Source: United Nations (video statements)
Opening remarks by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, at the International Business Forum Opening, of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development FFD4 (Sevilla, Spain).
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Opening remarks by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, at the International Business Forum Opening, of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development FFD4 (Sevilla, Spain).
Source: City of Sunderland
Residents are being asked about what they see at their community safety priorities.
The ask is part of this week’s Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week 2025 and as the City Council prepares to launch three new community safety hubs.
These hubs will help promote partnership working to tackle ASB and bring together the council, Northumbria Police, community groups and others all under one roof.
Hubs are being prepared for:
Similar and successful partnership hub projects in Southwick, Hetton and the city centre are already underway.
Residents can give their views about ASB and other community matters to help shape hub priorities at: www.sunderland.gov.uk/get-sunderland
Leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Michael Mordey said: “This is all about continuing to listen to residents – we know that ASB and crime are concerns for residents, and we want to hear of their experiences in their communities. The views we receive help shape the bigger picture in the fight against ASB and crime, and to making residents feel safer when they are at home, at work, or during their leisure time.
“We have already seen successes in Southwick, Hetton and Easington Lane and in the city centre as projects and hubs have improved community safety and reduced ASB. Now, we’re preparing these next steps for the Hendon, Pennywell and Washington hubs.”
ASB includes verbal abuse and harassment, or threatening behaviour; and other public nuisances such as rowdy behaviour, public drunkenness, noisy neighbours, and environmental crimes such as littering and fly-tipping, graffiti and vandalism.
Over the last year, incidences of ASB have dropped by around a third in the city centre and Southwick areas, and by a fifth in the Hetton and Easington Lane hub area. Dozens of community protection notices, warnings and acceptable behaviour agreements have also been issued across the three areas
Cllr Mordey added: “Residents have seen real benefits from these projects as the issues that matter to them most are tackled. So we would like to hear more from the three newly identified areas on what and where the ASB concerns are.”
Each hub in the newly identified areas will have its own community safety officers, community safety specialists and community engagement lead as well as dedicated police and other partner support. Hubs will be open and running in coming months.
Chief Superintendent Mark Hall, of Northumbria Police, said: “Information from residents is absolutely crucial in building up intelligence about crime fighting and how ASB is dealt with. Similar hubs and projects have been working well elsewhere and expanding this multi-agency partnership with three more hubs and information from the public is going to help us all tackle issues that are important for residents.
“No one should have to deal with criminality happening on their doorstep – this is why it’s crucial that we work with members of the public to understand the issues that we need to focus our efforts on.
“Our neighbourhood officers spend their days in the heart of the community, building intelligence around crime patterns and ASB hot-spot areas.
“Thank you to those of you that continue to work with us and provide us with information, we really do value your views and opinions.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat commit to further strengthening security checks on delivery riders to prevent illegal working in the gig economy.
Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat will strengthen verification checks on delivery riders to clamp down on illegal working, following productive talks with the government.
The commitment comes after ministers convened the 3 firms for a roundtable at the Home Office today (30 June) to discuss what further urgent action can be taken to prevent immigration offending on their platforms.
Over the last year, Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat have introduced voluntary ‘right to work’ checks on all account holders and registered substitutes. These measures have helped stop illegal workers abusing the platform, with action taken on thousands of accounts.
However, Border Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle and Employment Rights Minister Justin Madders raised concerns that, despite these welcome steps, there continues to be abuse in the sector where illicit account sharing leads to illegal working.
Ministers set out the government’s zero tolerance approach to immigration crime and stressed the importance of tightening checks to crack down on those who flout employment rules.
As result of productive discussions, the firms agreed to increase the use of facial verification checks and fraud detection technology to ensure only registered account holders can work off their platforms. This will help stop people with no right to work in the UK from using someone’s name to earn money illegally.
The strengthened industry standard – to be rolled out in the next 90 days – will see Deliveroo and Uber Eats increase the quantity and sophistication of verification checks they already do, with Just Eat upping the same checks from monthly to daily.
Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle, said:
This government will not turn a blind eye to illegal working. It undercuts honest business, hits people’s wages and plays into the hands of the people smuggling gangs.
I welcome Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats’ pledge to increase facial verification checks following today’s roundtable. We will keep a close eye on their progress and continue discussions.
Under our Plan for Change, we are taking a zero tolerance approach to illegal working across the board. Arrests nationwide have increased by 51% and we are strengthening legislation via our Borders Bill to end the abuse of flexible working arrangements.
Employment Rights Minister Justin Madders said:
Illegal working opens the door to mistreatment and exploitation, undercutting legal workers in the process by driving down wages and working conditions.
We’re already delivering the biggest upgrade to people’s rights at work in a generation as part of our Plan for Change, and we will continue to engage with these companies to ensure these rights are enforced, building a fairer labour market.
A Deliveroo spokesperson said:
We take a zero tolerance approach to anyone abusing our platform, and today’s meeting with industry partners and the Home Office represents progress in our collective efforts to combat illegal working.
The industry leading measures Deliveroo put in place over the last year have had a positive impact, but criminals continue to seek new ways to abuse the system. Today, we have committed to further strengthening our approach, increasing daily facial recognition checks, and we welcome the industry’s commitment to do the same.
An Uber Eats spokesperson said:
We are committed to tackling illegal working and welcome continued collaboration with industry and the Home Office, which is essential in raising standards and ensuring consistency.
We will continue to invest in industry-leading tools to detect illegal work and remove fraudulent accounts.
A Just Eat spokesperson said:
Just Eat fully supports the government’s efforts to tackle illegal working, and we are continuing to invest significant resources to protect the integrity of our network.
Today, alongside the government and wider industry, we’re committing to further action to strengthen our systems and safeguards in response to these complex and evolving challenges.
Today’s announcement comes just months after the government announced it will change the law to expand illegal working checks.
Under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, companies hiring gig economy and zero-hours workers in sectors like construction, food delivery and beauty salons will be legally required to carry out checks to confirm that anyone working in their name is eligible to work in the UK. The move will bring them in line with other employers to level the playing field for the majority of companies that do the right thing.
Ramping up illegal working enforcement activity forms a key part of the Home Office’s drive to restore order to the immigration system under the UK Government’s Plan for Change.
In many cases, individuals travelling to the UK illegally are sold a lie by smuggling gangs that they will be able to live and work freely in the UK, when in reality they often end up facing squalid living conditions, minimal pay and inhumane working hours, with the threat of arrest and removal if they are caught working illegally.
Since the election, a major surge in immigration enforcement activity across the UK has led to a 51% increase in the number of illegal working arrests. Since 5 July last year to 31 May, 9,000 visits have resulted in 6,410 arrests, marking a 48% and 51% rise respectively compared to the year before under the previous government (5 July 2023 to 31 May 2024).
The intensified activity also comes alongside the return of nearly 30,000 people with no right to be in the UK.
Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council
Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the Civil Society Forum at the fourth Financing for Development Conference, in Sevilla, Spain, today:
The fourth Financing for Development Conference is about fixing how the world invests in sustainable development.
At a time of rising conflict, a burning planet and growing division, it is about showing how international cooperation can and must deliver for people.
Thank you for your voice and relentless activism. You are the conscience of this process — and your calls for justice for the most vulnerable are being heard. To mobilize the funding to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. To ease the crushing debt burden on developing countries. And to reform the global financial architecture for good.
You know change is possible. I urge you to keep pushing. Keep demanding that Governments live up to their promises. The leadership of civil society can inspire change for all of society. I am proud to stand with you in this fight for justice. Thank you.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Villers-lès-Nancy (France), 30 June 2025 – 06:00 PM (CET)
PRESS RELEASE
EQUASENS ACQUIRES DIS AND RESURGENCES BUSINESSES, STRENGTHENING ITS POSITION IN THE MARKET OF SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTHCARE ESTABLISHMENTS.
