India’s benchmark indices declined in early trade on Friday, weighed down by sustained selling by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) and weak global cues.
The Nifty fell 110 points, or 0.44 per cent, to 24,943, while the Sensex shed 290 points, or 0.35 per cent, to 82,065.76.
Ajay Bagga, Banking and Market Expert, said, “Indian markets are pointing to a continued negative outlook as per the traded futures. FPIs remain sellers while DIIs are absorbing the selling. Key support levels are being tested, making today’s price action crucial for the market’s health.”
He added, “Earnings have largely remained weak, and with no India–US trade deal expected before the August 1 deadline, markets are entering a zone of concern. Fasten seat belts—we are seeing key support holding mainly due to resilient Indian retail investors, who continue to buy on dips and maintain faith in domestic management and the economy.”
Broad market indices were also under pressure, with the Nifty 100 down 0.53 per cent, the Nifty Midcap 100 slipping 0.34 per cent, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 losing 0.56 per cent.
Among sectors, only Nifty Pharma stayed in the green, up 0.26 per cent. Others posted losses: Nifty Auto fell 0.66 per cent, Nifty IT 0.19 per cent, Nifty Media 0.40 per cent, and Nifty Metal 0.46 per cent.
Akshay Chinchalkar, Head of Research at Axis Securities, said, “The Nifty erased all its Wednesday gains on Thursday, dropping 159 points to close at 25,062. Yesterday’s candle formed another bearish engulfing: two in quick succession, which is rare. The key levels now are 25,000 as vital support and 25,245 as resistance. Bears will retain control unless we see a close above 25,340.”
On the earnings front, several major companies are scheduled to report their quarterly results today, including Bajaj Finserv, Bank of Baroda, Cipla, Shriram Finance, SBI Cards, Schaeffler India, SAIL, Petronet LNG, Laurus Labs, Poonawalla Fincorp, Tata Chemicals, Aadhar Housing Finance, Grindwell Norton, and ACME Solar Holdings.
Meanwhile, global cues remained weak. Upcoming US–China trade talks in Sweden on Monday are expected to shape the tone for US–India trade negotiations, particularly amid discussions on Russian oil supplies.
With the RBI’s monetary policy meeting scheduled for August 6, investors are bracing for a potentially weak end to the week.
Across Asia, markets traded lower. Japan’s Nikkei 225 was down 0.79 per cent, Singapore’s Straits Times slipped 0.48 per cent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 1.19 per cent, and Taiwan’s Weighted Index edged down 0.08 per cent. South Korea’s KOSPI was the lone gainer, rising 0.35 per cent.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the Maldives on Friday following the conclusion of his UK visit. He was warmly received at Velana International Airport by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, along with the country’s Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Finance Minister, and Minister of Homeland Security.
The Prime Minister is visiting the island nation from July 25 to 26 at the invitation of President Muizzu.
During the visit, PM Modi will attend the 60th Independence Day celebrations of the Maldives as the Guest of Honour. His presence also commemorates the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and the Maldives.
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi concluded a successful visit to the United Kingdom, where he met with his UK counterpart, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, at Chequers, the official country residence of the British Prime Minister. Both leaders welcomed the signing of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which is expected to enhance bilateral trade, investment, and job creation.
Efforts to end the relentless siege of Gaza have been set back by the abrupt end to peace talks in Qatar.
Both the United States and Israel have withdrawn their negotiating teams, accusing Hamas of a “lack of desire to reach a ceasefire”.
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff says it would appear Hamas never wanted a deal:
While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith. We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people in Gaza
State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott reads Steve Witkoff’s statement on the collapse of the Gaza peace talks.
The disappointing development coincides with mounting fears of a widespread famine in Gaza and a historic decision by France to formally recognise a Palestinian state.
French President Emmanuel Macron says there is no alternative for the sake of security of the Middle East:
True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine
What will these developments mean for the conflict in Gaza and the broader security of the Middle East?
‘Humanitarian catastrophe’
The failure to reach a truce means there is no end in sight to the Israeli siege of Gaza which has devastated the territory for more than 21 months.
Amid mounting fears of mass starvation, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Gaza is in the grip of a “humanitarian catastrophe”. He is urging Israel to comply immediately with its obligations under international law:
Israel’s denial of aid and the killing of civilians, including children, seeking access to water and food cannot be defended or ignored.
According to the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, more than 100 people – most of them children – have died of hunger. One in five children in Gaza City is malnourished, with the number of cases rising every day.
Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini says with little food aid entering Gaza, people are
neither dead nor alive, they are walking corpses […] most children our teams are seeing are emaciated, weak and at high risk of dying if they don’t get the treatment they urgently need.
The UN and more than 100 aid groups blame Israel’s blockade of almost all aid into the territory for the lack of food.
Lazzarini says UNRWA has 6,000 trucks of emergency supplies waiting in Jordan and Egypt. He is urging Israel – which continues to blame Hamas for cases of malnutrition – to allow the humanitarian assistance into Gaza.
It included a 60-day truce, during which time Hamas would release ten living Israeli hostages and the remains of 18 others. In exchange, Israel would release a number of Palestinian prisoners, and humanitarian aid to Gaza would be significantly increased.
During the ceasefire, both sides would engage in negotiations toward a lasting truce.
While specific details of the current sticking points remain unclear, previous statements from both parties suggest the disagreement centres on what would follow any temporary ceasefire.
Israel is reportedly seeking to maintain a permanent military presence in Gaza to allow for a rapid resumption of operations if needed. In contrast, Hamas is demanding a pathway toward a complete end to hostilities.
A lack of mutual trust has dramatically clouded the negotiations.
From Israel’s perspective, any ceasefire must not result in Hamas regaining control of Gaza, as this would allow the group to rebuild its power and potentially launch another cross-border attack.
However, Hamas has repeatedly said it is willing to hand over power to any other Palestinian group in pursuit of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders. This could include the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), which governs the West Bank and has long recognised Israel.
Support for a Palestinian state
Israeli leaders have occasionally paid lip service to a Palestinian state. But they have described such an entity as “less than a state” or a “state-minus” – a formulation that falls short of both Palestinian aspirations and international legal standards.
In response to the worsening humanitarian situation, some Western countries have moved to fully recognise a Palestinian state, viewing it as a step toward a permanent resolution of one of the longest-running conflicts in the Middle East.
Macron’s announcement France will officially recognise a full Palestinian state in September is a major development.
France is now the most prominent Western power to take this position. It follows more than 140 countries – including more than a dozen in Europe – that have already recognised statehood.
While largely symbolic, the move adds diplomatic pressure on Israel amid the ongoing war and aid crisis in Gaza.
However, the announcement was immediately condemned by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who claimed recognition “rewards terror” and
risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel – not to live in peace beside it.
Annexing Gaza?
A Palestinian state is unacceptable to Israel.
Further evidence was recently presented in a revealing TV interview by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak who stated Netanyahu had deliberately empowered Hamas in order to block a two-state solution.
Instead there is mounting evidence Israel is seeking to annex the entirety of Palestinian land and relocate Palestinians to neighbouring countries.
Given the current uncertainty, it appears unlikely a new ceasefire will be reached in the near future, especially as it remains unclear whether the US withdrawal from the negotiations was a genuine policy shift or merely a strategic negotiating tactic.
Ali Mamouri 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.
Conspiracy theories are a widespread occurrence in today’s hyper connected and polarised world.
Events such as Brexit, the 2016 and 2020 United States presidential elections, and the COVID pandemic serve as potent reminders of how easily these narratives can infiltrate public discourse.
The consequences for society are significant, given a devotion to conspiracy theories can undermine key democratic norms and weaken citizens’ trust in critical institutions. As we know from the January 6 riot at the US Capitol, it can also motivate political violence.
But who is most likely to believe these conspiracies?
My new study with Daniel Stockemer of the University of Ottawa provides a clear and perhaps surprising answer. Published in Political Psychology, our research shows age is one of the most significant predictors of conspiracy beliefs, but not in the way many might assume.
People under 35 are consistently more likely to endorse conspiratorial ideas.
This conclusion is built on a solid foundation of evidence. First, we conducted a meta analysis, a “study of studies”, which synthesised the results of 191 peer-reviewed articles published between 2014 and 2024.
This massive dataset, which included over 374,000 participants, revealed a robust association between young age and belief in conspiracies.
To confirm this, we ran our own original multinational survey of more than 6,000 people across six diverse countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, the US and South Africa.
The results were the same. In fact, age proved to be a more powerful predictor of conspiracy beliefs than any other demographic factor we measured, including a person’s gender, income, or level of education.
Why are young people more conspiratorial?
Having established conspiracy beliefs are more prevalent among younger people, we set out to understand why.
Our project tested several potential factors and found three key reasons why younger generations are more susceptible to conspiracy theories.
1. Political alienation
One of the most powerful drivers we identified is a deep sense of political disaffection among young people.
A majority of young people feel alienated from political systems run by politicians who are two or three generations older than them.
This under representation can lead to frustration and the feeling democracy isn’t working for them. In this context, conspiracy theories provide a simple, compelling explanation for this disconnect: the system isn’t just failing, it’s being secretly controlled and manipulated by nefarious actors.
2. Activist style of participation
The way young people choose to take part in politics also plays a significant role.
While they may be less likely to engage in traditional practices such as voting, they are often highly engaged in unconventional forms of participation, such as protests, boycotts and online campaigns.
These activist environments, particularly online, can become fertile ground for conspiracy theories to germinate and spread. They often rely on similar “us versus them” narratives that pit a “righteous” in-group against a “corrupt” establishment.
