sectors. This forum also presents an opportunity to boost our bilateral trade, which currently stands at USD 15 billion annually.”
“As the world’s fastest-growing major economy, India offers numerous opportunities for investment. Italy’s technologies and best practices in clean energy, agri-tech, logistics, and shipbuilding, among other sectors, can significantly contribute to India’s progress toward becoming a developed nation — Viksit Bharat — by 2047,” he said.
The foreign minister also acknowledged the strong Indian diaspora in Italy and expressed confidence in the future growth of mobility for professionals and academics between the two countries.
“The Indian diaspora in Italy is among the largest in the European Union. They are well-received and recognized for their contributions across sectors including agriculture, dairy, industry, and healthcare. We are confident that in the future, increased mobility of professionals, academics, and researchers will facilitate a greater exchange of knowledge and talent between our two countries,” Jaishankar said.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) — Ahead of International Children’s Day on June 1, the crew of the Shenzhou 20 spacecraft aboard the Chinese space station sent greetings to children across China.
The 9th National Congress of the Young Pioneers Organization of China (YPC) opened in Beijing on Tuesday. Cosmonauts congratulated children across the country on this grand event and unfurled the YPC flag, which was delivered to the space station.
The three-person crew, led by experienced astronaut Chen Dong, was launched into orbit on April 24 for a six-month mission.
Chen Dong recalled his childhood dreams, which were born after he put on the red pioneer tie. “I remember deciding to become someone useful to society when I first put it on,” said Chen Dong, who has already been to space three times.
Rookie astronauts Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, who are making their first space flight, recalled how their youthful interest in space shaped their future careers.
Chen Zhongrui, who made his first spacewalk on May 22, shared how he watched the Shenzhou spacecraft launches on TV with glee as a child and was strengthened in his desire.
Wang Jie mentioned the UPC anthem, a song that gave him strength as a child. He said the anthem encourages generations of Chinese pioneers to follow the glorious traditions of their predecessors. He hoped that children would continue the missions of space exploration.
After arriving at the station, the Shenzhou-20 astronauts rotated with the Shenzhou-19 crew and carried out planned scientific experiments.
On May 22, they successfully completed their first spacewalk, setting a record for the shortest time between a crew’s arrival in orbit and the first extravehicular activity since the space station’s completion. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) — The 2nd Cross-Strait Summit on Chinese Culture opened in Beijing on Wednesday, with participants stressing the importance of deep cultural ties between compatriots on both sides of the Strait and confidence in their own culture.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Song Tao, Director of the CPC Central Committee Office for Work with Taiwan and the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.
He expressed the hope that Taiwanese cultural figures, together with representatives from the mainland, will guide the efforts of Taiwanese compatriots to protect the great good of the Chinese nation, strengthen their confidence in their own culture, resolutely oppose separatist activities to gain “Taiwan independence” and external interference, and advance the cause of national reunification.
Hong Xiuzhu, former Kuomintang Party chairwoman and chairwoman of the Taiwan-based China Qingyan Peace and Education Foundation, delivered a speech in which she drew attention to the shared cultural heritage across the Taiwan Strait.
She proposed to jointly preserve Chinese classics, promote traditional culture and develop cultural industries. According to her, by leveraging the rich cultural heritage and modern creative potential, the two banks can enhance the global presence of Chinese culture and deepen its international influence.
The summit included a main forum, where representatives of cultural and academic circles delivered keynote speeches on the joint development of Chinese culture. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) — China’s COVID-19 cases are seeing a slowdown in growth, with most provincial-level regions having reached their peak or showing a downward trend, the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration said Wednesday.
As the department noted, the pathogenicity of the dominant strains of the virus and the clinical severity of the disease remain largely unchanged.
The monitoring results show that the COVID-19 infection rate in the southern regions at the provincial level is higher than in the northern regions, while clinical cases are predominantly mild or asymptomatic.
The number of visits to clinics for patients with elevated temperatures and the number of severe cases do not exceed previous peak values and do not have a noticeable impact on the normal operation of medical institutions.
Since early March, China has seen low levels of influenza and other acute respiratory infections, while COVID-19 cases have been gradually increasing. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
ALMATY, May 28 (Xinhua) — The China-Central Asia Forum on Governance and Sustainable Development opened in the Kazakh city of Almaty on Wednesday, with about 100 representatives from government departments, universities and enterprises from China and Kazakhstan attending the event.
The forum was organized by Lanzhou University and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University /KazNU/.
Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Almaty Jiang Wei stated in her keynote speech that on the path of great national revival, China and the Central Asian countries have the same ideas, similar goals and interrelated interests. They should deepen the exchange of experience in public administration and sustainable development, work together, complement each other’s strengths and achieve common development. According to Jiang Wei, China fully respects the independent aspirations of the Central Asian countries for modernization and is ready to share development experience with them as sincerely as possible.
Vice-president of Lanzhou University Sha Yongzhong pointed out that interconnectedness and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, is a historical choice for achieving prosperity and development in the region, and knowledge cooperation opens up new space for expanding cooperation between China and Central Asian countries in the spirit of “connected hearts.” Sha Yongzhong called such cooperation an important content and engine for promoting scientific and technological innovation and building a community with a shared future for China and Central Asia.
KazNU Vice-Rector for Financial and Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Development Abdrakhman Tasybayev noted that the forum is an important platform for expanding exchanges and cooperation between Kazakhstan and China. As he emphasized, various topics discussed at the forum largely correspond to the topics of national strategic development.
At the forum, experts and scholars from China and Kazakhstan will hold friendly, substantive discussions on four main topics: environmental governance, digital development, poverty alleviation, and regional cooperation. –0–
Members of the media are invited to attend the Army’s 250th birthday week-long celebration from June 7-14, 2025. This year’s birthday theme, “This we’ll defend,” was first used as a battle cry by the Continental Army. Today, it reminds us that our Army’s purpose is clear: to fight and win the nation’s wars. We remain committed to honing our warfighting skills, enforcing standards and discipline, and living the values that have defined our Army for the past 250 years.