Strengthening the position of a leading provider of software solutions for hospitals and the medical-social sector
***
Equasens Group (Euronext Paris™ – Compartment B – FR 0012882389 -$EQS), announces the completion of the acquisition on July 1, 2025, by its AXIGATE LINK Division through its subsidiary Axigate, of two businesses specialising in solutions for the public healthcare sector from a French software solutions editor.
This strategic acquisition which is a product of the exclusive negotiations announced on 30 April will contribute to Equasens’ goal to significantly strengthen its position in the hospital and medico-social software market, by creating a complete technology ecosystem to support the digital transformation of public and private establishments.
Scope and impact of the acquisition
The acquired business assets cover more than 300 customers in the public healthcare sector and generate annual sales of around €5m. They include:
These two activities have been integrated into the AXIGATE LINK Division, and will strengthen the HOSPILINK solution for Hospitals, Regional Hospital Groups (GHT) and specialised after-care and rehabilitation facilities and psychiatric facilities in France.
Growth strategy in action
This acquisition is fully in line with Equasens’ strategy for:
The resulting technical and commercial synergies with the AXIGATE LINK Division’s existing solutions will be a major growth driver by optimising resources and accelerating innovation.
This acquisition significantly reinforces the Group’s position as a key force in the transformation of the digital healthcare ecosystem, providing an even more precise and comprehensive solution for management and EPR (Electronic Patient Records) needs of healthcare establishments and their practitioners.
An industrial growth model and future prospects
The integration of these activities within the AXIGATE LINK Division reflects a clear industrial vision: to expand and complete its software offering for healthcare establishments by adding new technology building blocks to the AXIGATE LINK Division’s EPR solutions in various areas (accounting, billing, stock management and payroll).
The short-term objective is to develop the new building blocks originating from the acquisition to be integrated into the existing AXIGATE LINK Division ranges: HOSPILINK (hospital), TITANLINK (nursing homes) and DOMILINK (home care). For ResUrgences, the aim is to strengthen this specialized range while integrating it into the HOSPILINK range as a full-fledged module.
The medium-term objective is to create smooth, secure patient care pathways, by improving interoperability between the various services and users, based on our different solutions for institutions (emergency services, nursing homes, hospitals, hospital-at-home programmes, in-home nursing care services) and private healthcare practitioners (physicians, allied health professionals, pharmacies), by developing new functionalities based on artificial intelligence and data analysis, making it possible to retrieve information from patient records throughout the patient’s care pathway.
Denis Supplisson, Chief Executive Officer of Equasens, commented: “This acquisition illustrates our determination to expand and diversify within our core business – software for both private practice and hospital healthcare professionals – by targeting opportunities that make industrial and economic sense. By integrating the ResUrgences and DIS ranges, we are combining the added value of our medico-social and healthcare offerings to meet the growing digital needs of healthcare establishments. Our goal is to become the technology partner of choice to support the transformation of the French healthcare system, by harnessing the potential of innovation to benefit people: improving the handling of administrative and medical tasks to save time for users. ”
Grégoire de Rotalier, Deputy CEO of Equasens and Manager of the AXIGATE LINK Division, added: “For Equasens and the AXIGATE LINK Division, this quality acquisition significantly strengthens our presence in the public health sector, in terms of market share, expertise and product range. This acquisition further reinforces AXIGATE LINK’s strong position in the hospital, medico-social and home care sectors, and strengthens a team of 270 employees fully focused on serving 5,000 healthcare and medico-social establishment customers. ”
Timetable and integration
Operational integration of the teams and solutions will begin in Q3 2025, with a phased migration plan for customers to Equasens’ new technology platforms. Continuity of service is guaranteed throughout the transition period.
Upcoming financial communications
About Equasens Group – Follow us also on LinkedIn
Founded over 35 years ago, Equasens Group, a leader in digital healthcare solutions, today employs over 1.400 people across Europe.
Equasens Group’s specialised business applications facilitate the day-to-day work of healthcare professionals and their teams, working in private practice, collaborative medical structures or healthcare establishments. The Group also provides comprehensive support to healthcare professionals in the transformation of their profession by developing electronic equipment, digital solutions and healthcare robotics, as well as data hosting, financing and training adapted to their specific needs.
And reflecting the spirit of its tagline “Technology for a More Human Experience”, the Group is a leading provider of interoperability solutions that improve coordination between healthcare professionals, their communications and data exchange resulting in better patient care and a more efficient and secure healthcare system.
Listed on Euronext Paris™, Equasens Group (Compartment B – FR 0012882389 – $EQS) applies a two-pronged development strategy combining organic growth with targeted acquisitions at a European level.
CONTACTS
Analyst and Investor Relations:
Chief Administrative and Financial Officer: Frédérique Schmidt
Tel: +33 (0)3 83 15 90 67 – frederique.schmidt@equasens.com
Financial communications agency:
FIN’EXTENSO – Isabelle Aprile
Tel.: +33 (0)6 17 38 61 78 – i.aprile@finextenso.fr
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are not guarantees of future performance and are based on current opinions, forecasts and assumptions, including, but not limited to, assumptions about Equasens’ current and future strategy and the environment in which Equasens operates. These involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results or other events, to materially differ from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those detailed in Chapter 3 “Risk factors” of the Universal Registration Document filed with the French financial market authority (Autorité des Marchés Financiers or AMF) on April 29, 2025 under number D.25-0334. These forward-looking statements are valid only as of the date of this press release.
Attachment
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Villers-lès-Nancy (France), 30 June 2025 – 06:00 PM (CET)
PRESS RELEASE
EQUASENS ACQUIRES DIS AND RESURGENCES BUSINESSES, STRENGTHENING ITS POSITION IN THE MARKET OF SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTHCARE ESTABLISHMENTS.
Strengthening the position of a leading provider of software solutions for hospitals and the medical-social sector
***
Equasens Group (Euronext Paris™ – Compartment B – FR 0012882389 -$EQS), announces the completion of the acquisition on July 1, 2025, by its AXIGATE LINK Division through its subsidiary Axigate, of two businesses specialising in solutions for the public healthcare sector from a French software solutions editor.
This strategic acquisition which is a product of the exclusive negotiations announced on 30 April will contribute to Equasens’ goal to significantly strengthen its position in the hospital and medico-social software market, by creating a complete technology ecosystem to support the digital transformation of public and private establishments.
Scope and impact of the acquisition
The acquired business assets cover more than 300 customers in the public healthcare sector and generate annual sales of around €5m. They include:
These two activities have been integrated into the AXIGATE LINK Division, and will strengthen the HOSPILINK solution for Hospitals, Regional Hospital Groups (GHT) and specialised after-care and rehabilitation facilities and psychiatric facilities in France.
Growth strategy in action
This acquisition is fully in line with Equasens’ strategy for:
The resulting technical and commercial synergies with the AXIGATE LINK Division’s existing solutions will be a major growth driver by optimising resources and accelerating innovation.
This acquisition significantly reinforces the Group’s position as a key force in the transformation of the digital healthcare ecosystem, providing an even more precise and comprehensive solution for management and EPR (Electronic Patient Records) needs of healthcare establishments and their practitioners.
An industrial growth model and future prospects
The integration of these activities within the AXIGATE LINK Division reflects a clear industrial vision: to expand and complete its software offering for healthcare establishments by adding new technology building blocks to the AXIGATE LINK Division’s EPR solutions in various areas (accounting, billing, stock management and payroll).