3. Low self-esteem
Finally, our research confirmed a crucial psychological link to self-esteem.
For individuals with lower perceptions of self worth, believing in a conspiracy theory – blaming external, hidden forces for their problems – can be a way of coping with feelings of powerlessness.
Understanding these root causes is essential because it shows simply debunking false claims is not a sufficient solution.
To truly address the rise of conspiracy theories and limit their consequences, we must tackle the underlying issues that make these narratives so appealing in the first place.
Given the role played by political alienation, a critical step forward is to make our democracies more representative. This is best illustrated by the recent election of Labor Senator Charlotte Walker, who is barely 21.
By actively working to increase the presence of young people in our political institutions, we can help give them faith that the system can work for them, reducing the appeal of theories which claim it is hopelessly corrupt.
More inclusive democracy
This does not mean discouraging the passion of youth activism. Rather, it is about empowering young people with the tools to navigate today’s complex information landscape.
Promoting robust media and digital literacy education could help individuals critically evaluate the information they encounter in all circles, including online activist spaces.
The link to self-esteem also points to a broader societal responsibility.
By investing in the mental health and wellbeing of young people, we can help boost the psychological resilience and sense of agency that makes them less vulnerable to the simplistic blame games offered by conspiracy theories.
Ultimately, building a society that is resistant to misinformation is not about finding fault with a particular generation.
It is about creating a stronger, more inclusive democracy where all citizens, especially the young, feel represented, empowered, and secure.
Jean-Nicolas Bordeleau receives funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Efforts to end the relentless siege of Gaza have been set back by the abrupt end to peace talks in Qatar.
Both the United States and Israel have withdrawn their negotiating teams, accusing Hamas of a “lack of desire to reach a ceasefire”.
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff says it would appear Hamas never wanted a deal:
While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith. We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people in Gaza
State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott reads Steve Witkoff’s statement on the collapse of the Gaza peace talks.
The disappointing development coincides with mounting fears of a widespread famine in Gaza and a historic decision by France to formally recognise a Palestinian state.
French President Emmanuel Macron says there is no alternative for the sake of security of the Middle East:
True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine
What will these developments mean for the conflict in Gaza and the broader security of the Middle East?
‘Humanitarian catastrophe’
The failure to reach a truce means there is no end in sight to the Israeli siege of Gaza which has devastated the territory for more than 21 months.
Amid mounting fears of mass starvation, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Gaza is in the grip of a “humanitarian catastrophe”. He is urging Israel to comply immediately with its obligations under international law:
Israel’s denial of aid and the killing of civilians, including children, seeking access to water and food cannot be defended or ignored.
According to the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, more than 100 people – most of them children – have died of hunger. One in five children in Gaza City is malnourished, with the number of cases rising every day.
Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini says with little food aid entering Gaza, people are
neither dead nor alive, they are walking corpses […] most children our teams are seeing are emaciated, weak and at high risk of dying if they don’t get the treatment they urgently need.
The UN and more than 100 aid groups blame Israel’s blockade of almost all aid into the territory for the lack of food.
Lazzarini says UNRWA has 6,000 trucks of emergency supplies waiting in Jordan and Egypt. He is urging Israel – which continues to blame Hamas for cases of malnutrition – to allow the humanitarian assistance into Gaza.
It included a 60-day truce, during which time Hamas would release ten living Israeli hostages and the remains of 18 others. In exchange, Israel would release a number of Palestinian prisoners, and humanitarian aid to Gaza would be significantly increased.
During the ceasefire, both sides would engage in negotiations toward a lasting truce.
While specific details of the current sticking points remain unclear, previous statements from both parties suggest the disagreement centres on what would follow any temporary ceasefire.
Israel is reportedly seeking to maintain a permanent military presence in Gaza to allow for a rapid resumption of operations if needed. In contrast, Hamas is demanding a pathway toward a complete end to hostilities.
A lack of mutual trust has dramatically clouded the negotiations.
From Israel’s perspective, any ceasefire must not result in Hamas regaining control of Gaza, as this would allow the group to rebuild its power and potentially launch another cross-border attack.
However, Hamas has repeatedly said it is willing to hand over power to any other Palestinian group in pursuit of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders. This could include the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), which governs the West Bank and has long recognised Israel.
Support for a Palestinian state
Israeli leaders have occasionally paid lip service to a Palestinian state. But they have described such an entity as “less than a state” or a “state-minus” – a formulation that falls short of both Palestinian aspirations and international legal standards.
In response to the worsening humanitarian situation, some Western countries have moved to fully recognise a Palestinian state, viewing it as a step toward a permanent resolution of one of the longest-running conflicts in the Middle East.
Macron’s announcement France will officially recognise a full Palestinian state in September is a major development.
France is now the most prominent Western power to take this position. It follows more than 140 countries – including more than a dozen in Europe – that have already recognised statehood.
While largely symbolic, the move adds diplomatic pressure on Israel amid the ongoing war and aid crisis in Gaza.
However, the announcement was immediately condemned by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who claimed recognition “rewards terror” and
risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel – not to live in peace beside it.
Annexing Gaza?
A Palestinian state is unacceptable to Israel.
Further evidence was recently presented in a revealing TV interview by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak who stated Netanyahu had deliberately empowered Hamas in order to block a two-state solution.
Instead there is mounting evidence Israel is seeking to annex the entirety of Palestinian land and relocate Palestinians to neighbouring countries.
Given the current uncertainty, it appears unlikely a new ceasefire will be reached in the near future, especially as it remains unclear whether the US withdrawal from the negotiations was a genuine policy shift or merely a strategic negotiating tactic.
Ali Mamouri 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.
France intends to recognise a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday in hopes of bringing peace to the region, but the plan drew angry rebukes from Israel and the United States.
Macron, who unveiled the decision on X, published a letter sent to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas confirming France’s intention to press ahead with Palestinian recognition and work to convincing other partners to follow suit.
“True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the state of Palestine,” Macron said.
“I will make this solemn announcement at the United Nations General Assembly next September.”
Home to Europe’s largest Jewish and Muslim communities, France will become the first major Western country to recognise a Palestinian state, potentially fuelling a movement so far dominated by smaller nations generally more critical of Israel.
The news sparked anger in Israel and Washington.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the decision by one of Israel’s closest allies and a G7 member, saying such a move “rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy.”
In a post on X, he added, “A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it.
“Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel.”
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the move as “a disgrace and a surrender to terrorism,” adding that Israel would not allow the establishment of a “Palestinian entity that would harm our security, endanger our existence.”
In response, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States “strongly rejects (Macron’s) plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN general assembly.”
In a post on X, he said, “This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.”
Earlier, Canada also pressed Israel to seek peace, with Prime Minister Mark Carney condemning its “failure to prevent the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian disaster in Gaza” and reiterating support for a two-state solution.
Carney also accused Israel of violating international law over the blocking of Canadian-funded aid to civilians in the war-torn Palestinian enclave.
“Canada calls on all sides to negotiate an immediate ceasefire in good faith,” he added.
“We reiterate our calls for Hamas to immediately release all the hostages, and for the Israeli government to respect the territorial integrity of the West Bank and Gaza.”
In a diplomatic cable in June, the United States said it opposed steps to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state, even saying it could go against U.S. foreign policy interests and draw consequences.
In June, Washington’s ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said he did not think an independent Palestinian state remained a U.S. foreign policy goal.
President Donald Trump has himself expressed doubts about a two-state solution, proposing a U.S. takeover of Gaza in February, that was condemned by rights groups, Arab states, Palestinians and the U.N. as a proposal of “ethnic cleansing”.
Macron had been leaning towards recognising a Palestinian state for months as part of a bid to keep the idea of a two-state solution alive, despite the pressure not to do so.
French officials initially weighed up the move ahead of a United Nations conference, which France and Saudi Arabia had planned to co-host in June to lay out parameters for a roadmap to a Palestinian state, while ensuring Israel’s security.
The conference was postponed under U.S. pressure and after the 12-day Israel-Iran air war began, during which the closure of regional airspace made it hard for representatives of some Arab states to attend.
It was rescheduled and downgraded to a ministerial event on July 28 and July 29, with a second event taking place with heads of state and government on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September.
CREATING MOMENTUM
The decision to make the announcement ahead of next week’s conference aimed to give the French team at the United Nations a framework to work with other countries that are also considering recognising a Palestinian state or have misgivings in doing so.
Diplomats say Macron has faced resistance from allies such as Britain and Canada over his push for the recognition of a Palestinian state. About 40 foreign ministers will be in New York next week.
Israeli officials have spent months lobbying to prevent what some have called “a nuclear bomb” for bilateral ties.
Sources familiar with the matter say Israel’s warnings to France have ranged from scaling back intelligence sharing to complicating Paris’ regional initiatives – even hinting at possible annexation of parts of the West Bank.
Israel has been waging a devastating war in Gaza since the Palestinian militant group Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel in October 2023 and says recognising a Palestinian state now would be equivalent to rewarding Hamas.
Thanking France, the Palestinian Authority’s Vice President Hussein Al Sheikh said on X that Macron’s decision reflected “France’s commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people’s rights to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state.”
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde attends a press conference in Frankfurt, Germany, on July 24, 2025. [ECB/Handout via Xinhua]
The European Central Bank (ECB) announced on Thursday that it will keep key interest rates unchanged at its latest rate-setting meeting.
