“Facing cancer is one of life’s hardest challenges, and no one should face it alone or far from home. As a nurse and health-care advocate for over 25 years, I’ve seen both the power of timely, accessible care and the pain of this disease. This expansion is more than added space; it’s about compassionate, dignified care that brings hope and better outcomes. It’s a vital investment that brings essential treatment closer to home, supported by family and community.”
Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health–
“Every element of this new unit is focused on combining modern medical innovation, clinical expertise and compassionate care, all to support patients and their families through one of the most challenging times in their lives. The thoughtful design supports Interior Health staff and physicians to provide increased access to quality cancer care in the south Okanagan.”
Dr. Paris-Ann Ingledew, interim executive vice-president and chief medical officer, BC Cancer –
“Bringing high-quality cancer care close to home is a key goal of B.C.’s 10-Year Cancer Action Plan. With this updated and expanded Community Oncology Network clinic at Penticton Regional Hospital, more people in the south Okanagan will be able to access the care they need with less travel and with the support of family, friends and neighbours nearby.”
Ian Lindsay, CEO, South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation–
“I am incredibly grateful to see our community come together to make the new oncology clinic a reality. This centre stands as a testament to what we can achieve when a community comes together to lead the way. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.”
Martin Johansen, chair,Okanagan-Similkameen Regional Hospital District–
“On behalf of the Okanagan Similkameen Regional Hospital District, we are proud to be a funding partner for the new oncology unit at Penticton Regional Hospital. These services will play a critical role in helping meet the health-care needs of our community and allow residents to access the care they need, closer to home.”
Urban Indigenous gathering for community well-being, showing the importance of interconnectedness in Indigenous Communities in Hamilton, Ont. in August 2021. This way of being must be reflected in nuclear projects to better work alongside Indigenous Peoples.(Michelle Webb)
With climate change-fuelled natural disasters becoming more frequent and devastating for communities around the world, the need for cleaner energy solutions is more urgent than ever.
When it comes to transitioning away from fossil fuels, much of the focus tends to be on solar, wind or hydroelectricity. However, small modular reactors (SMRs) are an emerging technology showing promise globally.
SMRs are a specific type of nuclear reactor that, as the name suggests, are small in energy output and modular in their manufacturing. Provinces like New Brunswick, Alberta and Saskatchewan have made progress on strategic plans to make SMRs part of their provincial climate action plans.
Unlike traditional nuclear reactors that generally produce more than 1,000 megawatts of electricity, SMRs are designed to produce as low as five megawatts. The modularity of such reactors allows for manufacturing off-site and installation at the desired location. This can decrease construction time, manufacturing costs and certain environmental costs associated with building on site.
In an effort to shift reliability from carbon-emitting resources to nuclear power, SMRs provide an exciting alternative, but implementation needs effective engagement with Indigenous communities to flourish.
Small modular reactors (SMRs) could be relatively feasible way to generate power for many off-grid communities. (A. Vargas/IAEA)
Engaging Indigenous communities
Much of Canada’s electricity is already generated from low-carbon emission sources. However, there are still areas in northern Canada that are reliant on diesel, and therefore SMR plans are often aimed at providing electricity to these communities.
As research continues into the engineering and science behind SMR technology, meaningful community engagement with Indigenous communities is also required.
Thoughtfully considered and integrated consultations are necessary to ensure projects respect treaties, land rights and the surrounding environment. Consultation is needed to understand the needs and goals of the community for creating an energy transition plan.
In addition, incorporating traditional ecological knowledge in environmental risk assessments is vital. Ultimately, projects designed alongside Indigenous communities should strive for Indigenous sovereignty over growing infrastructure.
Why community engagement is important
Indigenous communities continue to face challenges as a result of colonization. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) seventh Call to Action highlights the need to eliminate educational and employment disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians.
A direct way to address in terms of Canada’s nuclear landscape is to train members of those communities in technical roles related to the planning, deployment and sustained use of a nuclear facility. Specifically, training today’s Indigenous youth so they can fulfil these roles in their future careers.
The TRC’s Call to Action 92 calls on Canada’s corporate sector to engage in meaningful consultation, respectful relationship-building and equitable access to training and education opportunities that will contribute to long-term benefits from any economic development projects.