June 7
On June 7, a new exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Army called “Call to Arms: The Soldier and the Revolutionary War” will be open and free to the public. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be rare Revolutionary War artifacts from the original colonies, England, France and Canada on display. Opening weekend activities from June 7 to 8 include special, family-friendly, Revolutionary War-themed events such as powder horn carving demonstrations, uniform and equipment displays, and story times. The Revolutionary War 250 special exhibit and companion educational programming are included in the museum’s free admission and will be offered through June 2027.
To learn more, please visit the website at www.thenmusa.org. Media interested in attending or would like more information please reach out to the museum’s Director of Public Affairs Susan Fazakerley- Smullen at usarmy.belvoir.hqda.mbx.publicaffairs-division@army.mil.
June 11
On June 11, the Twilight Tattoo hosted by Lt. Gen. Robert Harter, chief of the Army Reserve and commanding general of U.S. Army Reserve Command, will start a pre-show at 6:30 p.m. and a show at 7 p.m. at Summerall Field at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia. The action-packed military experience will feature Soldiers from the U.S. Army Military District of Washington’s ceremonial units. It will also be livestreamed on @USArmy social media platforms. To learn more, please visit the website at https://jtfncr.mdw.army.mil/twilighttattoo/. Media interested in attending or would like more information please reach out to usarmy.mcnair.mdw.mbx.mediadesk-omb@army.mil.
June 13
The Army birthday run (or walk) will start at 7 a.m. at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Media interested in broadcasting live at the start of the run, please reach out to Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Director of Public Affairs Jason Shepherd, jason.shepherd8.civ@army.mil.
Army Day with the Washington Nationals will begin at 6:45 p.m. Army leaders and personnel will hold their annual Army-focused celebration as the Washington Nationals play the Miami Marlins. Media interested in attending or would like more information, please reach out to Nationals’ Director of Communications Erica George at erica.george@nationals.com.
June 14
The Army Birthday Wreath Laying at Arlington National Cemetery will take place at 8:15 a.m. Media interested in attending or would like more information please reach out to usarmy.mcnair.mdw.mbx.mediadesk-omb@army.mil.
The Army Fitness event will be held at 9:30 a.m., and the Army Birthday Festival will begin at 11 a.m. at the National Mall, Washington D.C. The festival will provide opportunities to interact with Soldiers, Army Astronauts, NFL representatives and Medal of Honor recipients, and to watch military demonstrations, explore equipment displays, participate in a cake cutting ceremony and take part in a variety of activities.
At 6:30 p.m. the Army Birthday Parade will celebrate the Army’s history and will feature Army equipment, flyovers and 6,600 Soldiers in uniforms from the past and the present. The parade’s best viewing area will be south of Constitution Avenue. The day will end with an enlistment and re-enlistment ceremony, a parachute demonstration by the Golden Knights and a fireworks display.
Live music will be featured throughout the day.
To register to attend the free festival and parade, click here.
Members of the media who would like to attend should RSVP by 12 p.m., June 10. There will be a designated media riser for a limited number of credentialed outlets. Members of the media should click here to register.
To learn more about the Army’s 250th birthday, visit:
U.S. Army Celebrating 250 Years – https://www.army.mil/1775
DVIDS 250th Army Birthday – https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/ARMY250
U. S. Army Center of Military History – https://history.army.mil/Revwar250/
Four people have been arrested after they targeted the filming of a new movie.
In recent weeks, protesters have disrupted filming at various locations across London. They have done so solely because an actress involved in the production is Israeli.
On Wednesday, 28 May officers were deployed to a filming location in Westminster to identify suspects wanted in connection with offences at earlier protests and to deal with any new offences.
Five people were arrested for harassment and offences under Section 241 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act which deals with wrongfully and unlawfully obstructing access to a workplace.
Two of the arrests relate to incidents at previous protests while three relate to offences that took place today.
Superintendent Neil Holyoak, who oversaw today’s policing operation, said: “While we absolutely acknowledge the importance of peaceful protest, we have a duty to intervene where it crosses the line into serious disruption or criminality.
“We have been in discussions with the production company to understand the impact of the protests on their work and on any individuals involved.
“I hope today’s operation shows we will not tolerate the harassment of or unlawful interference with those trying to go about their legitimate professional work in London.”
Whisky is ‘the water of life’ but in one of the driest starts to a year seen in Scotland, distillers are turning to researchers to improve access to the crucial water supplies for their unique products.
Scientists from the University of Aberdeen are leading a project funded by Chivas Brothers, the Pernod Ricard business dedicated to Scotch whisky and maker of Ballantine’s, The Glenlivet and Chivas Regal to develop innovative nature-based solutions that could help to mitigate water scarcity but also slow down water run-off following rapid downpours.
The issue has been brought into sharp focus in recent weeks with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) issuing country-wide alerts for low water levels. The dry soil a long dry spell leaves in its wake can repel water rather than letting it soak in as damp soil would, meaning it is harder to hold water when and where it is most needed.
In areas like Speyside – home to half Scotland’s malt distillers – ensuring a continuous water supply, both now and in the future, is essential as temporary closures can cost the industry millions of pounds.
Chivas Brothers is funding new research led by the University of Aberdeen and working with the James Hutton Institute, following a successful project in 2022 which focused on The Glenlivet distillery.
There the team demonstrated the benefits of a series of small leaky dams installed in channels to slow water flow by holding the water in that location in temporary mini reservoirs. This allows it to soak into the subsurface so that more water is available at times when it is needed.
The new research will broaden the geographic scope of the project across Speyside and explore a wider range of possible nature-based solutions for water management.
Project lead Dr Josie Geris, a lecturer in hydrology at the University of Aberdeen, said the techniques they are investigating, including soil and vegetation management, could bring benefits beyond the whisky industry as around three percent of people living in Scotland rely on vulnerable private water supplies.
“First, we will take a comprehensive look at data gathered from across Speyside and carry out detailed monitoring at The Glenlivet and two other distillery sites to develop understanding of how surface water and groundwater are connected, and how this varies across the different locations.” she added.
“This will help us to assess how resilient different water resources in Speyside are to drought and to understand what causes certain water resources to be more vulnerable whether it is driven by geology, land use or other issues.