The deposit facility rate, through which the central bank steers the monetary policy stance, remains unchanged at two percent.
Inflation in the euro area inched up to two percent in June from 1.9 percent in May, according to data released by the statistical office of the European Union (EU). The ECB said in a statement that domestic price pressures continue to ease and wages grow at a slower pace.
While short-term consumer inflation expectations declined for two consecutive months in a row, most measures of longer-term inflation expectations continue to stand at around two percent, explained the central bank.
As inflation in the euro area hovers around the targeted level of two percent, the ECB reaffirmed that it is determined to make sure the inflation stabilises in the medium term.
“The Governing Council stands ready to adjust all of its instruments within its mandate to ensure that inflation stabilises at its two percent target in the medium term and to preserve the smooth functioning of monetary policy transmission,” it said.
Data indicate that the euro area economy has turned out to be resilient. The gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter this year rose by 0.6 percent, stronger than expected.
The ECB cut the interest rate of the deposit facility by two percentage points from June 2024 to June this year.
While the ECB insists in its press release that the governing council is not pre-committing to a particular rate path, Isabel Schnabel, member of the Executive Board of the ECB, was quoted as saying that the interest rates are in a good place and the bar for another rate cut is very high.
According to Schnabel, the euro area economy is navigating uncertainties better than expected and “a large fiscal impulse” will further support the economy.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a state visit to the Maldives starting Friday, members of the Indian diaspora in the island nation have expressed overwhelming joy and pride ahead of his arrival.
The visit, taking place at the invitation of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, coincides with the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day and the 60th anniversary of India-Maldives diplomatic relations.
“We are very happy about his arrival. I came here in Maldives two years ago – the situation was not the same. The way they admire India here today is so great,” said a member of the Indian community in Male.
Another member remarked on PM Modi’s global diplomatic outreach, saying, “The way PM Modi is visiting different nations and making India famous and proud on the global stage is a proud thing.”
For many Indians living in the Maldives, the visit is not only symbolic but also personal. “It is a matter of great pride that PM Modi is coming. I am part of the management team where the meeting will take place. Hope to meet him – definitely going to see him,” shared one excited individual.
“Our PM coming to the Maldives is very exciting. Preparations are at their peak to welcome him, and people here are very happy with his visit, especially the Indian community,” added another.
During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will serve as the Guest of Honour at the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations. The visit also aims to reinforce bilateral ties and showcase India’s commitment to its “Neighbourhood First” policy.
Before departing for the Maldives, PM Modi concluded a “landmark” visit to the United Kingdom, where he signed the India-UK Free Trade Agreement and engaged in high-level talks to strengthen economic and trade ties.
Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared on social media: “A landmark visit to UK concludes, elevating the India-Great Britain trade and economic ties to new heights. PM @narendramodi emplanes for the second leg of his tour – Maldives.” (IANS)
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Long jumper Shu Heng leaped 8.09 meters to claim China’s first track and field gold medal, while South Africa’s teenage sprinting sensation Bayanda Walaza won his second gold in as many days Thursday at the Rhine-Ruhr World University Games.
Shu Heng of China competes during the men’s long jump final at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games in Bochum, Germany, July 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
Shu improved on his leading mark of 8.07 meters from the fourth round by two centimeters in his final attempt to win the event, 13cm shy of his 8.22m gold-winning performance at the Asian Athletics Championships in May.
Japan’s Koki Fujihara finished second with 8.00m, edging Germany’s Luka Herden by four centimeters.
“Every international competition helps strengthen my confidence. Winning the Asian championship boosted me mentally, and now winning at the University Games further paves the way and reinforces my confidence for bigger stages ahead,” said Shu.
Another Chinese athlete, Xing Jialiang, the top qualifier in men’s shot put, earned silver with a throw of 20.08m, just 17cm behind South Africa’s Aiden Smith, who took gold. Italy’s Riccardo Ferrara claimed bronze with 17.91m.
Walaza, 18, a Paris 2024 Olympian, was third fastest out of the blocks and surged past Spain’s Adria Alfonso Medero in the outer lane to win the men’s 200m final from lane seven. Walaza clocked 20.63 seconds to Medero’s 20.70, with South Korea’s Lee Jae-song taking bronze in 20.75.
Walaza’s time was an improvement on his 20.93 in the heats and 20.76 in the semifinals earlier in the day.
“It’s wonderful to say that I’m the fastest in all of the universities around the world. It’s a great honor to be here and to win this,” Walaza said after the race.
“I arrived in Germany with not a lot of training under my belt, but I quickly convinced myself that I am a warrior and a fighter.”
The reigning world U20 champion also won the men’s 100m on Tuesday in 10.16 seconds, edging Thailand’s Puripol Boonson (10.22), whom he had previously defeated in last year’s junior world final in Peru.
Italy led the night’s medal haul with three golds from women’s track events.
In the women’s 200m, Tokyo 2020 Olympian Vittoria Fontana ran a personal best of 22.79 seconds to take gold, bettering her previous mark of 22.97.
Eloisa Coiro won the women’s 800m in 1:59.84 ahead of Switzerland’s Veronica Vancardo (2:00.08) and Spain’s Garcia Tena (2:00.12).
Alice Muraro added Italy’s third track gold with a personal best of 54.60 in the women’s 400m hurdles. Michelle Smith of the U.S. Virgin Islands earned silver in 55.65 and Hungary’s Sara Mato took bronze in 55.92.
Turkish Ozlem Becerek won the women’s discus with a season-best 61.15m. Sweden’s Ana Lindfors took silver at 58.80 and Germany’s Antonia Kinzel secured bronze with 58.43.
Israel claimed its first athletics medal of the meet as Jonathan Kapitolnik won men’s high jump with a 2.27m clearance. Totsuki Abe delivered Japan’s first athletics gold by winning the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.47 seconds.
Poland picked up two golds on the night. Filip Ostrowski won the men’s 1,500m in 3:46.10, and the Polish team captured the 4x400m mixed relay title with a season-best 3:15.18.
In table tennis, China’s Zhao Shang swept past Huang Yu-jie of Chinese Taipei 4-0 to win women’s singles. Vladimir Sidorenko defeated Maksim Grebnev 4-1 in the men’s singles final between individual neutral athletes, concluding the table tennis competitions.
In men’s basketball, Brazil and the United States advanced to Saturday’s final. Brazil edged host Germany 83-78, while Team USA overcame Lithuania 72-64.
“When we’re making a bunch of mistakes and we’re down, we all come together and smile and stay positive and keep working hard. I am blessed from God to be in this position I am in,” said U.S. forward Daniel Skillings Jr., who had a game-high 17 points.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Japan secured a place in the semifinals of the FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) after edging past Türkiye 3-2 (25-21, 16-25, 25-20, 22-25, 15-9) in a thrilling quarterfinal on Thursday in Lodz, Poland.
Japan captain Mayu Ishikawa led her team with 19 points, including 17 kills and two aces. Opposite Yukiko Wada and outside hitter Yoshino Sato each added 15 points. For Türkiye, opposite Melissa Vargas posted a match-high 22 points, while outside hitter Yaprak Erkek contributed 17.
Japan, the 2024 VNL silver medalist, took the opening set 25-21. The Turkish side responded with a dominant second set, powered by Erkek’s nine points, to level the match with a 25-16 win.
Guided by Turkish head coach Ferhat Akbas, Japan regained control in the third set. Sato’s three well-placed spikes helped secure a 25-20 win and a 2-1 advantage.
Türkiye fought back again in the fourth set, edging Japan 25-22 to force a decider.
In the fifth set, Japan jumped out to a 7-4 lead and maintained control. Ishikawa delivered two crucial spikes and followed with an ace to close the set 15-9, booking Japan’s place in the semifinals.
“We’re very happy to have won such an important match,” said Japanese setter Nanami Seki in a post-match interview with the official tournament website. “We knew it would be tough, so we focused on our side and tried to play our best. Now we have a chance to win a medal, and we will fight for it.”
Japan will face Brazil in Saturday’s semifinal. The South American powerhouse defeated Germany 3-0 (25-19, 26-24, 25-14) later Thursday. Opposite Rosamaria Montibeller led Brazil with 13 points, while Germany’s Lina Alsmeier scored 11.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday night condemned French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state.
The French president wrote on the social media platform X earlier in the night that, “consistent with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine.”
Macron added that he will make this “solemn announcement” before the upcoming 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly
In a statement from his office, Netanyahu said, “Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became.”
“A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel, not to live in peace beside it,” he said.
In a statement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said, “A Palestinian state will be a Hamas state, just as the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip twenty years ago led to Hamas taking control of it.”
Macron’s move follows his earlier declaration in April, saying that France would recognize the Palestinian state during an international conference on Palestine, co-chaired with Saudi Arabia in New York in June. But under pressure from the United States, the international conference has been postponed until the end of July.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Flamengo has reached an agreement with AC Milan to sign right-back Emerson Royal, according to media reports in Brazil.
Jude Bellingham (R) of Real Madrid vies with Emerson Royal of AC Milan during the UEFA Champions League football match between Real Madrid and AC Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, on Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
The 26-year-old will arrive in Rio de Janeiro for a medical on Saturday, having agreed in principle to a deal running until December 2028, local press said on Thursday.
Flamengo reportedly agreed to pay nine million euros to release the defender, who had three years remaining on his Milan contract.
Emerson made 26 appearances across all competitions for the Italian Serie A club following his August 2024 move from Tottenham.