The short-term objective is to develop the new building blocks originating from the acquisition to be integrated into the existing AXIGATE LINK Division ranges: HOSPILINK (hospital), TITANLINK (nursing homes) and DOMILINK (home care). For ResUrgences, the aim is to strengthen this specialized range while integrating it into the HOSPILINK range as a full-fledged module.
The medium-term objective is to create smooth, secure patient care pathways, by improving interoperability between the various services and users, based on our different solutions for institutions (emergency services, nursing homes, hospitals, hospital-at-home programmes, in-home nursing care services) and private healthcare practitioners (physicians, allied health professionals, pharmacies), by developing new functionalities based on artificial intelligence and data analysis, making it possible to retrieve information from patient records throughout the patient’s care pathway.
Denis Supplisson, Chief Executive Officer of Equasens, commented: “This acquisition illustrates our determination to expand and diversify within our core business – software for both private practice and hospital healthcare professionals – by targeting opportunities that make industrial and economic sense. By integrating the ResUrgences and DIS ranges, we are combining the added value of our medico-social and healthcare offerings to meet the growing digital needs of healthcare establishments. Our goal is to become the technology partner of choice to support the transformation of the French healthcare system, by harnessing the potential of innovation to benefit people: improving the handling of administrative and medical tasks to save time for users. ”
Grégoire de Rotalier, Deputy CEO of Equasens and Manager of the AXIGATE LINK Division, added: “For Equasens and the AXIGATE LINK Division, this quality acquisition significantly strengthens our presence in the public health sector, in terms of market share, expertise and product range. This acquisition further reinforces AXIGATE LINK’s strong position in the hospital, medico-social and home care sectors, and strengthens a team of 270 employees fully focused on serving 5,000 healthcare and medico-social establishment customers. ”
Timetable and integration
Operational integration of the teams and solutions will begin in Q3 2025, with a phased migration plan for customers to Equasens’ new technology platforms. Continuity of service is guaranteed throughout the transition period.
Upcoming financial communications
About Equasens Group – Follow us also on LinkedIn
Founded over 35 years ago, Equasens Group, a leader in digital healthcare solutions, today employs over 1.400 people across Europe.
Equasens Group’s specialised business applications facilitate the day-to-day work of healthcare professionals and their teams, working in private practice, collaborative medical structures or healthcare establishments. The Group also provides comprehensive support to healthcare professionals in the transformation of their profession by developing electronic equipment, digital solutions and healthcare robotics, as well as data hosting, financing and training adapted to their specific needs.
And reflecting the spirit of its tagline “Technology for a More Human Experience”, the Group is a leading provider of interoperability solutions that improve coordination between healthcare professionals, their communications and data exchange resulting in better patient care and a more efficient and secure healthcare system.
Listed on Euronext Paris™, Equasens Group (Compartment B – FR 0012882389 – $EQS) applies a two-pronged development strategy combining organic growth with targeted acquisitions at a European level.
CONTACTS
Analyst and Investor Relations:
Chief Administrative and Financial Officer: Frédérique Schmidt
Tel: +33 (0)3 83 15 90 67 – frederique.schmidt@equasens.com
Financial communications agency:
FIN’EXTENSO – Isabelle Aprile
Tel.: +33 (0)6 17 38 61 78 – i.aprile@finextenso.fr
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are not guarantees of future performance and are based on current opinions, forecasts and assumptions, including, but not limited to, assumptions about Equasens’ current and future strategy and the environment in which Equasens operates. These involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results or other events, to materially differ from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those detailed in Chapter 3 “Risk factors” of the Universal Registration Document filed with the French financial market authority (Autorité des Marchés Financiers or AMF) on April 29, 2025 under number D.25-0334. These forward-looking statements are valid only as of the date of this press release.
Attachment
Source: European Union 2
Construction of the EU’s first net-positive emissions building has begun in Seville, Spain. It will go beyond carbon neutrality by offsetting CO₂ from the atmosphere, mainly through generating solar energy that far exceeds its own operational needs. It will take around 2 years to complete.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Almere, The Netherlands
June 30, 2025, 5:45 p.m. CET
ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) reports the following transactions, conducted under ASM’s current share buyback program.
| Date | Repurchased shares | Average price | Repurchased value |
| June 23, 2025 | 9,874 | € 517.47 | € 5,109,461 |
| June 24, 2025 | 11,169 | € 533.12 | € 5,954,417 |
| June 25, 2025 | 10,980 | € 545.59 | € 5,990,567 |
| Total | 32,023 | € 532.57 | € 17,054,445 |
These repurchases were made as part of the €150 million share buyback program which started on April 30, 2025. Of the total program, 40.0% has been repurchased. For further details including individual transaction information please visit: www.asm.com/investors/dividends-share-buybacks.
About ASM International
ASM International N.V., headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, and its subsidiaries design and manufacture equipment and process solutions to produce semiconductor devices for wafer processing, and have facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia. ASM International’s common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol: ASM). For more information, visit ASM’s website at www.asm.com.
This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.
| Contact
Investor and media relations Victor Bareño |
|
Investor relations Valentina Fantigrossi |
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
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Source: City of Derby
People across Derbyshire are being asked to have their say on how local council services are delivered in the future, as part of the biggest change to local government in 50 years.
A proposal drawn up by Derbyshire’s eight district and borough councils, together with Derby City Council, would see the 10 councils that provide services across the county replaced with two councils – one covering the north of the county, and one covering the south.
Now, people and organisations across Derbyshire are being asked for their views about the ‘One Derbyshire, two councils’ proposal as part of a public consultation running until 10 August 2025.
The decision to launch a local government reorganisation process was taken by central government, which wants to simplify how councils are organised across the whole of England and make them more efficient – reducing costs while delivering services that are better, and more joined-up.
The government asked local councils to work together to draw up initial proposals for their area and it is now time for local people to have their say, before proposals for Derbyshire are finalised and submitted to government later this year.
In a joint statement, the Leaders of Derbyshire’s eight district and borough councils, and city council, said:
The current structure of local government in Derbyshire dates back to 1974 and the way people live their lives has changed beyond recognition since then.
Government has asked councils to work together to come up with plans which modernise and simplify council structures, so all services are run by single authorities and they’re easier for people, communities and businesses to deal with.
Our proposal recognises that Derbyshire is a large county with differing needs – and in considering the options, we’ve put local people and places first.
With one council covering southern Derbyshire and one covering northern Derbyshire, we believe we will have councils that are big enough to deliver efficient services, but close enough to listen and respond to the needs of our communities.
We know local identity – at both a county and area level – is really important to people. The proposal for two councils will maintain our county’s historic border, including the city of Derby, which is a key centre of economic growth. And although the council boundaries will no longer exist in the way they do now, our communities and places will remain – that sense of belonging is about the people who make up a community, not lines on a map.
We now want to hear from people and organisations across our communities. This is your chance to help shape how services will be delivered in your local area, and how your place fits into the wider plans for Derbyshire.
In places like Derbyshire, local services are currently delivered under what is known as a ‘two-tier’ council structure.
This means that some services are delivered by a borough or district council, and others are provided by Derbyshire County Council. Within Derbyshire, there is also Derby City Council which is a ‘unitary’ council providing all services to the communities it serves.
Between them, these councils are responsible for a vast range of local services. The county council provides services like social care for children and adults, education and transport, while district and borough councils are responsible for services such as bin collections, planning, and leisure centres. Derby City Council provides all of these council services to the communities it serves.
Under the proposal, two new councils would be created, each responsible for delivering all services in their local area – one in the north and one in the south.
There are three possible options for how the area currently covered by Amber Valley Borough Council could be included in the new structure: placed entirely in the northern council, entirely in the southern council, or with different parishes joining each of the two councils, depending on where they may best fit.