Through understanding the need for this relationship-building, there is a lot that western practices can learn from adopting Indigenous ways of knowing. Indigenous people have a long history of sustainable practices in their culture and traditions, and although western science now consider sustainable practices, it is not deeply woven into community and industrial initiatives.
As nuclear projects advance in Canada, it’s vital to respect Indigenous knowledge through weaving with western science. Projects can adopt a Two-Eyed seeing approach. This refers to viewing a problem with one eye using an Indigenous knowledge perspective and the other with a western knowledge lens. There is much to learn from understanding the philosophy behind Indigenous ways of knowing that can be applied to protect the environment.
Indigenous knowledge varies across Canada and comes with different insights, but a commonality is the teaching that all living things are interconnected and must be respected and cared for. This perspective is necessary for the future of nuclear projects to ensure the environment is sustained to support the biodiversity of regions throughout Canada.
This informed approach of protecting the environment, together with an ecosystem approach that considers the uniqueness and interconectedness of each organism, will ultimately lead to improved nuclear policies and safety.
The actions that institutions and private industry take today to build strong relationships with Indigenous communities and work towards an increasingly sustainable future will support already resilient communities so they can see growth well beyond the deployment of SMRs. A path to a cleaner future is in reach, but only if we walk beside Indigenous leaders, knowledge holders, community members and, especially, youth.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
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Ghana continues to make impressive strides in the fight against poliovirus, with the last confirmed case of Wild Poliovirus (WPV) recorded in 2008 and the most recent Variant Poliovirus (VDPV) detected in 2024. As the number of confirmed polio cases and detection of the virus in the environment decline steadily, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners remain committed in minimizing the risk of reintroduction of poliovirus.
On 5 June 2025, the Ghana Health Service, with funding and technical assistance from WHO, organized a training for field officers for a nationwide survey on poliovirus containment and risk assessment. The exercise was designed to ensure that biomedical laboratories handling poliovirus infectious or Potentially Infectious Materials (PIMs) are not inadvertently creating pathways for virus reintroduction.
Participants at the orientation were trained on the use of the WHO Open Data Kit (ODK) toolkit for conducting surveys, assessing risks in biomedical laboratories, and supporting facilities to implement appropriate biosafety and decontamination measures in line with WHO’s containment guidelines (GAPIII and GAPIV). Discussions also covered survey methodologies, biosafety and biosecurity practices.
Speaking at the training, Dr. Lawson Ahadzie, Chairman of the National Certification Committee on Polio Eradication, stressed the importance of following up with the recommendations of the survey.
“We are in the final lap of polio eradication. What remains is ensuring that all possible sources of virus reintroduction—especially from laboratories—are identified and secured. This training equips field officers with the skills to do just that”, he said.
Dr Raymond Dankoli, Global Polio Eradication Initiative Coordinator, highlighted the importance of the survey and implementation of findings. “This can also be seen as part of the general response measures to the confirmed Polio event in August 2024”, he added.
The last PIMs Survey and national risk assessment in 2022 identified seven laboratories across the country storing Poliovirus Potentially Infectious Materials (PV PIMs). These materials were classified as PIMs due to no laboratory investigations conducted. They were however securely contained within Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) laboratories, with stringent decontamination and waste management protocols. Additionally, 66 vaccine repositories across regional and district hospitals were found to contain Sabin/bOPV stocks for routine vaccination activities.
Dr. Michael Adjabeng, Surveillance Officer with WHO Ghana, emphasized the need for the involvement of all stakeholders in the containment activities. “Ghana has come far, but the job isn’t finished. Containment is about responsibility. It’s about making sure we build upon progress made. This survey is a key part of that effort”, he stated.
Findings from the survey will be disseminated to key stakeholders, given the broader implications for containment and risk mitigation strategies. This survey will help identify any PV PIMs present in biomedical laboratories and ensure their appropriate handling and disposal in accordance with WHO containment guidelines for a polio free world.
– on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO), Ghana.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Bihar, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh on June 20 and 21, during which he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for a host of major development projects. He will also lead the national celebrations of the 11th International Day of Yoga in Visakhapatnam.
On June 20, the Prime Minister will arrive in Siwan, Bihar, where he will unveil a series of critical infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening the state’s transportation, energy, and urban development sectors. Among the major announcements is the inauguration of the new Vaishali–Deoria railway line project, valued at over ₹400 crore, along with the launch of a new train service on this route. Additionally, he will flag off a Vande Bharat Express train that will operate between Patliputra and Gorakhpur via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah, significantly improving regional connectivity.