He is set to be the second signing for Flamengo since Brazil’s mid-season transfer window opened on July 10, joining former Spain international midfielder Saul.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Marc-Andre ter Stegen will be out for at least three months after the FC Barcelona goalkeeper announced on Thursday that he will undergo surgery for a back injury.
FC Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen (3rd L) saves the ball during the UEFA Champions League Group F match between FC Barcelona and Inter Milan in Barcelona, Spain, Oct. 2, 2019. (Xinhua/Joan Gosa)
The news comes at a difficult time for the German international, who missed nearly all of last season with a torn cruciate knee ligament.
Barcelona signed Wojciech Szczesny to cover his absence and renewed the Polish goalkeeper’s contract earlier this month. The club has also activated the 25 million euros release clause to bring in Joan Garcia from Espanyol, casting doubt on ter Stegen’s place in the squad as the club looks to trim its wage bill.
“Today is a personally difficult day for me,” ter Stegen wrote on Instagram, adding that he felt “in very good shape, although unfortunately I am not free from pain.”
“After intensive discussions with the FC Barcelona medical team and external experts, the quickest and safest way for me to fully recover is through back surgery.”
This will be the goalkeeper’s second back operation. He noted that he missed 66 days after the first procedure, but that “this time, the doctors believe about three months will be necessary as a precaution, to avoid any risks.”
The operation means ter Stegen will be sidelined until at least the end of October, making it unlikely that Barcelona will register him in the first-team squad for the first half of the season. It also all but rules out a transfer before the window reopens in January 2026.
Meanwhile, Barcelona’s planned tour of Asia is in doubt after the squad failed to fly to Japan on Thursday as scheduled, due to unresolved issues with the tour contract. The itinerary includes one match in Japan and two in South Korea.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
FC Barcelona’s pre-season plans are in ruins after the club was forced to cancel its visit to Japan at short notice due to a contractual problem with the tour organizers.
The Barca squad was due to fly to Japan on Thursday morning ahead of a game against Vissel Kobe on Sunday, before travelling to South Korea to face Seoul FC and Daegu FC. However, the Japanese leg of the tour has now been cancelled and the South Korean part is in the balance.
Lamine Yamal (L) of FC Barcelona vies with Manu Sanchez of Deportivo Alaves during the LaLiga football match between FC Barcelona and Deportivo Alaves, in Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, Barcelona, Spain, on Feb. 2, 2025. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
“FC Barcelona announces that it has been forced to suspend its participation in the match scheduled for next Sunday in Japan due to a serious breach of contract by the promoter. However, the Club will consider readjusting the South Korean portion of the summer tour…provided certain conditions are met by the promoter,” explained the club in a statement.
The cancellation of at least part of the tour is a blow to Barcelona’s economy, with the cash-strapped club due to receive an important injection of around 15 million euros for playing the games, but it is also a sporting blow as Hansi Flick’s side will have to look for new rivals at short notice as Flick looks to prepare for the new La Liga season.
Barca’s only other pre-season game that is currently scheduled is against Como on August 10, before the new La Liga campaign starts in Mallorca on August 16.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Atletico Madrid continues its summer recruitment with the signing of Slovakian central defender David Hancko from Dutch side Feyenoord.
Hancko is Atletico’s sixth signing this summer after the arrivals of Alex Baena, Johnny Cardoso, Marc Pubill, Thiago Almada and Matteo Ruggeri, while the club has also made loan deals for Clement Lenglet and Juan Musso permanent.
Atletico have closed the deal after Hancko’s proposed move to Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr collapsed at the last minute.
His arrival will help Atletico coach Diego Simeone compensate for the departures of veteran defenders Axel Witsel, Cesar Azpilicueta and Reinildo, who has moved to Premier League outfit Sunderland.
Speaking on Wednesday, Atletico president, Enrique Cerezo told the press that in principle the club had concluded its transfer business for the summer “unless an opportunity” arises.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China’s Chen Yufei is set to face South Korea’s world No. 1 An Se-young in the women’s singles quarterfinals at the badminton China Open, after both shuttlers defeated respective rivals on Thursday.
Tokyo Olympic champion Chen showed resilience, rallying from one game down to beat teammate Gao Fangjie 13-21, 21-5, 21-9.
“We know each other very well, but a tournament is different from daily training. Whoever performs better on the court will win,” said the 27-year-old Chen.
Her next opponent An secured a comfortable 21-13, 21-15 win over fellow South Korean Sim Yu-jin in the second round. Chen, who lost to An in the quarterfinals of the Japan Open just six days ago, is eager for revenge.
“I’ll learn from last week’s defeat and go all out to challenge her,” she added.
In the men’s singles, home favorite Shi Yuqi advanced with a straight-game victory over Ireland’s Nhat Nguyen. Fifth-seeded Li Shifeng of China also progressed, defeating Ng Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong, China 21-17, 21-9.
Meanwhile, a major upset unfolded as Indonesia’s fourth seed Jonatan Christie was edged out by unseeded French shuttler Christo Popov in a three-game battle, 21-12, 13-21, 21-16.
In the women’s doubles, top-seeded Chinese duo Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning cruised into the quarterfinals with a dominant 21-9, 21-13 win over American players Lauren Lam and Allison Lee.
China also shone in the mixed doubles, as Feng Yanzhe/Huang Dongping, Jiang Zhenbang/Wei Yaxin and Guo Xinwa/Chen Fanghui all claimed victories to reach last eight.
HONOLULU – The U.S. Coast Guard completed participation July 11 in Operation Nasse, a three-month operation conducted by Australia, France, New Zealand, and the U.S. to safeguard the marine resources of Pacific Island nations.
For breaking news follow us on twitter @USCGHawaiiPac
The Scottish Government is to distribute £5 million of funding in 2025-26 to support independent hospices with pay parity for clinical staff with their NHS counterparts.
Hospices have now had their funding allocations confirmed and the investment, set out in the 2025-26 Budget, will ensure that frontline staff providing essential palliative and end-of-life care in independent hospices are fairly paid in line with NHS pay scales.
The funding aims to help hospices recruit and retain skilled healthcare professionals during a time of rising workforce pressures and increasing demand for palliative care services.
Health Secretary Neil Gray, said:
“Independent hospices provide vital care and support to people and families across Scotland at the most difficult times in their lives. I am pleased we are able to support these organisations in supporting pay parity for their clinical staff.
“This funding recognises the skilled, compassionate care that hospice staff deliver every day, and helps ensure their pay reflects the immense value of their work.”
Chair of the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group Jacki Smart, said:
“This is a welcome first step in recognising the needs of the hospice sector, which plays a key role in delivering specialist palliative care for Scotland. It is right for patients and staff that hospices can pay skilled professionals fairly and in line with NHS colleagues, and we need to keep pace on this.”
Background
Independent hospices across Scotland are independent charitable organisations providing care tailored to local needs. Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) are responsible for the planning and commissioning of independent hospices to meet the needs of their local population. Hospices work closely with a wide variety of health and social care services, including NHS Boards, to deliver high quality care and support.
The Scottish Government is committed to developing a new national framework to support more effective planning and commissioning between hospices and IJBs. This work will continue alongside discussions about long-term pay parity and funding arrangements.
First Minister says United States remains one of Scotland’s closest partners.
Scotland will have “a platform to make its voice heard” during the visit of the President of the United States, First Minister John Swinney has said.
Speaking ahead of President Trump’s arrival, Mr Swinney said the global attention the visit will receive provides Scotland with an opportunity to respectfully demonstrate the principles of freedom and justice for all, while also promoting Scotland’s tourism sector and economic investment potential.
First Minister John Swinney said:
“Scotland shares a strong friendship with the United States that goes back centuries. That partnership remains steadfast through economic, cultural and ancestral links – including of course, with the President himself.
“As we welcome the President of the United States, Scotland will be showcased on the world stage. This provides Scotland with a platform to make its voice heard on the issues that matter, including war and peace, justice and democracy.
“It also includes the millions of Americans – many of them potential future tourists or investors in Scotland – who will watch their elected President as he visits our country.
“As First Minister it is my responsibility to advance our interests, raise global and humanitarian issues of significant importance, including the unimaginable suffering we are witnessing in Gaza, and ensure Scotland’s voice is heard at the highest levels of government across the world. That is exactly what I will do when I meet with President Trump during his time in Scotland.
“We are a proud democratic nation, a country that stands firm on the principles of equality and freedom for all, and a society that stands up for a fair and just world. The right to peaceful demonstration is something we cherish, and everyone has the democratic right to protect and express their views in a peaceful, and democratic manner. That is right and proper.
“I am confident the vast majority of people protesting will do Scotland proud and demonstrate as they should – peacefully and lawfully. I am also confident that Scotland’s police service can handle the challenge of keeping all our communities safe and, as they must, in maintaining the appropriate security any US President requires.
“This weekend is a landmark moment in our relationship with the United States, and I am certain it will be remembered for Scotland showing the world the very best of itself.”
GLP1 agonist drugs, commonly known by brand names such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, reduce asthma symptoms in obese people according to a new study from the University of Aberdeen and The Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute (OPRI), Singapore.
This is the latest reported benefit of GLP1s, originally prescribed for diabetes management and now prescribed widely for obesity.
An international team of scientists led by University of Aberdeen Chair in Primary Care Respiratory Medicine, Professor David Price, analysed the medical records of more than 60,000 patients. Using the OPCRD database – a primary care patient database containing over 28 million patients, they compared measures of asthma severity between those who had been prescribed GLP1s and those who hadn’t over an entire year.
They found that as well as the expected weight loss in people who were taking GLP1s, the asthma measures such as steroid and medication prescriptions, were also reduced.