Early forecasts* suggest that this new structure of local government in Derbyshire could save between £56m and £93m over five years, through reduced duplication of services, fewer council buildings, fewer councillors and senior officers, and being able to achieve better economies of scale when buying and delivering services. However, at this stage the councils are rightfully cautious and careful in relation to financial projections, as there remains much to be assessed and understood as the local government reorganisation process progresses.
The Leaders added:
Our proposal also supports a strong Derbyshire for the future – creating councils which can develop more strategic approaches to economic development, regeneration and county-wide infrastructure, while working closely and more efficiently with the new East Midlands Mayor and East Midlands Combined County Authority, which guides large-scale investment across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
The views of people and organisations will feed into the development of final proposals, which must be considered by existing councils and submitted to Government by 28 November 2025.
Government will then review the proposals for Derbyshire, and for twenty other county areas across England, before making final decisions in the Summer of 2026. If the Government accepts the proposals for Derbyshire, elections for the new shadow authorities would take place in 2027 and new councils would start to operate by April 2028.
To find out more about local government reorganisation in Derbyshire and give your views in the consultation visit the consultation website. The online questionnaire will take around 10 minutes to complete.
* Note: These figures are estimated using figures of similar Local Government Reorganisations. They do not take account of Derbyshire’s particular circumstances and are indicative only.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
International Petroleum Corporation (IPC or the Corporation) (TSX, Nasdaq Stockholm: IPCO) reports the following, in accordance with the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act:
Following the cancellation of 288,027 common shares repurchased by IPC under the normal course issuer bid / share repurchase program, the total number of issued and outstanding common shares of the Corporation is 113,354,532 common shares with voting rights as at June 30, 2025 and IPC holds no common shares in treasury.
International Petroleum Corp. (IPC) is an international oil and gas exploration and production company with a high quality portfolio of assets located in Canada, Malaysia and France, providing a solid foundation for organic and inorganic growth. IPC is a member of the Lundin Group of Companies. IPC is incorporated in Canada and IPC’s shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange under the symbol “IPCO”.
For further information, please contact:
| Rebecca Gordon SVP Corporate Planning and Investor Relations rebecca.gordon@international-petroleum.com Tel: +41 22 595 10 50 |
Or |
Robert Eriksson Media Manager reriksson@rive6.ch Tel: +46 701 11 26 15 |
This information is information that International Petroleum Corporation is required to make public pursuant to the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the contact persons set out above, at 17:30 CEST on June 30, 2025.
Attachment
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Robinhood Stock Tokens will allow EU customers to get exposure to the US stock market
Robinhood will also launch a new Layer 2 blockchain to power the tokenization of Real World Assets
MENLO PARK, Calif., June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, at Robinhood Presents: To Catch a Token in Cannes, France, we unveiled a suite of new products that mark a major step forward for crypto. From expanding Robinhood to over 400 million people across 30 EU and EEA countries, to launching stock and ETF tokens, we’re building toward a future where investing is simpler, smarter, and more accessible worldwide.
“Our latest offerings lay the groundwork for crypto to become the backbone of the global financial system,” said Robinhood Chairman and CEO Vlad Tenev.
Tokenization and Layer 2 Blockchain
We’ve launched US stock and ETF tokens in the EU, giving eligible customers exposure to US equities with Robinhood Stock Tokens—featuring zero commissions or added spreads from Robinhood (other fees may apply), dividend support, and 24/5 access. With tokenized stocks, our European app transitions from being a crypto-only app to an all-in-one investment app powered by crypto.
European customers will have access to 200+ US stock and ETF tokens. Stock token holders will also receive dividend payments directly in their app.
“Crypto was built by engineers for engineers, and has not been accessible to most people,” said Johann Kerbrat, GM and SVP of Robinhood Crypto. “We’re onboarding the world to crypto by making it as easy to use as possible—with the goal of bringing powerful tools into one intuitive platform.”
Stock tokens will initially be issued on Arbitrum. In the future, tokenized stocks will be facilitated by our very own Robinhood Layer 2 blockchain, based on Arbitrum. Currently in development, the Robinhood blockchain will be optimized for tokenized real-world assets and built to support 24/7 trading, seamless bridging, and self-custody.
Perpetual Futures
We are introducing crypto perpetual futures in the EU, where we will offer eligible customers access to a new class of derivatives with continuous exposure and up to 3x leverage. Perpetuals will be 100% rolled out to eligible customers by the end of the summer. Designed to help reduce the complexity typically associated with trading perpetuals, we built our interface with intuitive controls for setting position size and managing margin. Orders are routed through Bitstamp’s perpetual futures exchange.
This launch will mark an important step in serving active traders across the globe with advanced trading tools in an intuitive platform.
Crypto Staking in the US
Crypto staking is launching to eligible US customers, starting with Ethereum and Solana. With our user-friendly interface, you can now participate in blockchain ecosystems and access competitive reward rates by contributing to network operations. Crypto staking is also available to all Robinhood customers in the EU and EEA.
Expanded Product Suite
There’s more—we’ve rolled out a suite of new products to make trading crypto on Robinhood even more powerful and seamless.
To learn more about today’s announcements, visit go.robinhood.com/presents.
Disclosures:
Terms apply. Eligibility and restrictions vary by region.
US stock and ETF tokens and crypto perpetual futures trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Please carefully consider if investing in such financial instruments is appropriate for you based on your specific experience, risk tolerance, and financial situation. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply.
Staking is not available in every state.
To Catch a Token is sponsored by Robinhood Europe, UAB (“RHEU”). RHEU (company code: 306377915) is authorized and regulated by the Bank of Lithuania (“BoL”) as a financial brokerage firm and a crypto-asset service provider. RHEU’s registered address is: Mėsinių 5, LT-01133 Vilnius, Lithuania; address for correspondence: Konstitucijos pr, 21A (QUADRUM East), LT-08130, Vilnius, Lithuania; website.
Cryptocurrency services in the US are offered through an account with Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840). Robinhood Crypto, LLC (“RHC”) is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Cryptocurrency held through Robinhood Crypto is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected.
Robinhood Gold Visa® Credit Card is offered by Robinhood Credit, Inc. (“RCT”), and is issued by Coastal Community Bank, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. RCT is a financial technology company, not a bank. Must have Robinhood Financial brokerage account to redeem crypto. See Robinhood Gold Card Rewards Program Rules for detail and other redemption options. Rewards Program Rules are subject to change. The Gold Card requires an annual Robinhood Gold subscription to apply and maintain the card and does not include a 30 day free trial.
Robinhood Gold is a subscription-based membership program of premium services offered through Robinhood Gold, LLC (“RHG”).
US Deposit boost is paid in cash into your self-directed individual brokerage account and applies to eligible net crypto deposits from an external address to your crypto account between June 24 and July 7, 2025. Any 2% bonus will be applied retroactively to your net eligible deposits once the combined net crypto deposits across the Robinhood Platform exceeds $500M during the promotion period. Potential bonus deductions will be pulled from your self-directed individual brokerage account. Bonus offered by Robinhood Crypto, LLC. Cryptocurrency held through Robinhood Crypto is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected. See terms and conditions.
EU Bonus is paid in crypto and applies to eligible net crypto deposits from an external address to your account between 28 May to 7 July, 2025. Excludes deposits of USDC and EURC. Any 2% bonus will be applied retroactively to your eligible deposits once the combined net crypto deposits across the Robinhood Platform exceeds $500M during the promotion period. Dollar value of crypto deposits is determined by Robinhood in its reasonable discretion based on applicable market rates. You cannot trade or withdraw your bonus for 1 year. Other terms apply.
All investments involve risk and loss of principal is possible.