In a significant milestone for India’s manufacturing sector, the Prime Minister will also flag off a state-of-the-art locomotive built at the Marhowra Plant for export to the Republic of Guinea. This marks the facility’s first international shipment under the ‘Make in India – Make for the World’ initiative.
Continuing his government’s commitment to the Namami Gange mission, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate six sewage treatment plants (STPs) worth over ₹1,800 crore to support the rejuvenation of the river Ganga. He will also lay the foundation stone for various water supply, sanitation, and STP projects in towns across Bihar, with investments exceeding ₹3,000 crore.
Further strengthening the state’s energy infrastructure, he will lay the foundation for 500 MWh of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity across 15 grid substations, including those in Muzaffarpur, Motihari, Bettiah, and Siwan. These storage systems will help stabilize the electricity grid and reduce the cost of power for consumers.
In the housing sector, the Prime Minister will release the first instalment to more than 53,600 beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U). He will also hand over keys to a selection of beneficiaries to mark the symbolic *Grih Pravesh* of over 6,600 newly completed homes.
Later that day, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Bhubaneswar, Odisha, to chair a state-level function marking the completion of one year of the current state government. In line with the central government’s vision of inclusive growth, he will also inaugurate and lay the foundation for development projects worth over ₹18,600 crore. These initiatives span key sectors such as irrigation, drinking water, agricultural infrastructure, healthcare, rural roads, bridges, and national highways.
A major highlight of the Odisha visit will be the launch of a new railway line that extends connectivity to Boudh district for the first time. The Prime Minister will also flag off 100 electric buses under the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) initiative to promote sustainable urban mobility.
During the event, the Prime Minister will unveil the Odisha Vision Document, a forward-looking roadmap that outlines the state’s developmental goals leading up to 2036, when Odisha marks 100 years as a linguistic state, and 2047, when India completes a century of independence.
To celebrate Odisha’s rich cultural legacy, the Prime Minister will launch the ‘Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana’—a scheme to transform the birthplaces of notable Odia personalities into living heritage sites with museums, libraries, statues, and interpretation centres. He will also felicitate women achievers from across the state, acknowledging the contribution of more than 16.5 lakh ‘Lakhpati Didis’ who symbolize empowerment and prosperity.
On June 21, the Prime Minister will lead the nation in celebrating the 11th International Day of Yoga from the beachfront of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Nearly five lakh people are expected to join him in a mass yoga demonstration at the event, which is part of a larger national campaign spanning over 3.5 lakh locations across India.
This year’s theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” reflects the growing global recognition of yoga’s role in promoting both individual and planetary well-being. Since the United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 as International Day of Yoga in 2015, Prime Minister Modi has led celebrations from various iconic locations including New York, Mysuru, Srinagar, and the Red Fort.
To broaden participation this year, campaigns such as “Yoga with Family” and “Yoga Unplugged” have been launched via the MyGov and MyBharat platforms, targeting families and youth across the country.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03)
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Representatives Kat Cammack (FL-03) and Kevin Hern (OK-01) introduced theProtecting Health Care for All Patients Act to ensure that Americans with disabilities, chronic illnesses, and rare conditions are not devalued in federal health care decisions. This legislation prohibits the use of Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs)—a metric that assigns lower value to lives with disabilities— in federal programs like Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and ACA exchanges.
“The use of so-called cost-effective measures like QALYs threatens access to lifesaving care for the most vulnerable Americans,”said Congresswoman Cammack.“I am honored to lead this legislation alongside my colleague Rep. Kevin Hern to ensure that no patient is denied treatment simply because a mathematical formula decided their life is worth less. Every American—regardless of disability, chronic illness, or rare condition—deserves equal access to care.”
“QALY measurements strip humanity away from a patient, leaving only dollar signs and data points. That has no place in our health care system. Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and given the best care available,”said Congressman Hern.“I am proud to join Congresswoman Cammack on this bill to ban QALY measurements in all federal health care programs.”
“I am excited my colleagues Representatives Cammack and Hern have reintroduced the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act,”said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Guthrie.“We owe it to Americans – no matter the age, disability status, or measure of health – to provide high-quality care under federal health care programs. I’m thankful to both of my colleagues for reintroducing this sensible legislation that stops the immoral practice of placing arbitrary value on human life within our health care system.”