GLP1s, mimic the naturally occurring hormone GLP1 and help regulate blood sugar, insulin and control appetite. The drug is also known to reduce inflammatory cells through multiple signalling pathways, and it is this mechanism that may be instigating this beneficial effect on the airway disease.
The author suggests that their findings mean that GLP1s should be considered as a potential treatment for respiratory diseases.
Professor David Price explains: “People with obesity and asthma are unique in that they are often resistant to steroid treatments.
We found compelling evidence that GLP1s, as well as increasing weight loss, also improved asthma symptoms.” Professor David Price
“We know that GLP1s work on inflammatory responses in the airways in a different way to traditionally used steroids.
“We found compelling evidence that GLP1s, as well as increasing weight loss, also improved asthma symptoms.
“In addition, it is important to note that the benefits to asthma symptoms occurred despite fairly modest weight loss of around 0.9kg over the course of the year.
“Our findings suggest that GLP1s may have beneficial effects on asthma control for people with obesity and this should be explored further.”
Professor Alan Kaplan, Chairperson of the Family Physician Airways Group of Canada and the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, added: “Our findings suggest that GLP1-RAs have benefits on asthma control in people with obesity, and this information should contribute to the discussions around the decision to use these drugs.”
The full paper is published in Advances in Therapy
KOSICE, Slovakia, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With hype building across the crypto community, Remittix, the low-fee crypto disrupting traditional remittance infrastructures, has announced the beta launch date of its new multi-chain crypto wallet, to cater to Ethereum, Solana, and more.
This comes on the heels of overwhelming interest from both the XRP and Cardano (ADA) communities, both of which are known for their passion for utility-led blockchain projects.
With over $17 million raised in its presale and 563 million tokens sold, Remittix continues to drive the attention of savvy investors, DeFi enthusiasts, and blockchain developers looking for the subsequent high-income crypto with real-world utility.
Wallet Beta Release – Q3 2025
Remittix Wallet is envisioned for the next-generation global crypto user, especially in the emerging markets where high remittance fees and slow transactions are a constant frustration. Beta testers will get to experience:
Secure transfers and storage on Ethereum and Solana
Forward-looking architecture for XRP and Cardano integration
Early exposure to Remittix staking and passive yield features
An opportunity to win a share of the $250,000 Remittix Giveaway
A 50% token reward for current presale participants
This wallet will be the foundation of Remittix’s bigger picture: making it possible for users to make lightning-fast, low-cost crypto payments across borders, without banks or middlemen.
XRP and ADA Users Fuel Remittix Momentum
Remittix quotes a sharp rise in waitlist signups and presale purchases from users across XRP and ADA Telegram and Reddit communities. Why? A good, chain-agnostic wallet that provides the value that most networks promise but few deliver—availability, affordability, and actual utility.
Our infrastructure is talking the same language as XRP and Cardano users—technology that performs, not hype that expires. This beta wallet is for them, said a Remittix product lead.
Real-World Utility: The Crypto-to-Fiat Vision Behind Remittix
While the Remittix Wallet beta will focus on multi-chain crypto transactions and staking, the broader mission is much bigger: creating a bridge between crypto and real-world fiat use. In future updates, Remittix plans to add local off-ramp solutions, allowing users to easily cash out stablecoins for local currency.
That is, not just holding crypto—but spending it.
The future vision involves:
Crypto-to-fiat payout rails for underbanked users
Support for mobile money platforms and local payment agents
Faster settlements than traditional banks
Borderless, bankless payments with real value in daily life
It’s a future where users in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America can receive USDT or ETH—and instantly convert it to local currency, skipping high fees and slow processes.
Presale Momentum Builds
Remittix’s ongoing presale hasn’t only surpassed the $17 million mark but is accelerating as word gets out through crypto staking forums and altcoin investor groups. As it offers low gas fee support, DeFi hardware, and multi-chain support, the token is picking up speed as one of 2025’s hottest new crypto launches.
Investors can join the presale and receive their bonus tokens using the official Remittix website. The Q3 2025 introduction of beta wallets will mark the beginning, and the support for additional blockchains such as Cardano and XRP is in planning.
About Remittix
Remittix is a DeFi protocol working towards simplifying cross-border payments using low-gas-cost crypto networks. It is built to scale on Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, and more, and its functionalities include staking, simple transfers, and a multi-chain wallet, designed for the billions of underbanked and unbanked users around the world.
Disclaimer:This content is provided byRemittix. 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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Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Development Minister sets out new UK approach to development at G20 meeting in South Africa
The UK is resetting its relationship with countries in the Global South and helping countries exit the need for aid, as Baroness Chapman attends the G20 Development Ministerial Meeting in South Africa.
Development Minister Baroness Chapman will reset the UK’s approach to international development at the G20 Development Meeting in South Africa today (Friday, 25 July).
Economic development underpins the UK’s new approach, as the Minister visits a South African food producer supported by the FCDO’s development arm BII.
The UK is supporting countries to transition from traditional aid to innovative financing for development, as the Minister visits a centre for survivors of gender-based violence funded by both the UK and the private sector.
The UK is resetting its relationship with countries in the Global South and helping countries exit the need for aid, as Baroness Chapman attends the G20 Development Ministerial Meeting in South Africa today (Friday 25 July 2025).
This follows the publication of ODA allocations earlier this week (Tuesday 22 July 2025), which indicate how the UK is going to spend its aid budget for the next year.
The UK will move from being a donor to a genuine partner and investor, ensuring every pound spent on aid delivers for the UK taxpayer and the people we support.
Economic development underpins the UK’s new approach, to help countries grow fairer, more resilient economies and ultimately exit the need for aid, in support of the government’s Plan for Change.
The Minister saw this in action yesterday (Thursday 24 July 2025) as she visited an Agristar farm which produces macadamia nuts in Mbombela, eastern South Africa. British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution, is supporting Agristar to expand – supporting jobs and growth and helping to stock British supermarket shelves.
The Minister also visited a UK supported care centre for survivors of gender-based violence in Mbombela, alongside South African Minister for Women, Youth and Persons with Disability, Sindisiwe Lydia Chikunga. The centre is supported by a multi-donor fund which has seen increased backing from South African and international private investors. The innovative funding approach has supported over 200 community-based organisations in South Africa working to prevent violence in schools and communities and provide response services for survivors of gender-based violence. This demonstrates the UK and South Africa’s shared commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
By mobilising private finance and empowering partners to take charge of their own development, the UK is moving away from a paternalistic approach to aid.
Minister for Development, Baroness Chapman said:
We want to help countries move beyond aid. In South Africa, I’ve seen the impact we can have with genuine partnerships, rather than paternalism. Our work is supporting jobs and generating global economic growth – and bringing high quality South African produce to UK shops.
At the G20 in South Africa, I have one simple message: the world has changed and so must we. The UK is taking a new approach to development, responding to the needs of our partners and delivering real impact and value for money for UK taxpayers.
At the G20, the Minister is due to discuss the UK’s new approach to international development with counterparts from Egypt, India and Germany.
The Agristar farm in Mbombela, which the Minister visited yesterday, has benefitted from UK investment as part of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). BII support has enabled the macadamia nut producer to expand its operations across Africa, invest in measures to mitigate climate risks, and support nearly 400 jobs. BII is also supporting Agristar’s expansion into Malawi.
BII, which aims to make a return on its investments, has so far supported 92 companies in South Africa and over 35,000 jobs.
Its success highlights how the UK’s investment in international development is driving green growth and jobs, boosting global prosperity and stability to help create the conditions to deliver the government’s Plan for Change at home.
The Minister will also announce today a new £2 million commitment to support local agribusiness projects by partnering with South African investment funds to drive more private finance for the farming sector.
In G20 talks on tackling illicit financial flows, the Minister will highlight how money and assets siphoned away as part of criminal activity deprive lower-income countries of vital resources which could otherwise support growth and development. The Foreign Secretary is leading a campaign against illicit finance, mobilising the best UK expertise and international partnerships, so dirty money has nowhere to hide. This is also vital to deterring threats to the safety and security of Britain, as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
July 24, 2025, Vilnius, Lithuania – As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly central to the operations of America’s largest corporations, recent research reveals potential security vulnerabilities that could affect both organizations and their customers.
An analysis by cybersecurity experts at Cybernews examined AI deployments across the S&P 500 and uncovered close to 1,000 potential weak points that may lead to data exposure, theft of proprietary information, and erroneous AI actions.
The study found that 327 S&P 500 companies publicly report using AI tools in their operations in sectors including finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and energy.
While these tools have accelerated innovation and efficiency, safety measures have yet to fully catch up, leaving systems open to misuse or failure. This includes AI outputs that may be inaccurate or misleading, unintended disclosure of confidential data, and risks of corporate secrets being compromised.
Žilvinas Girėnas, head of product at nexos.ai, emphasized, “It’s not enough to deploy AI and hope for the best. Businesses need to develop AI with the same safety standards as airplanes: constant oversight, clear guardrails, and a zero-trust approach. Every AI decision must be considered potentially wrong until proven correct, and every input must be monitored to prevent sensitive data from leaking or trade secrets from escaping.”
The potential vulnerabilities extend across multiple industries. Technology and semiconductor companies are especially vulnerable to data leaks and intellectual property risks. Financial institutions might face challenges protecting client data while ensuring AI does not reinforce unfair bias in lending.