Robinhood Financial LLC (“RHF”) (member SIPC), is a registered broker-dealer.
Robinhood Cortex showcases a conceptual framework illustrating how Robinhood envisions the integration of traditional investing tools with Artificial Intelligence (‘AI’). Currently, Robinhood Cortex is designed to incorporate AI but Trade Builder does not. There is no guarantee that AI will improve investing performance, mitigate risk, or reduce losses.
RHEU, RHC, RCT, RHG and RHF are separate but affiliated entities and are wholly owned subsidiaries of Robinhood Markets, Inc. (‘Robinhood’).
About Robinhood
Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOD) transformed financial services by introducing commission-free stock trading and democratizing access to the markets for millions of investors. Today, Robinhood lets you trade stocks, options, futures (which includes options on futures, swaps, and event contracts), and crypto, invest for retirement, and earn with Robinhood Gold. Headquartered in Menlo Park, California, Robinhood puts customers in the driver’s seat, delivering unprecedented value and products intentionally designed for a new generation of investors. Additional information about Robinhood can be found at www.robinhood.com.
A Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This blog post includes forward-looking statements about Robinhood Markets, Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “Robinhood,” “we,” or the “Company”), including statements regarding our planned product launches and developments, including our Layer 2 blockchain, tokenized stocks and ETFs, crypto perpetual futures and staking, Cortex, and other upcoming features. These statements are based on current assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such risks include, but are not limited to, regulatory developments, market demand, legal challenges, technological changes, and economic conditions. Our forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause our actual future results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied in this blog post. Because some of these risks and uncertainties cannot be predicted or quantified and some are beyond our control, you should not rely on our forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. More information about potential risks and uncertainties that could affect our business and financial results can be found in the “Risk Factors” section in Part I, Item 1A of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, and in other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. Except as otherwise noted, all forward-looking statements in this blog post are made as of the date of this blog post, June 30, 2025, and are based on information and estimates available to us at this time. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update any of the statements in this blog post whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances, or otherwise. You should read this blog post with the understanding that our actual future results, performance, events, and circumstances might be materially different from what we expect.
© 2025 Robinhood
Contacts
Investor Relations
ir@robinhood.com
Media
press@robinhood.com
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d0ff35df-ed50-4cc0-98c8-97ba8ee6aa33
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a752aac-2ca9-4e66-9cf3-af87513160ce
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/903feb9a-4a24-4da9-9b8d-39751210a515
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ecd2144a-7583-4e25-b27e-6bce6e4cc563
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
SHREWSBURY, United Kingdom, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lightchain AI, the AI-native blockchain protocol enabling intelligent on-chain computation, has officially entered its Final Bonus Round after successfully raising over $21 million across 15 structured presale stages. This marks the last opportunity for early participants to access the platform before its mainnet launch in July 2025.
With a mission to enable autonomous intelligence on-chain, Lightchain AI is building decentralized infrastructure optimized for real-time artificial intelligence execution. By combining AI-specialized computation, scalable architecture, and a fair validator-driven consensus model, the platform offers developers, builders, and researchers a robust foundation for next-generation decentralized AI applications.
A Blockchain Purpose-Built for AI
At the heart of Lightchain AI is its Artificial Intelligence Virtual Machine (AIVM)—a next-gen execution environment tailored for AI logic, machine learning workflows, and intelligent agents. Paired with a novel Proof of Intelligence (PoI)consensus mechanism, the protocol incentivizes nodes to perform useful AI computation that strengthens the network while enabling practical, real-world use cases.
Lightchain AI’s infrastructure supports low-latency processing, seamless scalability through sharding, and transparent AI operations auditable via its Transparent AI Framework. From data analytics to autonomous decision-making, the network provides an end-to-end environment for deploying AI in a decentralized, accountable, and secure way.
Community-Led Ecosystem Development
A defining characteristic of Lightchain AI’s growth is its commitment to transparency and community-first token distribution. The initial 5% team token allocation has been fully reallocated to ecosystem growth, developer grants, validator support, and infrastructure funding. This move reinforces the project’s builder-centric approach and long-term decentralization goals.
In preparation for mainnet, Lightchain AI has launched a $150,000 grant program to support developers building tools, dApps, and infrastructure. The platform’s Developer Portal offers streamlined onboarding through accessible APIs, SDKs, and comprehensive documentation. Meanwhile, Lightchain’s public GitHub repositories are set to go live shortly, enabling open-source contributions and transparent development.
Final Bonus Round Now Live
With over $21 million already raised, Lightchain AI has now opened its Final Bonus Round—an exclusive phase for contributors who missed the initial presale stages. This round offers fixed pricing and access to unique ecosystem incentives designed to reward early community participation.
“We’re proud of the incredible support Lightchain AI has received from the community, investors, and developers,” said a Lightchain AI spokesperson. “The Final Bonus Round is the last opportunity to join the network before we launch mainnet and begin onboarding intelligent dApps at scale.”
Key Milestones Ahead
As the Lightchain AI team approaches mainnet readiness, several milestones are planned for Q3 2025:
By fusing blockchain’s decentralization with AI’s computational power, Lightchain AI is pioneering an entirely new category of infrastructure—one where intelligence is not just on-chain, but autonomous, efficient, and equitable.
Learn More and Participate
Lightchain AI invites all builders, researchers, validators, and contributors to join the Final Bonus Round and become part of a decentralized intelligence revolution.
Website: https://lightchain.ai
Whitepaper: https://lightchain.ai/lightchain-whitepaper.pdf
Twitter/X: https://x.com/LightchainAI
Telegram: https://t.me/LightchainProtocol
Contact:
SHAJAN SKARIA
media@lightchain.ai
Disclaimer: This content is provided by Lightchain AI. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.
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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e5208f87-7f92-44ac-a022-271a528db956
Source: Channel Islands – Jersey
The new breast screening unit at the Enid Quenault Health and Wellbeing Centre is due to be officially opened on Wednesday 2 July.
As previously announced, Improvements to breast screening programme, enhancements have been made to the breast screening service as part of a project to ensure that by the end of 2027, all eligible women will be automatically called up for breast screening rather than having to inform Health and Care Jersey that they would like to be screened.
The project was only possible thanks to a new £255,000 mammography machine paid for by The John Clive Le Seelleur Trust, and funding from the charity Jersey Cancer Relief for additional members of staff.
Since it opened in November, about 3,000 people have been screened in the new unit. Feedback from those who have accessed the unit has been positive with 100% of the 103 people who responded to an online survey rating their overall experience as ‘very good’ (94) or ‘good’ (8). One respondent said: “The lady who did my screening was lovely as are all staff in the mammography department on past appointments”.
At 4.30pm on Wednesday 2 July, former Health Minister Anne Pryke, now Chair of Jersey Cancer Relief, and whose mother is Enid Quenault who was Connétable of St Brelade, will officially open the unit. The Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Tom Binet, along with his Assistant Ministers; Deputies Rose Binet, Andy Howell and Barbara Ward will also attend the opening. They will be joined by HCJ Chief Officer Tom Walker, representatives from ABC Jersey and Macmillan Jersey as well as HCJ colleagues who were a part of the project.
The Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Tom Binet, said: “I’m delighted to hear that since it opened, this vital new unit has managed to see around 3,000 women. I would like to thank staff who are clearly providing an exceptional service as it was very heartening to hear the great feedback from those who have attended a screening.
“I would also like to thank the charities for their generous support in helping us to enhance our breast screening service. This new machine will play an important role in helping us to detect cancer early and so help save lives.”
Anne Pryke, Chair of Jersey Cancer Relief, said: “It is an honour to officially open the new breast screening unit at the Enid Quenault Health and Wellbeing Centre. This state-of-the-art facility represents a significant step forward in the early detection of breast cancer, and we are proud to support such a vital service for women in Jersey.