“We will then use modelling to help future planning and our understanding of which nature-based solutions might work best where to mitigate water scarcity across the region.”
The research team, which also includes Dr Mark Wilkinson (James Hutton Institute), Dr Ronald Daalmans (Chivas Brothers) Dr Jean-Christophe Comte, and PhD student Jennifer Pirie (University of
Aberdeen), will investigate a range of techniques at The Glenlivet, Glenburgie and Aberlour distilleries.
PhD student Jennifer Pirie, from the University of Aberdeen, said: “The techniques used successfully at Glenlivet cannot be applied everywhere and so we are looking at a range of measures to improve water availability in different environments.
“What works best where will depend on local site characteristics, like the geology and soil properties, and so it is vital we build this understanding and knowledge.”
As well as drought conditions, the techniques the team will use could also help with flooding and are applicable to other environmental issues such as improvements to carbon storage, water quality and biodiversity.
Dr Mark Wilkinson, from the James Hutton Institute, said: “There is significant interest from diverse stakeholders for these ‘green solutions’ to environmental problems and the project is designed to share insights and to develop a toolkit of options for different environments and users.”
Ronald Daalmans, Sustainability Director at Chivas Brothers, said: “This important work will help inform the whisky sector on how it can adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change for this critical resource. It forms part of a wider programme, called The River Within, which aims to support river restoration and enhancement in North-East Scotland.”
In addition to supporting research projects, Chivas Brothers’ The River Within, a long-term programme in partnership with three Scottish river trusts – the Deveron, Bogie and Isla Rivers Charitable Trust, Findhorn, Nairn and Lossie Rivers Trust, and the Spey Catchment Initiative – aims to support the delivery of habitat restoration projects to ultimately preserve, protect and improve the health of Scotland’s rivers and waterways.
Following feedback from local residents and businesses, several changes to car parking charges are being considered at June’s Executive Meeting.
In April, new pricing for car parking was introduced after being approved at Budget Full Council.
Since the implementation of the new charges, the council has listened to residents and businesses most affected by the changes who have shared their concerns.
As a result, Executive will review the parking arrangements at the meeting on 3 June 2025 and consider a number of proposed changes. Executive will also be asked to agree to a consultation as part of a review of the impact of carparking charges on the economy and communities, the outcome of which will be taken to a future Executive meeting.
An initial analysis of the economic impact is very positive, with Parliament Street showing an increase in footfall of 28.7% year on year comparing April figures and an increase in spend of 3.7% year on year, continuing to buck the national trend.
Councillor Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council said:
We have recognised the strength of feeling and feedback from local communities following the implementation of new parking charges and continue to listen to concerns. At the upcoming Executive meeting we will consider a number of options which seek to address the issues raised, while still supporting our ambitions to develop a healthier, more sustainable and better connected city.
“Setting a budget is never easy and we are very grateful for those who responded to the consultation carried out over several months last year, whether attending a workshop or filling in our survey. I look forward to having further discussions.”
Councillor Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport said:
Money from car parking goes straight back into improving our highways and public transport. This year we have increased investment in our highway maintenance programme to £10M, meaning more potholes are being repaired on York’s roads – with over 9,000 repaired last year alone.
“We are also investing over £50M in sustainable travel improvements, including ticket concessions for young people, better real time information and in the Station Gateway scheme which includes a bus interchange. This is all focused on making it easier for everyone to get around. To do this we must tackle congestion which residents have told us has a detrimental impact on how they live and work in the city, including their health and wellbeing.
“In recent weeks I have been listening to local residents and businesses. Everyone’s love and support for our incredible independent businesses has shone through.. One of the great strengths of the city is the vibrant local economies that residents enjoy in their local areas. We continue to listen and as a result we are looking at reviewing some of the parking charges in line with our transport strategy and using a data led and evidence based approach.”
At the meeting, Executive will consider a range of interim options which could be introduced while a review into the impact of the car parking charges takes place. These include:
approving an increase in the discount for the Minster Badge to 30% of the standard parking charge, from the current 24% to reduce the impact of increased parking charges on residents
maintaining existing pricing at all city centre car parks
introduce an “outside the inner ring road” lower parking rate including Bishopthorpe Road, which it’s proposed is moved in line with charges approved for community car parks at East Parade and Rowntree Park in the council’s 2025-26 Budget. This would mean Bishopthorpe Road car park would become £3 per hour with a maximum stay of three hours, it would be £2.10 per hour for Minster Badge holders. It will also mean no Friday, Saturday or event uplift and no evening charge in these car parks
approving the adjustment of charges in the Micklegate and Priory Street area to the ‘outside the inner ring road’ on-street parking rate, rather than its existing higher city centre rate to recognise the anomalously low parking charges in this area previously and to give local businesses time to adjust. This will be reviewed in the future. City centre evening parking rates for this area will still apply.
approving that East Parade Car Park should remain matched to the ‘outer’ on-street local parking rate to ensure consistency across out of city centre parking and reflect the different nature of local shopping areas outside of the immediate city centre.
removing the proposed charges for dedicated motorcycle bays. to recognise that the motorcycle bays are generally in locations where a car space is not possible.
increase the discount for Low Emission vehicle permits to 20%, from the current 16% discount to set a discount that better reflects the contribution of all types of vehicles to congestion and takes in account the land-use impact of vehicle parking
approve that Contract Parking permits are no longer linked to Season Tickets, and will be set at last year’s prices, plus circa 5% increase, with a 20% discount for low emission vehicles to recognise the unique circumstances of the small number of residents who live within the city walls without access to Resident parking schemes.
to undertake a review and develop a policy position around travel to places of worship.
accept the challenge to review parking charges under the Traffic Management Act 2004, this will include consultation with businesses and residents and community groups.
If approved, the new charges will need to be advertised for 21 days in accordance with legislation, meaning those charges implemented will come into effect late June/early July and be subject to a pending review.