Healthcare providers carry the added responsibility of protecting patients from flawed AI-driven recommendations. Meanwhile, industrial and infrastructure sectors must guard against disruptions that could affect critical services, such as power supply or supply chain operations.
For consumers, the consequences are tangible. Unsecured AI systems risk leaking private details – ranging from medical histories to financial records – while flawed AI judgments could influence decisions that directly affect people’s health and finances.
As AI tools play a larger role in retail, banking, transportation, and other areas, protecting these technologies becomes essential for public protection.
The report highlights past incidents that illustrate these dangers. IBM’s Watson once offered unsafe cancer treatment suggestions. Apple’s credit system faced scrutiny after allegations of gender bias. Zillow’s AI-driven pricing led to substantial financial losses. Additionally, Samsung experienced unintended source code disclosures due to inappropriate use of AI chatbots by employees.
“AI is becoming more deeply embedded in business operations, and the risks are multiplying. The lessons from all these incidents are clear: unchecked deployment without robust security and oversight leads to real-world failures,” said Martynas Vareikis, Security Researcher at Cybernews.
As AI further transforms businesses, past incidents and potential threats show how crucial it is to improve security strategies in parallel.
ABOUT CYBERNEWS
Cybernews is a globally recognized independent media outlet where journalists and security experts debunk cyber by research, testing, and data. Founded in 2019 in response to rising concerns about online security, the site covers breaking news, conducts original investigations, and offers unique perspectives on the evolving digital security landscape. Through white-hat investigative techniques, Cybernews research team identifies and safely discloses cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities, while the editorial team provides cybersecurity-related news, analysis, and opinions by industry insiders with complete independence.
Cybernews has earned worldwide attention for its high-impact research and discoveries, which have uncovered some of the internet’s most significant security exposures and data leaks. Notable ones include:
Cybernews researchers discovered multiple open datasets comprising 16 billion login credentials from infostealer malware, social media, developer portals, and corporate networks – highlighting the unprecedented risks of account takeovers, phishing, and business email compromise.
Cybernews researchers analyzed 156,080 randomly selected iOS apps – around 8% of the apps present on the App Store – and uncovered a massive oversight: 71% of them expose sensitive data.
Recently, Bob Dyachenko, a cybersecurity researcher and owner of SecurityDiscovery.com, and the Cybernews security research team discovered an unprotected Elasticsearch index, which contained a wide range of sensitive personal details related to the entire population of Georgia.
The team analyzed the new Pixel 9 Pro XL smartphone’s web traffic, and found that Google’s latest flagship smartphone frequently transmits private user data to the tech giant before any app is installed.
The team revealed that a massive data leak at MC2 Data, a background check firm, affects one-third of the US population.
The Cybernews security research team discovered that 50 most popular Android apps require 11 dangerous permissions on average.
They revealed that two online PDF makers leaked tens of thousands of user documents, including passports, driving licenses, certificates, and other personal information uploaded by users.
An analysis by Cybernews research discovered over a million publicly exposed secrets from over 58 thousand websites’ exposed environment (.env) files.
The team revealed that Australia’s football governing body, Football Australia, has leaked secret keys potentially opening access to 127 buckets of data, including ticket buyers’ personal data and players’ contracts and documents.
The Cybernews research team, in collaboration with cybersecurity researcher Bob Dyachenko, discovered a massive data leak containing information from numerous past breaches, comprising 12 terabytes of data and spanning over 26 billion records.
The team analyzed NASA’s website, and discovered an open redirect vulnerability plaguing NASA’s Astrobiology website.
The team investigated 30,000 Android Apps, and discovered that over half of them are leaking secrets that could have huge repercussions for both app developers and their customers.
July 24, 2025, Vilnius, Lithuania – As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly central to the operations of America’s largest corporations, recent research reveals potential security vulnerabilities that could affect both organizations and their customers.
An analysis by cybersecurity experts at Cybernews examined AI deployments across the S&P 500 and uncovered close to 1,000 potential weak points that may lead to data exposure, theft of proprietary information, and erroneous AI actions.
The study found that 327 S&P 500 companies publicly report using AI tools in their operations in sectors including finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and energy.
While these tools have accelerated innovation and efficiency, safety measures have yet to fully catch up, leaving systems open to misuse or failure. This includes AI outputs that may be inaccurate or misleading, unintended disclosure of confidential data, and risks of corporate secrets being compromised.
Žilvinas Girėnas, head of product at nexos.ai, emphasized, “It’s not enough to deploy AI and hope for the best. Businesses need to develop AI with the same safety standards as airplanes: constant oversight, clear guardrails, and a zero-trust approach. Every AI decision must be considered potentially wrong until proven correct, and every input must be monitored to prevent sensitive data from leaking or trade secrets from escaping.”
The potential vulnerabilities extend across multiple industries. Technology and semiconductor companies are especially vulnerable to data leaks and intellectual property risks. Financial institutions might face challenges protecting client data while ensuring AI does not reinforce unfair bias in lending.
Healthcare providers carry the added responsibility of protecting patients from flawed AI-driven recommendations. Meanwhile, industrial and infrastructure sectors must guard against disruptions that could affect critical services, such as power supply or supply chain operations.
For consumers, the consequences are tangible. Unsecured AI systems risk leaking private details – ranging from medical histories to financial records – while flawed AI judgments could influence decisions that directly affect people’s health and finances.
As AI tools play a larger role in retail, banking, transportation, and other areas, protecting these technologies becomes essential for public protection.
The report highlights past incidents that illustrate these dangers. IBM’s Watson once offered unsafe cancer treatment suggestions. Apple’s credit system faced scrutiny after allegations of gender bias. Zillow’s AI-driven pricing led to substantial financial losses. Additionally, Samsung experienced unintended source code disclosures due to inappropriate use of AI chatbots by employees.
“AI is becoming more deeply embedded in business operations, and the risks are multiplying. The lessons from all these incidents are clear: unchecked deployment without robust security and oversight leads to real-world failures,” said Martynas Vareikis, Security Researcher at Cybernews.
As AI further transforms businesses, past incidents and potential threats show how crucial it is to improve security strategies in parallel.
ABOUT CYBERNEWS
Cybernews is a globally recognized independent media outlet where journalists and security experts debunk cyber by research, testing, and data. Founded in 2019 in response to rising concerns about online security, the site covers breaking news, conducts original investigations, and offers unique perspectives on the evolving digital security landscape. Through white-hat investigative techniques, Cybernews research team identifies and safely discloses cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities, while the editorial team provides cybersecurity-related news, analysis, and opinions by industry insiders with complete independence.
Cybernews has earned worldwide attention for its high-impact research and discoveries, which have uncovered some of the internet’s most significant security exposures and data leaks. Notable ones include:
Cybernews researchers discovered multiple open datasets comprising 16 billion login credentials from infostealer malware, social media, developer portals, and corporate networks – highlighting the unprecedented risks of account takeovers, phishing, and business email compromise.
Cybernews researchers analyzed 156,080 randomly selected iOS apps – around 8% of the apps present on the App Store – and uncovered a massive oversight: 71% of them expose sensitive data.
Recently, Bob Dyachenko, a cybersecurity researcher and owner of SecurityDiscovery.com, and the Cybernews security research team discovered an unprotected Elasticsearch index, which contained a wide range of sensitive personal details related to the entire population of Georgia.
The team analyzed the new Pixel 9 Pro XL smartphone’s web traffic, and found that Google’s latest flagship smartphone frequently transmits private user data to the tech giant before any app is installed.
The team revealed that a massive data leak at MC2 Data, a background check firm, affects one-third of the US population.
The Cybernews security research team discovered that 50 most popular Android apps require 11 dangerous permissions on average.
They revealed that two online PDF makers leaked tens of thousands of user documents, including passports, driving licenses, certificates, and other personal information uploaded by users.
An analysis by Cybernews research discovered over a million publicly exposed secrets from over 58 thousand websites’ exposed environment (.env) files.
The team revealed that Australia’s football governing body, Football Australia, has leaked secret keys potentially opening access to 127 buckets of data, including ticket buyers’ personal data and players’ contracts and documents.
The Cybernews research team, in collaboration with cybersecurity researcher Bob Dyachenko, discovered a massive data leak containing information from numerous past breaches, comprising 12 terabytes of data and spanning over 26 billion records.
The team analyzed NASA’s website, and discovered an open redirect vulnerability plaguing NASA’s Astrobiology website.
The team investigated 30,000 Android Apps, and discovered that over half of them are leaking secrets that could have huge repercussions for both app developers and their customers.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A systematic review and meta analysis published in Lancet Planetary Health looks at long-term air pollution exposure and dementia incidence.
Dr Mark Dallas, Associate Professor in Cellular Neuroscience, University of Reading, said:
“While air pollution joined dementia’s 14 modifiable risk factors in 2024, the specific culprits remain unclear. This new research examined existing data and identified three main culprits: tiny particles from car exhaust, nitrogen dioxide from vehicles and power plants, and black carbon from diesel engines. These findings strengthen the evidence that we can protect brain health through cleaner policies targeting diesel pollution and better city planning. However, we still need to understand exactly how these pollutants damage the brain and increase the diversity in dementia research participants. This will help us learn more about how air pollution affects different types of dementia and whether some communities face higher risks than others.”