“The dedication of the screening team is truly inspiring, and everyone at Jersey Cancer Relief is proud to be helping make a lasting impact through this project, but we wouldn’t be able to support important projects of this nature without the generosity of our donors.”
Source: Aisle of Wight
Island residents are being invited to take part in a region-wide survey that will help shape the future of local government across the region.
The Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) survey — now live — gives everyone the chance to share their views on how councils could be restructured to better serve local communities.
The Isle of Wight Council is working in partnership with councils across Hampshire, Portsmouth, and Southampton to explore changes to the current system.
While most of Hampshire operates under a two-tier structure — with services split between county and district or borough councils — the Isle of Wight already functions as a unitary authority, delivering all local services directly.
Under the proposals being considered, the Isle of Wight would remain a unitary authority. Meanwhile, the mainland councils are exploring the creation of four new unitary councils to replace the existing 15-council structure.
This joint survey marks the next phase of the LGR process, following the submission of an interim plan for change earlier this year.
It focuses on gathering feedback from across the area, with a particular emphasis on local community identity.
Island residents are being encouraged to take part and make their voices heard before 27 July 2025.
More information about the LGR process is available on the Isle of Wight Council website.
Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh
The community turned out in full force to our second Tak£500+ Market Stall and Decision Making event last weekend in Armagh. Local groups showcased their amazing project ideas to the crowds who then had a chance to vote for their favourites!
The next event takes place this Saturday 5 July, 2pm to 5pm in South Lake Leisure Centre. Come along and check out all the projects within the Craigavon area and vote for your favourite to receive up to £1000! See you there!
Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh
New public toilets are now open at Queensferry’s Hawes Pier for use by residents and visitors to the area.
Funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the new public toilets are designed to provide modern, accessible amenities while respecting the historical significance of the iconic location.
The toilets incorporate energy-efficient and low-carbon technology, including sustainable materials, energy-saving features and a green roof. The surrounding area has been adapted to provide wheelchair accessibility and step-free entry.
These are the first of four new toilet units to be installed across the city this summer, with further toilets in the Meadows, Leith Links and Inverleith Park opening in the next month.
Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, said:
These new facilities are both convenient and inclusive, and were designed with community feedback in mind.
Thanks to UK Government funding through the Shared Prosperity Fund we’ve been able to meet a local need with this toilet unit, which has been built with accessibility at the heart of the project.
I am very pleased that both residents and visitors will be able to benefit from the state-of-the art facilities.
The facility has been designed to be accessible, inclusive, and easy to maintain, providing a long-needed amenity at one of the busiest entry points to the town and Forth Bridge visitors.
The toilets have:
Some finishing touches such as the installation of benches, bike racks and external bins will be completed throughout July.
For further updates on the project, please visit Edinburgh Thriving Greenspaces website.
Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh
The Council has reinforced its commitment to its highly valued Holiday Hubs.
The Council has reinforced its commitment to its highly valued Holiday Hubs as it announces a new set of criteria for access to the school holiday provision for children and young people currently in P1 – S6 with Additional Support Needs.
For over two decades the Council has offered Holiday Hubs for families of children with additional support needs but in recent years this provision has expanded beyond the point at which it is sustainable with differing expectations of the provision and challenges around increasing need and potential inequalities.
Extensive consultation with families who use and rely on this school holiday support has taken place over the last 6-months as options for a new safe and sustainable model for Holiday Hubs have been discussed and explored.
Following agreement at Education, Children and Families Committee on 10 June, the City of Edinburgh Council has introduced new eligibility criteria for holiday hub support. The new criteria will ensure that holiday support is directed to children and young people in the City of Edinburgh with the most complex needs and vulnerability.
The new criteria will be applied to applications for academic session 2025/26 and will ensure that those with the most need will be allocated up to 4 weeks provision across the October break, February break, Easter and the Summer holidays. Details of the new criteria and how to apply can be found on the council website.
Applications for academic session August 2025 to August 2026 are now open. The closing date for applications is 10 August 2025.
Parents/carers of children who meet the criteria and wish to be considered for a place at a Holiday Hub, should apply online.
Families requiring support with their application should contact their school or email holidaysupport@edinburgh.gov.uk
Councillor James Dalgleish, Education, Children and Families Convener said:
I warmly welcome the clarity that this new criteria offers families of children with additional support needs who rely on our holiday hub provision. Our focus over the past 6 months has been to secure a safe, achievable and sustainable way forward for Holiday Hubs while also exploring how we can best meet the needs of some of Edinburgh’s most vulnerable children, and their families. I want to thank all the parents and carers who have given up their time to share invaluable thoughts and views on holiday hub support. This is a positive step forward and my hope is that it offers reassurance to families as we look ahead to the new school year in August.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3
UK visit to Turkey to bolster defence and security ties
The UK’s deep security and trade links with Turkey are set to be further strengthened as the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, visits Ankara today [Monday 30 June].
In his first bilateral visit to the country, the Foreign Secretary will seek to advance UK-Turkish efforts on shared priorities, including joint work on regional security and the deepening of UK-Turkey trade and defence ties.
While in Ankara, the Foreign Secretary will meet Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss stability in the Middle East and efforts to secure a just, lasting peace in Ukraine following Russia’s illegal invasion. As close NATO allies, the UK and Turkey are working together to push for diplomatic solutions and an end to ongoing violence which threatens regional and global security.
As set out in the recent National Security Strategy, security and defence collaboration with Turkey is imperative to UK security interests. This includes joint work on the prospective export of Eurofighter Typhoons to Turkey, and the government is clear that welcoming Turkey as a Typhoon operator will build on the bonds of friendship developed over many decades between key NATO Allies.
Our cooperation with Turkey also delivers our security objectives of tackling global challenges such as terrorism, serious organised crime and irregular migration.
The strengthening of the UK-Turkey trading relationship will also be a key priority for the Foreign Secretary, with his visit coming as the UK and Turkey begin negotiations over a new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) designed to unlock more opportunities for British and Turkish businesses.
UK-Turkey trade was worth almost £28 billion in 2024 and directly supports tens of thousands of UK jobs – furthering strengthening this relationship is a priority for the Foreign Secretary and will help to stimulate UK economic growth, a key part of the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change.
Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said:
In an increasingly volatile world, the UK and Turkey remain the closest of friends and partners as we work together to find peaceful solutions to conflict in the Middle East and Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Ours is a relationship which delivers directly for Turkish and British citizens at home – trade between our nations is responsible for thousands of jobs, while our security and defence links help keep our people safe.
During his visit, the Foreign Secretary will see a range of Turkish produced armoured vehicles built using UK-made safety equipment and engines at the Nurol Makina factory.
Later, at Ankara Airport, he will meet with Country President Simon Ward from aerospace company, Airbus, to mark a recent deal between Airbus and Turkish cargo airline MNG Airlines for commercial aircraft containing British-made Rolls Royce engines, worth hundreds of millions to the UK and Turkish economies.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
TEHRAN, June 30 (Xinhua) — Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Monday accused the United States of “betraying” diplomacy, saying Washington’s alleged role in recent military strikes against Israel jeopardizes the future of proximity talks on Iran’s nuclear program.
At a weekly press conference in Tehran, spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the United States had encouraged the Israeli attack, which came just two days before the scheduled sixth round of Oman-brokered Iran-US talks.
The US has betrayed the diplomatic process, he stressed, adding that “one cannot expect that this fact will not affect the continuation of negotiations.”
The diplomat also rejected US accusations that Iran was not serious about the talks, calling them “baseless” and a pretext to justify the strikes.