Should Executive approve a change to the amount paid for the low vehicle emission discount, Contract, Season and ResPark permits holders will be refunded the difference with more details of this to follow.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Tashkent, May 28 /Xinhua/ — A gala concert “Dance of the Sea and Land. Fragrant Tea on the Great Silk Road” dedicated to the friendship between China and Uzbekistan was recently held in Tashkent with the support of the Chinese Embassy in Uzbekistan, the Department of Culture and Tourism of Fujian Province /East China/ and the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies (TSUOS).
The event was attended by representatives of the embassy and the department, the rector of TSU and more than 700 cultural figures, media representatives and universities.
Artists of the Fujian Opera and Dance Theatre, together with artists of the State Philharmonic of Uzbekistan, members of the Wushu Federation of Uzbekistan and the Children’s Dance Ensemble “Asal” of the “Barkamol Avlod” school, performed vibrant traditional dances, folk music and martial arts numbers, personifying the harmonious unity of Chinese and Uzbek cultures.
Before the concert, guests were introduced to traditional Chinese culture in the interactive zones “Tea Unites the World” and “Hello, China!” They tasted tea, learned the art of paper cutting and tried on flower hairpins. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BISHKEK, May 28 (Xinhua) — Kyrgyzstan has successfully completed its debut placement of sovereign Eurobonds on international financial markets in the amount of 700 million US dollars at a coupon rate of 7.75 percent for a period of 5 years, the press service of the Ministry of Finance of Kyrgyzstan reported on Wednesday.
As noted by the department, the total demand from investors at the peak amounted to over $2.1 billion, which ensured an oversubscription rate three times greater than the final volume of the deal. More than 100 international investors from the US, Europe and Asia took part in the placement process.
“Kyrgyzstan views the successful entry into the Eurobond market as an important step in strengthening the country’s investment image, attracting long-term resources for the development of infrastructure and energy, and increasing the sustainability of public finances,” the Kyrgyz Ministry of Finance said in a statement. –0–
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Nitin Deckha, Lecturer in Justice Studies, Early Childhood Studies, Community and Social Services and Electives, University of Guelph-Humber
The concern over the loss and transformation of work by generative AI is well-founded and widely documented.(Shutterstock)
These aren’t abstract concerns. Beyond the psychologist’s chair, the concern over the loss and transformation of work by generative AI is well-founded and widely documented by academic research studies and reports. As AI becomes more capable and embedded in daily routines, anxieties surrounding it are likely to intensify.
While the report notes that long-term productivity gains from these technologies remain uncertain, it found that certain jobs are being impacted more than others. Roles where generative AI can mimic human capacities — like data entry, administration, legal and executive secretaries, claim adjusters and examiners, and graphic designers — are declining the fastest.
Roles where generative AI can mimic human capacities, like administration, are most at risk of job loss. (Shutterstock)
The report also noted a gendered impact: in high-income countries, 9.6 per cent of jobs held by women are at high risk of automation, compared to just 3.5 per cent of jobs held by men.
The impact on clerical jobs noted by the WEF is supported by ILO’s data as well. Joining these roles are what the ILO describes as “highly digitized cognitive jobs in media, software, and finance-related” fields.
The significant exposure of jobs such as securities and finance dealers and brokers, software developers, financial advisers, authors and writers, translators, interpreters and journalists underscores the encroachment of generative AI onto all sorts of “thinking” and creative work.
It is no wonder psychologists like Alvord suggest some humans are questioning what role they will have in the future world of work.
Although workplace trends like remote work, flexible hours and employees re-evaluating their job expectations were already underway before the pandemic, COVID-19 accelerated these shifts.
According to futurists at Policy Horizons Canada, there are a number of “game changers” transforming the future of work. Disruptive technologies like generative AI and automation are just one driver.
Another major force is the fraying of the social contract between employers and employees. This shift speaks to larger currents of anxiety, fear and employee disengagement and low morale. Put simply, employers and employees are no longer investing in each other as much as before.
With the erosion of benefits, the rise of the gig economy and the increasing cost of living, employees were already feeling vulnerable and anxious about their work before the launch of ChatGPT in 2023.
How can we cope with AI anxiety?
As with any form of anxiety, it’s important to acknowledge your feelings and take steps to avoid becoming overwhelmed.
Psychologists suggest several specific strategies for managing anxiety about generative AI. These include: trying out AI tools to figure out how and where they can be useful; taking breaks from technology to restore and revitalize; building new skills; and pursuing activities that activate human creativity and imagination.
One of the most effective responses to anxiety about AI is focusing on developing our own human capacities. (Shutterstock)
We identified 10 skills that were most frequently identified as key for the future of work: collaboration, communication, creativity and innovation, critical thinking, cross-cultural competency, decision-making and judgment, learning/willingness to learn, problem-solving and social intelligence/perceptiveness.
For those concerned about remaining employable in the face of AI disruption, focusing on these skills is a practical starting point, as they are likely to remain in demand as workplaces evolve.
Importantly, all these skills are “human” skills, meaning not digital or technological. In this context, perhaps one of the most effective responses to anxiety about AI is focusing on developing our own human capacities.
Of these, the second — complementing or augmenting human work — might be the best path forward. Rather than viewing generative AI solely as a threat, it can be seen as a tool that enhances human abilities.
Exploring how our own cognitive and creative capacities could be augmented through “collaborative intelligence” with generative AI, might be a useful antidote to being anxious about it.
Such collaboration may also catalyze our re-imagining of our relationship to work and enhance our sense of purpose in a rapidly changing world.
Nitin Deckha 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.
Congratulations to Knightsbridge Partnership on their successful BID Ballot result.
As part of our statutory duty, we were appointed to hold a ballot for the proposed Knightsbridge Property Owner BID.
On Friday 23 May 2025, it was announced that the proposed BID had been successful in their ballot. 108 out of 109 votes were cast, with the majority of the business ratepayers in the proposed BID area who voted, voting in favour of the proposal, both by aggregate rateable value (99%) and numbers voting (99%).
The BID term for the Knightsbridge Property Owner BID will commence from 1 June 2025. The BID ballot opened on 22 April 2025 and closed on 22 May 2025. The BID ballot results were declared on 23 May 2025. This brings the total number of BIDs across Westminster to 19.