Dr Tom Russ, Reader in Old Age Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh,said:
“This high quality article summarises the evidence in this rapidly-expanding area up to October 2023. This article improves on many previous reviews but is subject to similar limitations because of the way this research is often conducted; this reflects the quality of the studies it summarises rather than any shortcomings of this specific article. The review includes articles which examine the association of exposure to air pollution for at least one year (described as ‘long-term’ exposure) with the emergence of dementia diagnosed by a doctor. It includes more studies than any previous article and because of the large number of studies included, the authors can be more accurate in their estimate of the size of the effect of dementia – for instance, their data suggest that the risk of dementia resulting from exposure to air pollution would be 9% lower in Edinburgh compared to London.
“It is helpful to see the effects of different pollutants examined – though the authors acknowledges that these pollutants may, in fact, interact with each other in having their harmful effects. This speaks to an area this article cannot deal with – if exposure to air pollution does indeed increase the risk of someone developing dementia, what is the mechanism by which this happens? This question has not yet been addressed – in contrast to air pollution and the cardiovascular system where we have a clear mechanistic understanding of the effects of air pollution exposure on the body through experiments where people are exposed to controlled levels of air pollution. We need a similar body of research focused on the brain.
“The authors try to examine air pollution in relation to different subtypes of dementia – an important area – but because this is often poorly recorded in medical records, they were not able to really tackle this. Most of the time, dementia is simply recorded as ‘dementia’ rather than the specific diagnosis (e.g., Alzheimer dementia, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies). A further complication is that around half of people with dementia never receive a diagnosis and so don’t appear in medical records.
“One limitation of all the studies included in the review is that they estimate the amount of air pollution exposure based on someone’s home address. This is not the most accurate measure of air pollution exposure but I am not aware of any studies which have done this any other way, though a better approach is sorely needed.
“Finally, since we know that many conditions which result in dementia have their origins decades before the emergence of symptoms, studies really need to look at truly long-term air pollution exposure – much longer than one year. Researching this is challenging because few long-term studies have people’s home addresses from their whole lives and measurement or modelling of air pollution levels is rare before the 1990s.
“This article answers the question of whether air pollution exposure is associated with dementia better than previous work, but we still need better research to clarify how and why air pollution might be bad for the brain. Dementia remains a public health priority but air pollution is just one of several important risk factors and stopping smoking, controlling diabetes, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol in mid-life (amongst other things) are crucial for individuals who want to reduce their own risk of dementia, as well as minimising exposure to air pollution.”
Dr Ian Mudway, Associate Professor of Environmental Toxicology and Visiting Professor for Environmental Health, Gresham College, Imperial College London, said:
“This aligns very closely with previous attempts to examine the association between air pollution and dementia. I worked on this back in 2019, and at that time, given the available evidence, we concluded it was too premature to perform a meta-analysis. There were simply too many inconsistencies between studies, particularly concerning exposure assessment.
“While I believe the evidence base has improved since then, inherent challenges remain in linking long-term air pollution changes to dementia incidence due to the decades-long prodromal period of the disease. It raises the crucial question: “How far back must we look to capture the relevant long-term exposures impacting brain health?”
“Additionally, as the authors acknowledge, distinguishing between vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease purely from medical records remains quite difficult, despite their efforts.
“The robust associations observed for NO2, black carbon/PM2.5 absorbance, and PM2.5 itself suggest that the effect is related to both local-scale traffic emissions and more regional particulate matter sources. Overall, this paper strongly supports the contention outlined in the Lancet Commission’s dementia reviews that air pollution is a significant and modifiable risk factor for dementia, and addressing it would substantially improve brain health.”
Prof Roy Harrison FRS, Professor of Environmental Health, University of Birmingham, said:
“This combined analysis of 51 previously conducted independent studies gives a clear signal that the risk of developing dementia is strongly influenced by air pollution exposure. This finding is consistent with other research showing associations between a number of measures of brain function and air pollution, and is particularly important given the devastating impacts of dementia both upon individuals and their families, and society as a whole. It adds to our ever-increasing knowledge of the many diverse harmful effects of air pollution upon health and strengthens the case for firm action to further improve air quality.
Dr Samuel Cai, Lecturer in Environmental Epidemiology, University of Leicester, said:
“The press release is accurate, although it could also be mentioned that studies included in this meta-analysis are quite heterogeneous.
“This is a comprehensive and timely review, including latest primary studies published over the last few years. The conclusion was generally backed by the data presented.
“Air pollution was only recently identified as a new risk factor for dementia in a Lancet-commissioned research. At the time, evidence for the harmful effects of PM2.5 on dementia seems to be more certain, but evidence for other pollutants is less conclusive. This review has significantly strengthened the current knowledge base, reporting that PM2.5, NO2 and soot are all adversely linked to dementia development, based on some of most recent publications.
“This is a systematic review and meta-analysis, and therefore consideration of confounders are usually not applicable in this type of articles. There are two more limitations which may worth further investigation. First, in the studies included in this review, did the effects of air pollution on dementia incidence have been adjusted for other environmental exposures such as greenspace and traffic noise? These two exposures may interact with air pollution in a complex way, and therefore may affect the risk posed by air pollution leading to dementia onset?
“Second, it is not very clear, at which life stage that air pollution exposure is relatively more important in triggering dementia? There is some evidence that late-life air pollution exposures seem to be more relevant to dementia incidence, as compared to mid-life or early-life. I think the current evidence pool is still weak on this question, but certainly a direction warranting more research.
“The implications mentioned by the authors are correct. Air pollution needs to be formally recognised as a risk factor for dementia in clinical practices, and that societal-wide policy actions are needed to tackle air pollution, particularly that from traffic in UK cities and towns, to protect brain health as UK population is ageing.”
Prof Barbara Maher FRS, Professor of Environmental Magnetism, Lancaster University, said:
“This is another meticulous and large study (~30 million people over 4 continents), which reviews and analyses other painstaking studies, attesting to the damage being done to our brains by breathing in air pollution particles. While this study links outdoor PM2.5 (fine particles less than 2.5 micrometres diameter) with increased dementia incidence, this might represent just the tip of the iceberg. Air pollution contains huge numbers of ultrafine particles (
“It’s now 9 years since our discovery of huge numbers of traffic-derived, metal-rich nanoparticles inside the frontal cortex of human brains…anywhere between 900 million and 40 billion particles in a gramme of brain tissue. Similar particles have been found directly associated with the amyloid plaques typical of Alzheimer’s disease. And the likely health impacts of exposure to such small, toxic particles don’t end with the brain. They have now been found in human blood, heart, placenta, kidney, bone joints…the body has no effective defense against the ultrafine particle cocktails we generate outdoors, especially from traffic, and indoors, for example, in heating our homes using stoves.
“What’s more, of course, the nanoparticle ‘mix’ varies from place to place and city to city, so the full scale of the dementia/air pollution pandemic will only become more obvious when epidemiological studies take particle composition, as well as ultrafine size, into account.”
Dr Isolde Radford, Senior Policy Manager at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“Air pollution is not just an environmental issue – it’s a serious and growing threat to our brain health. If no one were exposed to air pollution, there would be three fewer cases of dementia for every 100 people who develop it now. This rigorous review adds to mounting evidence that exposure to air pollution – from traffic fumes to wood burners – increases the risk of developing dementia.
“But poor air quality doesn’t affect all communities equally. As this analysis highlights, marginalised groups are often exposed to higher levels of pollution, yet remain underrepresented in research. Future studies must reflect the full diversity of society – because those most at risk could stand to benefit the most from action.
“What’s still unclear is exactly how air pollution affects the brain. There are several biological pathways that could explain the link, and to prevent dementia in the future, we need to deepen our understanding of these mechanisms.
“Air pollution is one of the major modifiable risk factors for dementia – but it’s not something individuals can solve alone. That’s where government leadership is vital. While the 10-Year Health Plan acknowledges the health harms of air pollution, far more needs to be done to tackle this invisible threat. Alzheimer’s Research UK is calling for a bold, cross-government approach to health prevention — one that brings together departments beyond health, including DEFRA, to take coordinated action on the drivers of dementia risk.
“The UK is still working to meet the World Health Organization’s air pollution limits by 2040 – but that timeline simply isn’t good enough. We have the evidence and the means to reach these targets by 2030. Doing so could help prevent thousands more people from developing dementia. The Government must act now to set stronger, health-based air quality targets – ones that protect our brains as well as our lungs.”
‘Long-term air pollution exposure and incident dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis’ byClare B Best Rogowskiet al.was published in The Lancet Planetary Health at 23:30 UK time on Thursday 24th July.
Dr Mark Dallas: Dr Dallas receives research funding from the Medical Research Council and Carbon Monoxide Research Trust.
Dr Tom Russ: I don’t have any conflicts as such but am active in research in this area.
Prof Roy Harrison: Roy Harrison is a member of the Defra Air Quality Expert Group and the DHSC Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants. He has research funding from UKRI, Defra and the European Union Horizon Programme.
Dr Samuel Cai: I do not have any conflict of interest to declare.
Prof Barbara Maher: None to declare
For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The 55th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) has concluded in Paris. Five Russian schoolchildren won three gold and two silver medals at the prestigious intellectual tournament.
Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Chernyshenko and Minister of Education of Russia Sergei Kravtsov congratulated the children on their successful performance.
“On the instructions of President Vladimir Putin, we are creating all the conditions for revealing the talents of children and young people, and once again our schoolchildren have proven that Russians are the best! At the International Physics Olympiad in Paris, the Russian team won medals, and most of them were of the highest value. In total, this year our children have already won 21 medals at prestigious international Olympiads. This is a worthy result not only of the persistence and work of the schoolchildren themselves, but also of the systematic work of teachers. I am sure that these achievements will be an excellent motivation for new victories,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.