BACKGROUND:
Last Congress, this legislation passed the House with strong Republican support under the leadership of House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-MO), Rep. Michael Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), and Rep. Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (R-OH).
In the 119th Congress, the legislation will again receive a dual referral to both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03)
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Representatives Kat Cammack (FL-03) and Kevin Hern (OK-01) introduced theProtecting Health Care for All Patients Act to ensure that Americans with disabilities, chronic illnesses, and rare conditions are not devalued in federal health care decisions. This legislation prohibits the use of Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs)—a metric that assigns lower value to lives with disabilities— in federal programs like Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and ACA exchanges.
“The use of so-called cost-effective measures like QALYs threatens access to lifesaving care for the most vulnerable Americans,”said Congresswoman Cammack.“I am honored to lead this legislation alongside my colleague Rep. Kevin Hern to ensure that no patient is denied treatment simply because a mathematical formula decided their life is worth less. Every American—regardless of disability, chronic illness, or rare condition—deserves equal access to care.”
“QALY measurements strip humanity away from a patient, leaving only dollar signs and data points. That has no place in our health care system. Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and given the best care available,”said Congressman Hern.“I am proud to join Congresswoman Cammack on this bill to ban QALY measurements in all federal health care programs.”
“I am excited my colleagues Representatives Cammack and Hern have reintroduced the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act,”said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Guthrie.“We owe it to Americans – no matter the age, disability status, or measure of health – to provide high-quality care under federal health care programs. I’m thankful to both of my colleagues for reintroducing this sensible legislation that stops the immoral practice of placing arbitrary value on human life within our health care system.”
BACKGROUND:
Last Congress, this legislation passed the House with strong Republican support under the leadership of House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-MO), Rep. Michael Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), and Rep. Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (R-OH).
In the 119th Congress, the legislation will again receive a dual referral to both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee.
Leading G20 policy-makers, global health experts and representatives from both the private and public sectors are meeting in Geneva from 19–20 June for the annual Health20 Summit (H20) organized by the G20 Health & Development Partnership and co-hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Summit comes at a critical moment for global health amid geopolitical shifts, economic uncertainty, and shock funding cuts to development aid. It will focus on the future of global health and finance, and explore how to build resilience, trust, and sustainability into health systems.
This year marks the conclusion of the first cycle of G20 meetings, which began in 1999 as a forum for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of industrialized and developing countries to discuss global economic and financial stability.
The H20 Summit, which has been held annually since the first G20 Health Ministers Meeting in Germany in 2017, will explore strategies to secure the role of health and development in the next cycle starting in 2026, under the leadership of the United States of America.
Outcomes from the two-day deliberations will inform both the upcoming UN General Assembly’s fourth high-level meeting on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in September and the G20 health ministers and leaders’ summit in South Africa this November.
“WHO thanks the H20 for its advocacy at this critical time in global health. Severe disruptions to funding and changing disease burdens require new partnerships and approaches, including an increased focus on promoting health and preventing disease,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “WHO is working with all health and development partners, and supporting the G20, to help countries pivot from aid dependency to greater self-reliance in mobilizing domestic resources to deliver the health services their people need.”
Dr Ghebreyesus delivered the keynote address. Other high-level speakers included: H.E. Dr Jaleela bint Alsayed Jawad Hasan, Minister of Health, Kingdom of Bahrain; H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General, Africa CDC; H.E. Dr Hanan Al Kuwari, Advisor to the Prime Minister for Public Health Affairs; Former Minister of Health, Qatar H.E. Prof Orazio Schillaci, Minister of Health, Italy; Dr Pakishe Aaron (PA) Motsoaledi, Minister of Health, South Africa; and Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO, GAVI.
Key reports launched at the event
The first NCDs and Mental Health Global Legislators Report, which offers a toolkit for parliamentarians to advance preventative global health goals; and a second, The health taxonomy report that provides a first framework for a health investment tool aimed at fostering a shared understanding and common language between governments, companies, and investors, to help drive future health financing. This report is pertinent in light of the landmark health financing resolution adopted at last month’s World Health Assembly.
Under the theme ‘Reimagining partnerships & building back public trust in global health’ participants at the Summit will discuss the status of global health financing and why public-private partnerships are essential for future progress. The H20 Summit is unique in offering an inclusive and collaborative platform where the traditional global health community can intersect with decision-makers from politics and finance, with the purpose of elevating public health within the G20’s broader development agenda.