Global property advisor, Avison Young, has put its weight behind Capital&Centric’s Goods Yard in Stoke-on-Trent, taking the entire Pavilion building and relocating its East Midlands team.
The news comes after Stoke-on-Trent was named by the Sunday Times as one of the best places to invest in the UK earlier this year.
Both organisations champion the role of urban regeneration and placemaking in improving people’s lives and creating economic growth. Social impact developer, Capital&Centric spends £3m a week on regeneration in towns and cities across the UK, with Goods Yard already creating hundreds of jobs and boosting the local economy by £63m.
Avison Young will bring further jobs, training and investment into the new neighbourhood when it relocates in the spring.
It’s not the first time that the two organisations have teamed up, with Avison Young joining forces with Capital&Centric’s Regeneration Brainery, an immersive national programme that aims to get young people from diverse backgrounds fired up about a career in the industry.
Tom Wilmot, joint managing director at Capital&Centric, said: “There’s a massive buzz about Stoke-on-Trent, with Goods Yard right at the heart of this renaissance. It’s a real vote of confidence from Avison Young in not just the Goods Yard neighbourhood but also the city. What better way to support regeneration than putting your money where your mouth is and calling the place home. Our vision for Goods Yard has always been to create a collaborative mixing pot for like-minded businesses and we’ll be announcing more soon.”
Nick Walkley, principal and UK president of Avison Young UK, said: “Our presence in Stoke has been long-standing, and moving to this outstanding space underlines our commitment to the city and the UK regions. This new office is going to be a vastly improved environment for our Avison Young colleagues in Stoke. We look forward to working closely with Stoke-on-Trent City Council and with Capital&Centric.”
Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We are delighted to have worked with Capital & Centric to bring the Goods Yard to Stoke-on-Trent and make it a success. This long-awaited development will bring with it economic benefits and new opportunities for businesses, local residents and visitors.
We are delighted that Avison Young have chosen to base themselves in Stoke-on-Trent and wish them the best of luck in their new home. It’s a remarkable vote of confidence in our city and our future.
“I know talks are ongoing with a number of other businesses who have also shown an interest in Goods Yard and we look forward to welcoming them too.”
With a new direct link to the neighbouring Stoke-on-Trent main line rail station, the 174-home neighbourhood will feature a mix of spaces, with Capital&Centric assembling a complementary variety of businesses, bars, eateries, coffee shops and stores that want to be at the heart of the action when it opens in the spring.
Goods Yard will also boast a new green space, about the size of a professional tennis court, and a footpath, which will wind through lush plants and shrubs, leading to the interior gardens, with hangout spaces, seating, over 70 trees and stacks of new plants.
Avison Young is the first commercial business to take space at Goods Yard. Flexible spaces range from 1,200 sq ft to 14,000 sqft and include the Vaults Warehouse; the Victorian Signal Box on Glebe Street; the new build Pavilion workspaces; and the industrial style new build spaces on the ground floor of the apartment building.
Capital&Centric and Stoke-on-Trent City Council have secured the go-ahead to transform the iconic Spode Works into a landmark destination, breathing new life into this historic pottery factory.
Spode Works, covering around 10 acres in the heart of Stoke town centre, is a warren of buildings, kilns and workshops that tells the story of centuries of craftsmanship. The site includes multiple Grade II listed buildings – around 11 of them – that showcase classic industrial architecture and the evolution of the pottery works.
The council’s cabinet has signed off on the partnership, setting the stage for a major overhaul that will blend these historic structures with bold new architecture. The plans will see Spode Works reimagined as a buzzing neighbourhood of homes, creative workspaces and vibrant public spaces, building on the site’s emerging CreaTech (creative technology) community.
For over two centuries, Spode Works was at the heart of the UK’s ceramics industry. Its fine bone china and underglaze blue transfer printing put Stoke-on-Trent on the global map. Now, the ambition is to honour that legacy, repurposing the site’s heritage for the next generation of digital design, gaming, animation and other creative industries.
Capital&Centric is already working on detailed plans and will be consulting with locals later this year.
Tom Wilmot, Joint Managing Director of Capital&Centric, said:“Spode Works is a testament to Stoke-on-Trent’s proud industrial past and a huge opportunity to shape its future. We’re not just restoring bricks and mortar – we’re creating a landmark neighbourhood that taps into the city’s creative energy. This will be a catalyst for attracting new people, new ideas and new investment into the area.”
Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, regeneration and infrastructure at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “The regeneration of the Spode site will provide the opportunity for businesses and organisations to operate from a unique location, in the heart of the city.
“It will create employment and economic benefits, which will help to ensure the long-term survival of this site and bring with it the potential of attracting further external funding that otherwise would not have been possible.
“Capital & Centric has a long track record of delivering regeneration projects and is already working closely with the council to deliver Goods Yard, next to the railway station. We are pleased that they are committed to working with us in the future to develop another important heritage site in the city.”
The partnership builds on Capital&Centric’s track record of delivering award-winning regeneration of historic sites, including the soon-to-open Goods Yard neighbourhood in Stoke-on-Trent – a £63 million transformation of a derelict warehouse into 174 homes and community spaces.
Currently investing £3 million a week across eight live construction sites, Capital&Centric is driving regeneration in towns and cities nationwide – from Wolverhampton to Gateshead and Sheffield. The developer recently announced its biggest project to date: creating a whole new town in Cambridgeshire plus 2,000 homes. The town is called Northstowe, the UK’s latest new town.
Rhun ap Iorwerth says there is a ‘pro-European government in waiting’ in Wales
Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has today met with the European Union’s Ambassador to the UK, Pedro Serrano, at Europe House in London to discuss strengthening Wales’s relationship with Europe and deepening cooperation in key areas.
The meeting followed the recent EU-UK summit, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer and EU leaders agreed to ease some post-Brexit trade and travel frictions. While welcoming the progress, Mr ap Iorwerth said the deal did not go far enough and called on the UK Government to pursue a more ambitious reset of relations, including moving towards rejoining the Single Market and Customs Union.
Since leaving the EU, Wales has suffered disproportionately, with losses estimated at £4 billion to the economy, a £1.1 billion reduction in exports, and the disappearance of £1 billion in former EU structural and rural funding. Post-Brexit trade deals have also weakened the position of Welsh agriculture and manufacturing.