According to the results of the 55th International Physics Olympiad, gold medals were awarded to Mikhail Aronov (P.L. Kapitsa Phystech Lyceum, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region), Grigory Grechkin (School of the Center for Pedagogical Excellence, Moscow) and Ivan Lukin (P.L. Kapitsa Phystech Lyceum, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region). Silver medalists were Egor Krivoshchekov (Lyceum No. 124, Barnaul, Altai Krai) and Pavel Rukovchuk (P.L. Kapitsa Phystech Lyceum, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region). All of them are winners of the All-Russian School Olympiad of the 2024/2025 academic year, medalists of the 2025 Asian Physics Olympiad.
“You have once again confirmed the leading positions of the national education system in the international arena: three gold and two silver at the competition in France among several dozen participating countries! With your successes, you make a significant contribution to the popularization of physics. I am sure that you have every chance to play a significant role in achieving technological leadership in our country. I wish you not to stop there, to strive for victories not only in studies, but also in life, to confidently achieve your goals,” said Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov.
During the Olympiad trials, IPhO participants demonstrated their knowledge and skills in physics in two rounds. The first was devoted to solving theoretical problems covering at least four sections of the subject studied in high school. In the second, experimental round, students completed laboratory work.
Russian high school students underwent training for IPhO at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) under the guidance of the coach of the Russian physics team, Vitaly Shevchenko, Director of Pre-University Training at MIPT.
The Russian national team in Paris was led by Mikhail Osin, associate professor of the Department of General Physics at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.
The International Physics Olympiad is an annual international intellectual tournament for secondary school students. In 2025, the competition brought together more than 400 participants from 87 countries. Taking into account the results of this tournament, the number of medals won by Russian teams at major international Olympiads in 2025 reached 21.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast issued the following statement in response to President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement that France will recognize the “State of Palestine:”
“Choosing to reward terrorism, hostage taking, and genocide against Jews is the wrong choice.”
Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, arrived in Sevilla, Spain, on Sunday, 29 June, to take part in the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), which was being co-hosted by Spain and took place from 30 June to 3 July.
In the afternoon, he met with His Majesty Don Felipe VI, King of Spain. They discussed ongoing efforts to advance the international financing for development agenda. During the meeting, the Secretary-General expressed his deep gratitude for Spain’s unwavering commitment to multilateralism and the UN system, as well as its leadership role in international cooperation and as a permanent bridge builder between the North and the South.
In the evening, the Secretary-General attended a dinner hosted by H.H.M.M. the King and Queen of Spain.
On Monday morning, 30 June, the Secretary-General had a bilateral meeting with the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón. They discussed efforts to advance international financing for development and Spain’s cooperation with the UN in this regard. The Secretary-General expressed his deep appreciation for the magnificent organization of the Conference and Spain’s warm hospitality.
Soon after, together with President of the Government of Spain, the Secretary-General met and greeted Heads of State and Government. This was followed by a family photo.
Then, also with the President of the Government of Spain, the Secretary-General welcomed Don Felipe VI, King of Spain, and Queen Letizia.
The Secretary-General then delivered remarks during the Conference’s opening session and underscored that financing is the engine of development, and right now, this engine is sputtering. He warned that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, our global promise to transform our world for a better, fairer future, is in danger.
The Secretary-General stressed that the Conference wasn’t about charity, it was about restoring justice and lives of dignity. He also added that the Conference wasn’t about money, it was about investing in the future we want to build, together.
Speaking to the media afterwards, in a joint press encounter with the President of the Government of Spain, the Secretary-General underscored that with the adoption of the Sevilla Commitment document, countries are proving their dedication to getting the engine of development revving again. Above all, he added, Sevilla was about solutions and finding these solutions at a divided and difficult moment for the human family.
The Secretary-General said that it was his hope that the collective efforts in Sevilla can inspire and motivate the countries of the world to work as one to solve other global challenges.
In the afternoon, at the launch of the Sevilla Platform for Action, the Secretary-General highlighted that the Platform offers an ambitious, action-oriented response to the global financing challenge. He pointed out that in the midst of a world of division, conflict and economic uncertainty, the Platform contains more than 130 specific initiatives that demonstrate what we can achieve by working together.
Soon after, at the opening of the International Business Forum, the Secretary-General underscored that by uniting public and private sector leaders, regulators and development banks, we can ensure that the Conference is not an end, but rather a beginning.
Later in the afternoon, the Secretary-General held a series of bilateral meetings, including with the President of the Republic of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa Azín, with the Prime Minister of Nepal, K.P. Sharma Oli, with the President of Estonia, Alar Karis, with the President of Albania, Bajram Begaj, and the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal.
The Secretary-General also met Deemah AlYahya, the Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, and also held a bilateral meeting with Mark Suzman, CEO and Board Member of the Gates Foundation.
Later in the evening, the Secretary-General attended a cocktail-style dinner hosted by the President of the Government of Spain with Heads of State and Government.
On Tuesday morning, 1 July, the Secretary-General held a closed-door meeting with Heads of the multilateral development banks, which the President of the Government of Spain also participated, as well as the Deputy-Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed.
He then had a meeting with Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, the President of the Regional Government of Andalusia and the First Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions, before leaving Sevilla, Spain.
Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council
The new Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations, Lukman Al-Faily, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.
(As provided by the Protocol and Liaison Service)
I. General Information:
Name: Lukman Al-Faily
Date of birth: 06.02.1966
Place of birth: Baghdad, Iraq
Nationality: Iraqi
Social Status: Married to Mrs Lameis AL-AMEERI with five children
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
AUKUS treaty deepens UK-Australia defence partnership to generate £20 billion in trade and create 7,000 new jobs
Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary in Australia alongside UK’s Carrier Strike Group – demonstrating government’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Signing of new UK-Australia AUKUS treaty protects our seas, supports over 21,000 UK jobs and underpins up to £20 billion exports potential.
Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary in Australia alongside UK’s Carrier Strike Group – demonstrating government’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
New treaty unlocks greater economic cooperation and delivers on the Government’s Plan for Change.
A new 50 year AUKUS treaty will underpin the UK and Australian submarine programmes, support tens of thousands of jobs in the UK and Australia, enhance both nations’ industrial capacity, and deliver the submarines that keep the UK and our allies safe.
The deal demonstrates the Government’s commitment to deliver both security and prosperity, safeguarding jobs across the UK and boosting our defence industry, with new submarine exports amounting to hundreds of millions of pounds a year.
Expected to be worth up to £20 billion to the UK in exports over the next 25 years, this decades-long programme will create over 7,000 new jobs in UK shipyards and across the supply chain, building on the billions of pounds already invested in Barrow, Derby and beyond.
There will be over 21,000 people working on the conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered AUKUS submarine programme (known as SSN-AUKUS) in the UK at its peak, contributing to opportunities and economic growth in local communities across the UK.
Defence Secretary, John Healey, said:
AUKUS is one of Britain’s most important defence partnerships, strengthening global security while driving growth at home.
This historic Treaty confirms our AUKUS commitment for the next half century. Through the Treaty, we are supporting high-skilled, well-paid jobs for tens of thousands of people in both the UK and Australia, delivering on our Plan for Change today and for the generations to come. There are people not yet born who will benefit from the jobs secured through this defence deal.
Our deep defence relationship with Australia – from our work together to support Ukraine, share vital intelligence, and develop innovative technology – makes us secure at home and strong abroad.
Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said:
The UK-Australia relationship is like no other, and in our increasingly volatile and dangerous world, our anchoring friendship has real impact in the protection of global peace and prosperity.
Our new bilateral AUKUS treaty is an embodiment of that – safeguarding a free and open Indo Pacific whilst catalysing growth for both our countries.
This is how our government delivers the Plan for Change – protecting our national security and stability whilst generating jobs for Brits.
This is the latest milestone reached under the AUKUS partnership – our most strategically significant new defence partnership in a generation.
The Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary will travel to Australia as the Carrier Strike Group and more than 3,000 British military personnel take part in the largest military exercise Australia has ever hosted. Their visit follows the exercise’s success where the AUKUS nations worked with Japan on advancing how we use robotics and autonomous systems in our defence systems.
Both ministers will meet their counterparts at the annual “Australia-UK Ministerial”, known as AUKMIN, to drive forward collaboration across the board – generating further trade and investment to our £23 billion per year annual trade relationship with Australia.
Travelling onto Melbourne, the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary will meet with businesses at the forefront of AUKUS – delivering the defence industrial strength needed to protect British, Australian and American interests.
The Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary will visit Darwin to see our commitment to the Indo-Pacific first hand as the Carrier Strike Group docks in the Northern Territory.
This deployment – one of the UK’s largest this century – sends a clear message that the UK alongside our partners stands ready to protect the Indo-Pacific’s vital trade routes and will deter those who undermine global security.
On HMS Prince of Wales, the flagship of the group, the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary will meet the service personnel who have participated in Exercise Talisman Sabre, one of the largest military exercises in the world this year. Bringing together over 35,000 military personnel from 19 nations, this exercise strengthens and tests how key partners can work together to safeguard global trade routes and maintain regional stability.
The Carrier Strike Group deployment this year reinforces the Government’s Plan for Change by strengthening the international partnerships that underpin economic growth and national security, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad. It takes place against the backdrop of the Government’s landmark commitment to increase defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by 2027.
This historic investment underpins the Government’s mission-led approach to securing Britain’s future, providing the economic stability necessary for growth whilst ensuring the UK maintains cutting-edge capabilities such as to meet emerging global threats.