NCDs such as cancers, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases account for more than 43 million deaths each year and are on the rise. Mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, psychosis and self-harm, affect close to 1 billion people worldwide and represent a significant long-term risk to economic growth and security. The NCD and health taxonomy reports offer relevant and actionable recommendations for legislators and governments to close the NCD financing gap.
H.E. Dr Jaleela bint Alsayed Jawad Hasan, Minister of Health, Kingdom of Bahrain, said: “I welcome the NCDs and Mental Health Global Legislators Report launched at the H20 Summit. It is a timely contribution that demonstrates the role of parliamentarians in translating health commitments into lasting impact. As global health systems adapt to complex and evolving challenges, the Kingdom of Bahrain is advancing a model grounded in inclusive governance, robust legislation, and strategic investment.”
On financing specifically, Dr Agnes Soucat, Director of Health and Social Protection, Agence Française de Développement said: “We must differentiate between health funding and health financing. A health taxonomy already exists for operational costs but not for capital costs, which is what investors are most interested in.”
Note to editors
The G20 Health & Development Partnership is a not-for-profit advocacy organization representing over 27 global health organizations from across the public and private sector and academia aiming to ensure G20 countries coordinate their current and future health innovation strategies to tackle the growing global burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases and promote the delivery of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 with a focus on SDG3 ‘health and well-being for all’ and SDG17 ‘strengthening partnerships’.
With the theme “One World for Health,” WHA78 brought together Member States and other stakeholders to address major health priorities, including the Pandemic Agreement, antimicrobial resistance, climate-related health risks, and noncommunicable diseases.
A key development was the growing inclusion of civil society in the policy-making process. “Civil society is not only identifying critical challenges – it is contributing actionable, community-informed solutions,” said Taina Nakari, WHO’s lead for civil society engagement. “This is central to building trust and delivering results that meet the needs of populations.”
One of the main vehicles for strengthening civil society is the WHO Civil Society Commission, launched to support more systematic and inclusive civil society participation in global health governance. The Commission brings together over 400 organizations and individuals to co-develop policy inputs, share knowledge, and identify entry points into WHO processes.
“We’ve built a space where civil society can speak with one voice while honouring our diversity,” said Lisa Hilmi, Co-Chair of the Commission and CORE Group, Executive Director.
“We’re not just advising WHO,” added fellow Co-Chair and Medwise Solutions Director of Research and Evaluation, Ravi Ram. “We’re helping shape the way civil society engages in global health governance.”
In parallel with the Commission’s work, WHO also supported over 60 non-State actors –including NGOs, foundations, and associations – in delivering more than 200 formal statements to Member States. Nearly 50 official side events provided additional platforms for dialogue and collaboration. While these organizations are not all members of the WHO Civil Society Commission, their engagement is an important avenue to ensure more inclusive and participatory decision-making across WHO processes.
Another notable example was the high-level side event, “Securing Investments in Global Health: Time for a New Approach,” co-hosted by Save the Children, Medicus Mundi, World Vision, and the Government of Germany. Civil society representatives emphasized the need to reform global health financing by:
moving beyond traditional aid models;
strengthening domestic health financing;
leveraging multisectoral partnerships and innovation; and
reaffirming global solidarity amidst declining development assistance and weakening multilateralism.
“We organized this event to underscore that sustainable financing for health is not only a technical necessity – it’s a matter of equity, accountability, and long-term impact,” said Tara Brace-John, Head of Policy, Advocacy and Research, Save the Children Fund. “Civil society brings grounded perspectives that can help policy-makers design solutions that prioritize health systems and deliver for the people who need them most.”
Strengthening civil society’s policy influence
WHA78 also featured the second Global Parliamentary Dialogue, convening legislators from around the world to discuss how parliaments can support health priorities through inclusive, accountable governance. During the session, the WHO Civil Society Commission introduced its flagship report: “Civil Society Engagement in the Development of World Health Assembly Resolutions.”
The report offers practical guidance – including a checklist and real-world case studies – for systematically involving civil society throughout the resolution process.
“This report is the result of extensive consultation and shared learning across regions,” said Kjeld Steenbjerg Hansen, a member of the WHO Civil Society Commission and Past-Chair of the European Lung Foundation (ELF). “It provides Member States with practical tools to engage civil society from the beginning and systematically throughout the resolution – from early input to final negotiations – while also emphasizing the political value of more inclusive and participatory policy-making.”