Plaid Cymru is pressing the UK Government to do more than tinker at the edges and instead restore meaningful economic and political ties with the EU.
The meeting also turned to foreign affairs issues, with Mr ap Iorwerth also raising concerns over Israel’s actions in Gaza and reiterating his party’s support for Ukraine.
Speaking after the meeting, Rhun ap Iorwerth said:
“I thank the Ambassador for a constructive meeting on the important relationship between Wales and the EU. Ahead of next year’s Senedd election, I wanted to make clear to our EU partners that with Plaid Cymru, there is a pro-European government in waiting in Wales that is serious and honest about the importance of improving our cooperation with our neighbours.
“The recent summit must be seen as a beginning, not an endpoint. Brexit has caused deep damage to Wales’s economy, and unless the structural barriers to trade and investment are removed, the UK Government’s growth ambitions will remain unrealised. Rejoining the Single Market and Customs Union is the most effective way to reverse this damage. This is about giving Welsh businesses, farmers and young people the opportunities they deserve.
“I reiterated Plaid Cymru’s proposal for a Welsh European Alignment Act – to reclaim powers we should never have lost and realign Welsh law with essential EU standards when in Wales’s best interest.
The meeting also touched on a number of other foreign affairs issues, including Gaza and Ukraine. Mr ap Iorwerth said:
“Plaid Cymru has consistently spoken out against Israel’s use of disproportionate force, and I welcome the EU’s decision to initiate a review of Israel’s compliance with its obligations under international law under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. I voiced my horror at Israel’s crimes in Gaza. I also reiterated that any future Plaid Cymru-led government would be committed to European cooperation in support of Ukraine.
“Plaid Cymru offers a vision of hope – of a Wales that works with our neighbours, stands up for human rights, and gives our young people a future to believe in.”
Greens call on UK Government to stop supporting Israel’s genocide
More in Peace
The Scottish Greens co-leader, Patrick Harvie has called on the Labour Government to take immediate and decisive action to end its complicity in what legal experts and international observers increasingly describe as a genocide in Gaza.
Mr Harvie responded to the powerful statement in a letter signed by more than 800 lawyers, including former Supreme Court justices, which condemns the UK’s failure to uphold international humanitarian law and urges Prime Minister Keir Starmer to impose sanctions on Israeli ministers and consider suspending Israel from the United Nations.
The letter from legal experts outlines growing evidence of grave breaches of international law, asserting that the UK’s continued inaction places it in clear violation of its own legal obligations under the Genocide Convention and other international frameworks.
MrHavie,said:
“When atrocities are being inflicted on this scale, it doesn’t just warrant condemnation – it demands real, urgent action. Keir Starmer’s recent lukewarm comments about the Netanyahu regime, which even Labour and Tory backbenchers have criticised as inadequate, amount to little more than empty words.
“Sadly there is a gulf between rhetoric and reality. The Prime Minister claimed to have suspended trade talks with Israel, yet just days later the UK Trade Envoy, Lord Ian Austin, was in Israel as a guest of its government. Even as the UK, France, and Canada issued a joint statement expressing concern, the RAF was deploying surveillance aircraft to assist the Israeli military. This is complicity.
“The people of Palestine need urgent help, they need strong action from the international community in the face of this genocide. We have consistently called on the UK Government to impose targeted sanctions on the Israeli political and military leaders responsible for these war crimes. They must immediately end all arms exports and military cooperation with Israel, demand an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, recognise the State of Palestine, and advocate for Israel’s suspension from international bodies, including the United Nations, until compliance with international law is resrestored.
“In Scotland we must act as well. It is not good enough for the Scottish Government to call for an immediate ceasefire and continue to line the pockets of war profiteers. The SNP Government’s business unit, Scottish Enterprise, has poured public money into companies that are arming Israel and profiting from the destruction.
“The UK cannot continue to provide political cover, arms, and intelligence to a regime that stands accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. History will remember those who stayed silent and those who took a stand. The time for action is now.”
Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
As countries across the UNECE region move towards cleaner and more efficient transport systems, UNECE energy and transport experts have been working to advance electric mobility through the implementation of a regional project that has delivered tangible results, including a comprehensive regional study and subsequent national-level activities.
UNECE continues to provide countries with the tools and insights needed to accelerate the decarbonization of inland transport, as well as with technical and policy support through the development of targeted knowledge resources. At a recent national workshop in Minsk, dedicated to assessing the readiness of the energy sector to implement smart digital energy-efficient technologies in Belarus in view of climate change mitigation, UNECE experts presented two recent publications, aimed at supporting the informed decision-making on electric mobility.
The workshop was co-organized by UNECE, UNDP Belarus, and the Department for Energy Efficiency of the State Committee for Standardization of the Republic of Belarus. The event brought together government officials at the national and local levels, and other national stakeholders to explore strategic options for advancing e-mobility in Belarus, drawing on lessons from the UNECE region.
Advancing e-mobility through regional experience
The “Electrification of Mobility” publication, developed under the UNECE Working Party on Transport Trends and Economics (WP.5), provides a consolidated overview of regional trends and practical policy insights for the electrification of road, rail, and inland waterway transport. It examines:
Common challenges such as infrastructure readiness, vehicle affordability, and supply chain resilience
The publication was developed with extrabudgetary support from the Netherlands, contributing both funding and technical input to UNECE’s broader work on sustainable transport.
Compendium on charging infrastructure and energy integration
The compendium showcases diverse examples, including:
Strategic placement of charging infrastructure in urban and rural areas
Governance, financing, and public-private collaboration models
Although regional in scope, the compendium is designed to be adaptable to national contexts, including that of Belarus, offering valuable guidance to countries that are shaping their own e-mobility frameworks.
Strengthening the knowledge base through UNECE E-Mobility Task Force
Recognizing the need for continued knowledge exchange and coordination across transport and energy systems, the UNECE E-Mobility Task Force was launched in 2024. It is mandated by the UNECE Inland Transport Committee (ITC) and the Committee on Sustainable Energy (CSE), and co-chaired by the Chairs of WP.5 and the Group of Experts on Cleaner Electricity Systems.