In addition, E. Baghaei criticized Germany and France for supporting Israel, singling out German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s remarks, which described Israeli actions as “the dirty work that Israel is doing for all of us.” These words will bring “historical and eternal shame on Germany,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said. -0-
Source: Government of Canada News (2)
June 30, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada
Access to development financing is essential to help countries thrive. It grows businesses, creates jobs, and builds a more secure future for families and communities at home and abroad. It also plays a critical role in supporting underserved communities in emerging markets as they make progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
To help drive progress on these priorities, the Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development), today participated in the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), a high-level UN event, taking place from June 30 to July 3, 2025, in Sevilla, Spain.
At the conference, Secretary of State Sarai reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to sustainable development and to building a more inclusive international financing system. As a clear example of this commitment, Canada contributed The Common Principles for Private Capital Mobilization to the Sevilla Platform for Action. Canada is co-leading this work alongside France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. The Common Principles will serve as a road map for Canada and others to mobilize private capital for sustainable development now and into the future.
Secretary of State Sarai also announced 3 initiatives aimed at mobilizing sustainable investments in emerging markets. They are as follows:
Following Secretary of State Sarai’s departure, Bob Rae, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations in New York, who also attended the conference, highlighted Scaling Capital for Sustainable Development (SCALED) on his behalf. Canada is contributing approximately $50 million to the SCALED initiative.
SCALED will help address major barriers to private sector investment in developing countries by simplifying and standardizing blended finance structures, as well as quickly and efficiently get investments to market in support of the SDGs.
These investments demonstrate Canada’s commitment to mobilizing all sources of finance. Combined private and public investment strengthens economic growth and stability in developing markets, helping achieve the SDGs.
Source: Government of Canada News (2)
June 30, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Research Council of Canada
After a groundbreaking year, Canada and Germany concluded their historic co-chairship of the Eureka Network. For the first time in the network’s history, 2 countries jointly led the world’s largest public network for research and innovation.
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and Germany’s Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) led the year-long co-chairship, which ran from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. Together, the co-chairs advanced the strategic goals of Eureka, facilitated new partnerships, and supported research and innovation projects across various industries and countries.
With the conclusion of the Canada–Germany co-chairship, the baton has officially passed to Switzerland for the 2025–2026 term. Canada remains fully committed to global collaborative innovation. As we move forward, we will continue to work side by side with our global partners — going further together.
Source: Government of Qatar
Sevilla, June 30, 2025
The State of Qatar participated in the high-level opening session of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) currently taking place in Seville in the Kingdom of Spain.
The State of Qatar’s delegation to the session was headed by HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad.
The conference comes to follow up on the United Nations’ (UN) process on financing for development by reinforcing the agreements and commitments of the three previous international conferences.
The first of which was held in Monterrey, Mexico, in 2002 where fundamental principles for development financing were established.
Doha hosted the second conference in 2008 amid the global financial crisis, giving it particular significance in addressing the impact of the crisis on developing countries.
The third conference, which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2015, resulted in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, a comprehensive framework for financing sustainable development.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)
Washington, DC – On Friday, House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee Chairwoman Young Kim (CA-40), Arms Sales Task Force Chairman Ryan Zinke (MT-01), and Rep. Madeleine Dean (PA-04) introduced the AUKUS Reform for Military Optimization and Review Act (ARMOR) Act, a bipartisan bill that would streamline and strengthen the Australia, United Kingdom, and United States (AUKUS) trilateral security partnership.
POLITICO National Security Daily first covered the bill HERE.
The ARMOR Act strengthens the expedited review process for AUKUS transfers, exports, and other activities involving advanced technologies and defense articles and services.
“The AUKUS trilateral security partnership protects our national security and projects shared strength,” said Congresswoman Kim. “The ARMOR Act will improve and streamline the expedited review process for AUKUS activities involving advanced technologies and defense articles and services. This will ensure that AUKUS Pillar II works as intended and with speed to deter pressing security threats. I thank Reps. Zinke and Dean for joining me in this bipartisan effort.”
“Since it’s creation in 2021, AUKUS has played a transformative role in allowing the United States to counter the rising threat China poses and shape a free and open Indo-Pacific for years to come,” said Congresswoman Dean. “This legislation will strengthen the historic AUKUS partnership by streamlining arms sales to some of our closest allies — Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada — while preserving Congress’s oversight authority and protecting the most sensitive U.S. technologies that underpin our security. I am grateful to work with Representative Kim to champion this critical, bipartisan effort to support our allies and bolster our shared defense.”
“The United States shares a special relationship with the UK and Australia that goes far beyond a mutual language; our countries are the closest of allies and we collaborate on economic and global security to make the world a safer and more prosperous place. Expediting the sale of defense items and services to these close allies will strengthen our partnership and enhance America’s strength worldwide. I am proud to support this important piece of bipartisan legislation from Congresswoman Kim, and I look forward to continuing our work on the Foreign Military Sales Task Force,” said Congressman Zinke.
AUKUS is a trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States formed in 2021. There are two pillars of AUKUS:
Read more about the bill HERE and read the bill HERE.
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
The Petitions Committee has scheduled a debate relating to driven grouse shooting.
John Lamont MP has been asked by the Committee to open the debate. The Government will send a Minister to respond.
Read the petition:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700036
Find petitions you agree with, and sign them: https://petition.parliament.uk/
What are petition debates?
Petition debates are ‘general’ debates which allow MPs from all parties to discuss the important issues raised by one or more petitions, and put their concerns to Government Ministers.
Petition debates don’t end with a vote to implement the request of a petition. This means that MPs will not vote on the issues raised in the petition at the end of the debate.
The Petitions Committee can only schedule debates on petitions to parliament started on petition.parliament.uk
Find out more about how petition debates work: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/content/194347/how-petitions-debates-work/
Stay up-to-date
Follow the Committee on Twitter for real-time updates on its work: https://www.twitter.com/hocpetitions
Thumbnail image ©UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Media Stakeout at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development FFD4 (Sevilla, Spain).
Speakers:
José Manuel Albares Bueno, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain
Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg
Paulo Rangel, Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal
Åsmund Grøver Aukrust,Minister of International Development of Norway
Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
A new report shows the agency’s progress in implementing changes brought in by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.
Economic crime costs the UK economy billions annually, and Companies House is leading a major transformation to combat this through new powers granted by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.
A new progress report on the implementation of these powers demonstrates how Companies House is transforming from a passive register to an active gatekeeper and gives examples of how the agency is actively tackling economic crime and improving register data.
Key to Companies House progress is strengthened collaboration with The Insolvency Service and other law enforcement agencies to present a unified front against economic crime.
The report covers progress in the implementation of secondary legislation, Companies House and Limited Partnership reform, and updates on the Register of Overseas Entities and enforcement of the new powers.
The report includes detail on how Companies House has:
queried and removed false, misleading or incorrect information from the registers, with an impact on 100,400 companies – this often relates to the hijacking of innocent people’s identities or addresses, usually to enable criminality such as fraud or money laundering
rejected 10,200 suspicious applications including where evidence has suggested mass incorporations at certain addresses are taking place – this practice has a known link with money laundering
collaborated with The Insolvency Service and partners to identify approximately £50 million in UK property related to companies owned by organised criminals, which is now subject to ongoing asset recovery investigations
played an active role in the first Europol Asset Sprint, which saw 43 law enforcement agencies across 28 countries, along with private sector partners, participating in this unique initiative aimed at enhancing the number of criminal assets seized globally
The report represents another significant milestone in the transformation of Companies House as it looks to achieve its vision of a transparent corporate framework that both supports economic growth and fights economic crime.