Parliamentarians were encouraged to support the uptake of the report in their national and regional platforms, helping translate civil society perspectives into policy outcomes.
Looking beyond the Assembly
WHO’s engagement with civil society extends well beyond formal meetings. In May 2025, more than 500 civil society participants joined WHO’s Epidemic and Pandemic Intelligence – Information Network (WHO–EPI-WIN) technical briefing on the public health risks of avian influenza. Speakers at the session:
shared real-time updates on outbreak risks;
briefed civil society organizations on WHO preparedness and response;
explored how civil society organizations can support emergency response efforts; and
strengthened pathways for collaboration.
Civil society also participated in similar sessions on the Universal Health and Preparedness Review (UHPR), antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the Interim Medical Countermeasures Platform, the WHO Investment Round, and access to safe, effective, and quality-assured health products. These engagements reflect WHO’s commitment to ensuring civil society is not only informed but also actively involved in shaping global public health.
Their growing involvement in WHO governance helps ensure that health decisions are more inclusive, responsive, and effective, especially for those most affected.
HONG KONG, June 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — At Super AI, Asia’s largest AI event held in Singapore, GPTBots.ai emerged as a highlight among enterprise AI platforms. The event brought together global industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers, all seeking practical, scalable AI solutions to accelerate digital transformation and maintain a competitive edge.
Spotlighting Real Enterprise Needs Throughout the exhibition, GPTBots engaged with top-tier clients whose needs reflected the region’s most urgent business trends:
Banking: The bank’s corporate division sought AI assistants for their sales teams, aiming to automatically monitor client news, uncover hidden business opportunities, and intelligently match these with relevant internal products. This approach enables more timely, data-driven, and personalized client engagement—helping banks stay ahead in a dynamic market.
Consulting: A leading global consulting firm explored GPTBots to automate customer service, reduce operational costs, and maintain high-quality client support. Their goal was to leverage AI to handle routine inquiries, freeing up human experts for more complex, value-added tasks.
Hospitality: A major hotel systems integrator was interested in deploying AI agents to manage guest inquiries—from bookings to room service—and to automatically generate daily operational reports for hotel management, streamlining both customer experience and internal operations.
How GPTBots Delivers GPTBots’ enterprise-grade platform is designed for rapid, flexible deployment across industries:
Real-time Data Integration & Intelligent Matching: For banking, GPTBots enables AI agents to continuously scan news, financial data, and social media, surfacing actionable insights and matching them with the bank’s product suite.
Automated, 24/7 Customer Support: Consulting firms benefit from AI agents that resolve up to 90% of routine queries, ensuring consistent, high-quality service while reducing manual workload and costs.
Conversational AI & Automated Reporting: In hospitality, GPTBots powers seamless guest interactions and automates the creation and distribution of daily management reports, providing real-time operational insights.
Driving the Future of Enterprise AI in Asia Super AI Singapore underscored the region’s growing demand for secure, adaptable, and industry-specific AI solutions. GPTBots is committed to bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI technology and real business value—helping enterprises unlock new opportunities, boost efficiency, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
About GPTBots.ai GPTBots.ai is an enterprise AI agent platform that empowers businesses to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive growth. Offering end-to-end AI solutions across customer service, knowledge search, data analysis, and lead generation, GPTBots enables enterprises to harness the full potential of AI with ease. With seamless integration into various systems, and support for scalable, secure deployments, GPTBots is dedicated to reducing costs, accelerating growth, and helping businesses thrive in the AI era.
To learn how GPTBots can accelerate your AI transformation, visit gptbots.ai.
HONG KONG, June 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — At Super AI, Asia’s largest AI event held in Singapore, GPTBots.ai emerged as a highlight among enterprise AI platforms. The event brought together global industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers, all seeking practical, scalable AI solutions to accelerate digital transformation and maintain a competitive edge.
Spotlighting Real Enterprise Needs Throughout the exhibition, GPTBots engaged with top-tier clients whose needs reflected the region’s most urgent business trends:
Banking: The bank’s corporate division sought AI assistants for their sales teams, aiming to automatically monitor client news, uncover hidden business opportunities, and intelligently match these with relevant internal products. This approach enables more timely, data-driven, and personalized client engagement—helping banks stay ahead in a dynamic market.