Organized into thematic workstreams, the initiative supports the advancement of EV technology, charging infrastructure, and clean energy integration. It facilitates the exchange of best practices and coordinates efforts to guide long-term planning and Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) deployment. Key areas of focus include smart and bidirectional charging, regulatory frameworks that ensure affordability and transparency, harmonized technical standards, and enhanced cybersecurity. The initiative also promotes user-friendly payment systems, accessible grid connections, and effective communication of charging capabilities.
In addition, it provides guidance for national infrastructure planning, supports the convergence of existing protocols into de jure standards to enable international interoperability of charging systems, and explores how land use strategies can improve accessibility and reduce mobility needs. With broad engagement from governments, industry, academia, and civil society, the initiative ensures inclusive and actionable progress toward a sustainable e-mobility future.
This informal Task Force serves as a collaborative platform to:
Support the development and sharing of policy-relevant knowledge to guide national efforts in the transition to electric mobility
Promote regulatory and technical coherence across the UNECE region to enhance interoperability, standardization, and cross-border coordination
The UNECE E-Mobility Task Force will continue to play a central role in enriching the E-Mobility Compendium with new case studies and practical examples. These will be incorporated into an upcoming online quick-start guide designed to support policymakers and practitioners with accessible, actionable insights adaptable to national contexts in specific countries.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By John Luiz, Professor of International Management and Strategy, University of Sussex
There are no longer any golden arches logos in Russia, but is the firm hoping for a return?forden/Shutterstock
Even as the war in Ukraine grinds on, some multinational companies are quietly positioning themselves for a thaw in relations with Russia.
Many of those who rushed to divest from the country, selling off assets after the full-scale invasion in 2022, may now be reassessing their options. It’s also becoming clear that some of these companies never completely left to begin with.
What is apparent is that divestment was, in many cases, provisional rather than permanent – with firms embedding “buy-back” clauses in their sales contracts, or structuring their exits in ways that would make future re-entry simple.
This should not come as a surprise. Our research into foreign divestment from apartheid-era South Africa shows this is a well-trodden business path.
In South Africa, sanctions inadvertently strengthened local white business elites aligned with the ruling regime. Multinationals sold their assets under pressure – often at discounts, often to the local companies of politically connected elites – and later bought them back at a premium.
Today, the same dynamic could be playing out in Russia.
When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, more than 1,600 multinational enterprises announced they were pulling out of the country. However, reports last year suggested that 2,175 foreign companies, including some who had announced they were pulling out, remained in Russia – and were becoming increasingly open about their operations.
One CEO stated that investors did not “morally care” about doing business in Russia, and that if they pulled out, rivals would simply take their place.
Even for those companies that did leave, many of these exits were more symbolic than substantial. Research has shown that even companies that claimed to have fully divested left behind options to return.
Carmaker Nissan, for example, appears to have sold its Russian subsidiary to state-owned NAMI in 2022 with a six-year buy-back clause. In a statement at the time, the company said the terms allowed it “the option to buy back the entity and its operations within the next six years”.
And fast-food giant McDonald’s can reportedly reacquire its Russian business within 15 years. A statement from McDonald’s in 2022 said that, for the first time in its history, it was “de-Arching” a major market – but suggested it hoped to return eventually.
Such arrangements, often quietly written into exit contracts, allow multinationals to comply with sanctions in the short term – while keeping the door open for a future comeback.
In many cases, the operations have continued seamlessly under new ownership. While the brand names may have changed in Russia, the staff and product designs remain almost identical. And sometimes, the foreign supply chains and intellectual property are still in play too.
Who profits?
The South African precedent is instructive. During the 1980s, foreign companies divested under pressure from shareholders, activists and governments over apartheid. But very few truly left. Most sold their operations to local elites – powerful business groups aligned with the ruling regime. They then continued to supply products, license trademarks and support operations through quiet back channels.
The intention of sanctions is to weaken the sanctioned state. However, our study shows that the economic value created by foreign multinationals in South Africa did not disappear.
The aim of sanctions against Russia is to weaken the economic position of the Kremlin. E.O./Shutterstock
In Russia, foreign companies have sold assets at big discounts to Russian oligarchs and state-linked entities since 2022. In some cases, the buyers were longstanding local partners or franchisees. In others, they were entities unknown to consumers but which were thought to have close ties to the Kremlin.
The consequences are predictable. Rather than weakening the regime’s economic base, sanctions may have consolidated it. As in South Africa, the departure of foreign firms appears to have strengthened domestic elites and allowed them to accumulate new assets and market power.
Some companies that left Russia are reported to be reconsidering their decisions. Negotiations are taking place behind the scenes about how to ree-stablish operations should conditions shift. Their re-entry may be smoothed by structures – buy-back clauses, licensing deals or local partnerships – that firms put in place on their way out.
This strategy mirrors what we found in South Africa. In the 1990s, once apartheid ended, foreign multinationals returned in large numbers. But they didn’t start from scratch. They repurchased their former assets, often at a much higher price, from the local elites.
In short, in the case of South Africa at least, the period of supposed withdrawal was often one of careful preparation for re-entry. Meanwhile, our study also found that South African conglomerates used their windfalls to fund international expansion and entrench their power in the new economy.
Unintended results
Sanctions remain a key tool of international diplomacy. But our research shows their effectiveness depends heavily on how firms implement them – and who ends up with the assets that are divested. If those assets are consistently transferred to politically connected insiders, the long-term outcome may be to reinforce the very regimes the sanctions were intended to pressure.
Sanctions policy should not just consider whether firms have divested, but how and to whom. Without that, even the most well-intentioned measures may end up producing unintended results.
This means that governments should go beyond imposing sanctions and develop mechanisms to ensure transparency, monitoring and accountability in how corporate exits are structured.