Chief executive of Companies House Louise Smyth said:
These reforms represent a significant transformation of Companies House and I’m proud to see the real-world impact they’re already having.
Our latest report demonstrates how we’re strengthening the UK’s business environment by taking direct action against those misusing corporate structures, while improving the accuracy and reliability of our register for legitimate businesses.
Our new intelligence capabilities have now already facilitated approximately 850 intelligence reports to law enforcement partners, while our risk-based approach targets resources where they’ll have the greatest impact on economic crime.
As we prepare for the next phase of implementation, including mandatory identity verification by autumn 2025, we remain committed to creating a transparent company register that supports economic growth while making the UK a hostile environment for those looking to commit economic crime.
Director of Investigation and Enforcement Services at The Insolvency Service Dave Magrath said:
The Insolvency Service’s close collaboration with Companies House is delivering positive results in the fight against economic crime, with joint efforts already identifying thousands of suspicious companies and millions in criminal assets.
Our investigative and enforcement powers, combined with Companies House’s enhanced intelligence capabilities, allow us to take decisive action against those who exploit company structures for fraud and money laundering.
Together, we’re building a more robust and trusted business environment that benefits legitimate companies while making the UK much harder for fraudsters to operate in.
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
UKAEA and East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) announce a new 20-year collaboration to advance fusion energy training and skills development.
Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, and Nick Walkden, UKAEA’s Head of Fusion Skills, signing the collaboration agreement at the Fusion Energy Cafe in Worksop, Notts. Copyright United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.
The collaboration will focus on developing and delivering fusion related skills, including apprenticeships and wider vocational training programmes, to support the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) project – the UK’s first prototype fusion energy power plant that will be built on the West Burton site in Nottinghamshire.
This new collaboration will not only provide crucial skills for STEP but also support a growing fusion industry across the region. An Economic and Wider Impact Assessment commissioned by relevant local authorities has calculated that by the time it is fully operational, the West Burton site is anticipated to accommodate 6,500 full-time jobs across STEP and the surrounding business park, equivalent to 12.5% of the current total workplace jobs in Bassetlaw. Around half of the forecast STEP Campus construction jobs are expected to require Level 3+ qualifications, and it is estimated that nearly three quarters of the on-site jobs on the STEP Campus are expected to require individuals with Level 4+ qualifications.
Fusion has the potential to provide abundant, clean power, and deliver energy security, and bolstered by the government’s record £2.5 billion investment, the sector promises to create thousands of jobs and empower the UK to export its world-leading technology to a global market, expected to be worth trillions of pounds in the future.
UKAEA is committed to facilitating the training of the next generation of British scientists and engineers. The East Midlands benefits from an outstanding base of training and skills providers, and universities. This EMCCA-led collaborative will bring together the best of this existing provision to empower people in the region to meet the skill needs of this globally significant clean energy programme.
Training provided through the new collaborative will be designed with flexibility to adapt as the STEP programme and the West Burton site evolves. Initial training will focus on the engineering and project skills needed to complete plant design, with construction and operational skills as focus areas for future stages of the programme.
The collaboration will deliver fusion-relevant courses through existing training sites across the EMCCA geography, South Yorkshire, and Greater Lincolnshire. Colleges, training providers, and universities are already mobilising to offer more places for construction and clean energy qualifications, gearing up the region to deliver on its emerging inclusive growth strategy even before the West Burton facility is in place.
I am delighted to announce EMCCA as our partner in this exciting new training collaboration, which will be delivered out of our planned West Burton Training Facility,
said UKAEA’s Head of Fusion Skills and FOSTER (Fusion, Opportunities, Skills, Training, Education and Research) Programme Director, Nick Walkden.
People are the most important element of any programme or project. We have listened and learned from other major research, engineering, and infrastructure projects and believe that an early and focussed attention to local skills and workforce growth will be a critical enabler to success.
STEP is a programme with global impact and, as with the successive Governments who have recognised fusion’s potential to have a significant and positive impact on the nation’s economy, we are equally committed to leaving a lasting local legacy. The training provided will equip people across the East Midlands, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire with the skills needed for the prototype fusion powerplant at West Burton as well as long-term career opportunities in fusion and beyond.
The STEP programme, led by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS), provides an enormous opportunity for regional growth and regeneration, with the potential to create thousands of jobs during construction and a pipeline of long-term highly skilled careers over decades of operations. Permissions and consents will be sought for construction to begin in the early 2030s, with the prototype powerplant targeting first operations in 2040.
Paul Methven, CEO, UK Industrial Fusion Solutions and Senior Responsible Owner of STEP, said:
Delivering STEP, and commercial fusion beyond that, will require a strong skills pipeline, not only in STEM subjects, but in every aspect of running a complex business. It is fantastic to see that UKAEA are leading on putting this essential enabler in place now to ensure local people benefit directly from the programme, in addition to ensuring we have the skills needed to deliver STEP.
Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, said:
The East Midlands is planning for our energy future today, and fusion energy is an exciting part of that future. One day – thanks to the Nottinghamshire-based STEP programme – the whole region will benefit from clean, affordable fusion energy. Right now, my priority is ensuring that local people can get the jobs associated with developing this new industry and its supply chains. This is what inclusive growth in practice looks like – investing smartly to ensure that growth is created, sustained, and experienced by local people.
The Fusion Skills Collaboration embodies this goal, and our outstanding colleges, training providers, and universities will be front and centre in training people in the skills of the future.
Photos from the collaboration signing at The Fusion Energy Cafe in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, can be found here.
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
Emram Mian has been appointed as the new Permanent Secretary at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, replacing Sarah Munby
The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has today (Monday, 30 June) announced the appointment of Emran Mian as the new Permanent Secretary of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
Emran is currently Director General for Digital Technologies and Telecoms at DSIT, where he is responsible for programmes to make the UK one of the best places in the world to undertake AI research and to build an AI company, covering data use and access policy, cybersecurity policy and online safety.
He has previously held roles in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as a Director General for Regeneration, Housing and Planning, and Director General for Stronger Places, and at the Department for Education as Director General for Strategy and International.
Emran, replacing Sarah Munby, will lead the department at a critical time as the Government drives innovation and investment through the UK’s world-class science sector, and aims to harness new technologies to deliver growth and renewal for working people through the Plan for Change.
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, said:
Emran will be an outstanding Permanent Secretary with exceptional experience and vision. I have had the pleasure of working with him closely since I became Secretary of State and he knows this department inside out.
Under his leadership, DSIT will go from strength to strength in harnessing the power of science and technology to improve people’s lives across the UK, playing a central role in delivering our Plan for Change.
I also want to place on record my thanks to and deep appreciation for Sarah Munby, not only for her personal support to me but for her service to the country at large during her years in the civil service. She has helped to navigate several of the most complex challenges facing the government of the day under five Prime Ministers and wherever she goes next will be extremely lucky to have her.
Cabinet Secretary, Sir Chris Wormald, said:
I congratulate Emran Mian on his appointment as Permanent Secretary at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and I thank Sarah Munby for her leadership of the department since February 2023.
Emran brings significant experience into this role from his time as Director General for Digital Technologies and Telecoms, and previous roles at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the Department for Education.
He is well placed to take on the opportunities of this exciting post, and lead the Government’s delivery of the blueprint for modern digital government as part of the Plan for Change.
Emran Mian said:
I applied for this role because I am hugely optimistic about how science, technology and AI can improve lives, government services and economic growth. At this moment there is no cap on how ambitious we should be for our country.
I am grateful to Sarah Munby for her leadership of DSIT since the department was created. It is a privilege to take the work forward with colleagues across the department and wider government, working closely with scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs, businesses and civil society.
The appointment follows an external recruitment competition overseen by the independent Civil Service Commission.