South African sanctions are generally seen as having played a useful role in ending apartheid. But as unemployment and inequality continue to plague the country along old institutional lines, the South African experience offers a clear historical warning. If sanctions are meant to promote accountability and change, it’s vital to pay close attention to what happens after the headlines fade.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
In May 2025, a post asking “[Am I the asshole] for telling my husband’s affair partner’s fiancé about their relationship?” quickly received 6,200 upvotes and more than 900 comments on Reddit. This popularity earned the post a spot on Reddit’s front page of trending posts. The problem? It was (very likely) written by artificial intelligence (AI).
The post contained some telltale signs of AI, such as using stock phrases (“[my husband’s] family is furious”) and excessive quotation marks, and sketching an unrealistic scenario designed to generate outrage rather than reflect a genuine dilemma.
While this post has since been removed by the forum’s moderators, Reddit users have repeatedly expressed their frustration with the proliferation of this kind of content.
High-engagement, AI-generated posts on Reddit are an example of what is known as “AI slop” – cheap, low-quality AI-generated content, created and shared by anyone from low-level influencers to coordinated political influence operations.
Estimates suggest that over half of longer English-language posts on LinkedIn are written by AI. In response to that report, Adam Walkiewicz, a director of product at LinkedIn, told Wired it has “robust defenses in place to proactively identify low-quality and exact or near-exact duplicate content. When we detect such content, we take action to ensure it is not broadly promoted.”
But AI-generated low-quality news sites are popping up all over the place, and AI images are also flooding social media platforms such as Facebook. You may have come across images like “shrimp Jesus” in your own feeds.
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AI-generated content is cheap. A report by the Nato StratCom Center of Excellence from 2023 found that for a mere €10 (about £8), you can buy tens of thousands of fake views and likes, and hundreds of AI-generated comments, on almost all major social media platforms.
While much of it is seemingly innocent entertainment, one study from 2024 found that about a quarter of all internet traffic is made up of “bad bots”. These bots, which seek to spread disinformation, scalp event tickets or steal personal data, are also becoming much better at masking as humans.
In short, the world is dealing with the “enshittification” of the web: online services have become gradually worse over time as tech companies prioritise profits over user experience. AI-generated content is just one aspect of this.
From Reddit posts that enrage readers to tearjerking cat videos, this content is extremely attention-grabbing and thus lucrative for both slop-creators and platforms.
This is known as engagement bait – a tactic to get people to like, comment and share, regardless of the quality of the post. And you don’t need to seek out the content to be exposed to it.
One study explored how engagement bait, such as images of cute babies wrapped in cabbage, is recommended to social media users even when they do not follow any AI-slop pages or accounts. These pages, which often link to low-quality sources and promote real or made-up products, may be designed to boost their follower base in order to sell the account later for profit.
Meta (Facebook’s parent company) said in April that it is cracking down on “spammy” content that tries to “game the Facebook algorithm to increase views”, but did not specify AI-generated content. Meta has used its own AI-generated profiles on Facebook, but has since removed some of these accounts.
What the risks are
This may all have serious consequences for democracy and political communication. AI can cheaply and efficiently create misinformation about elections that is indiscernible from human-generated content. Ahead of the 2024 US presidential elections, researchers identified a large influence campaign designed to advocate for Republican issues and attack political adversaries.
And before you think it’s only Republicans doing it, think again: these bots are as biased as humans of all perspectives. A report by Rutgers University found that Americans on all sides of the political spectrum rely on bots to promote their preferred candidates.
Researchers aren’t innocent either: scientists at the University of Zurich were recently caught using AI-powered bots to post on Reddit as part of a research project on whether inauthentic comments can change people’s minds. But they failed to disclose that these comments were fake to Reddit moderators.
Reddit is now considering taking legal action against the university. The company’s chief legal officer said: “What this University of Zurich team did is deeply wrong on both a moral and legal level.”
Political operatives, including from authoritarian countries such as Russia, China and Iran, invest considerable sums in AI-driven operations to influence elections around the democratic world.
How effective these operations are is up for debate. One study found that Russia’s attempts to interfere in the 2016 US elections through social media were a dud, while another found it predicted polling figures for Trump. Regardless, these campaigns are becoming much more sophisticated and well-organised.
And even seemingly apolitical AI-generated content can have consequences. The sheer volume of it makes accessing real news and human-generated content difficult.
What’s to be done?
Malign AI content is proving to be extremely hard to spot by humans and computers alike. Computer scientists recently identified a bot network of about 1,100 fake X accounts posting machine-generated content (mostly about cryptocurrency) and interacting with each other through likes and retweets. Problematically, the Botometer (a tool they developed to detect bots) failed to identify these accounts as fake.
The use of AI is relatively easy to spot if you know what to look for, particularly when content is formulaic or unapologetically fake. But it’s much harder when it comes to short-form content (for example, Instagram comments) or high-quality fake images. And the technology used to create AI slop is quickly improving.
As close observers of AI trends and the spread of misinformation, we would love to end on a positive note and offer practical remedies to spot AI slop or reduce its potency. But in reality, many people are simply jumping ship.
Dissatisfied with the amount of AI slop, social media users are escaping traditional platforms and joining invite-only online communities. This may lead to further fracturing of our public sphere and exacerbate polarisation, as the communities we seek out are often comprised of like-minded individuals.
As this sorting intensifies, social media risks devolving into mindless entertainment, produced and consumed mostly by bots who interact with other bots while us humans spectate. Of course, platforms don’t want to lose users, but they might push as much AI slop as the public can tolerate.
Some research also shows promise in helping people to better identify deepfakes, but research is in its early stages.
Overall, we are just starting to realise the scale of the problem. Soberingly, if humans drown in AI slop, so does AI: AI models trained on the “enshittified” internet are likely to produce garbage.
Jon Roozenbeek has received funding from the UK Cabinet Office, the US State Department, the ESRC, Google, the American Psychological Association, the US Centers for Disease Control, EU Horizon 2020, the Templeton World Charity Foundation, and the Alfred Landecker Foundation.
Sander van der Linden has received funding from the UK Cabinet Office, Google, the American Psychological Association, the US Centers for Disease Control, EU Horizon 2020, the Templeton World Charity Foundation, and the Alfred Landecker Foundation.
Yara Kyrychenko receives funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and is supported by the Alan Turing Institute’s Enrichment Scheme.