Consulting: A leading global consulting firm explored GPTBots to automate customer service, reduce operational costs, and maintain high-quality client support. Their goal was to leverage AI to handle routine inquiries, freeing up human experts for more complex, value-added tasks.
Hospitality: A major hotel systems integrator was interested in deploying AI agents to manage guest inquiries—from bookings to room service—and to automatically generate daily operational reports for hotel management, streamlining both customer experience and internal operations.
How GPTBots Delivers GPTBots’ enterprise-grade platform is designed for rapid, flexible deployment across industries:
Real-time Data Integration & Intelligent Matching: For banking, GPTBots enables AI agents to continuously scan news, financial data, and social media, surfacing actionable insights and matching them with the bank’s product suite.
Automated, 24/7 Customer Support: Consulting firms benefit from AI agents that resolve up to 90% of routine queries, ensuring consistent, high-quality service while reducing manual workload and costs.
Conversational AI & Automated Reporting: In hospitality, GPTBots powers seamless guest interactions and automates the creation and distribution of daily management reports, providing real-time operational insights.
Driving the Future of Enterprise AI in Asia Super AI Singapore underscored the region’s growing demand for secure, adaptable, and industry-specific AI solutions. GPTBots is committed to bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI technology and real business value—helping enterprises unlock new opportunities, boost efficiency, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
About GPTBots.ai GPTBots.ai is an enterprise AI agent platform that empowers businesses to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive growth. Offering end-to-end AI solutions across customer service, knowledge search, data analysis, and lead generation, GPTBots enables enterprises to harness the full potential of AI with ease. With seamless integration into various systems, and support for scalable, secure deployments, GPTBots is dedicated to reducing costs, accelerating growth, and helping businesses thrive in the AI era.
To learn how GPTBots can accelerate your AI transformation, visit gptbots.ai.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
One side event at the African Development Bank Group’s (www.AfDB.org) 2025 Annual Meetings unpacked the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a powerful tool to advance inclusive and sustainable development across the African continent.
Held under the theme: “The AI Revolution: How Will AI Support the Delivery of the African Development Bank’s 2024–2033 Ten-Year Strategy and the Transformation of African Economies?”, the 90-minute session convened leading voices from across sectors. The event was co-hosted with Google AI Research.
At the heart of the discussion was the question: What will it take for Africa to become AI-ready? which was the central theme of the high-level panel discussion as part of the event.
In his opening remarks, Solomon Quaynor, Vice-President for Private Sector, Infrastructure & Industrialization of the African Development Bank underscored the critical role of digital transformation in shaping Africa’s future: “AI is not a luxury—it’s a necessity for Africa’s competitiveness, resilience, and long-term prosperity,” he said.
Caroline Kende-Robb, Senior Director of Strategy and Operational Policies at the Bank, framed the conversation within the context of the Bank’s 2024–2033 Ten-Year Strategy (https://apo-opa.co/3ZFWakh).
She stressed that “Investing in youth and data infrastructure is no longer optional—these are the foundations upon which Africa must build its AI future.” Her remarks echoed the strategy’s call to leapfrog development through innovation, anchored in African realities and driven by African talent.
Following her intervention, Abdoulaye Diack, Program Manager at Google AI Research Africa, highlighted the transformative potential of AI to address structural challenges and unlock progress in agriculture, education, climate adaptation, and public health.
Diack emphasized the importance of contextualizing AI for African environments, warning that “without local data and inclusive models, Africa risks becoming a passive consumer rather than an active creator of AI solutions.”
Ibrahim Kalil Konaté, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Digital Transition and Digitalization, advocated for regional coordination and harmonized policy frameworks to enable responsible, cross-border implementation of AI technologies.
Robert Skjodt, Group CEO of Raxio Group, focused on the critical need for robust digital infrastructure—especially local data centers—to support the scale and speed required for Africa’s AI ambitions.
Ousmane Fall, Director of Private Sector Transaction Support at the Bank, called for the development of bankable, scalable digital infrastructure projects that can attract long-term investment.
Moustapha Cissé, CEO of Kera Health Platforms, and a respected pioneer in African AI research, stressed the need for ethical frameworks and AI systems that reflect African social, cultural, and healthcare contexts.
Muthoni Karubiu, Chief Operations Officer at Amini, concluded the panel with a call to enhance data sovereignty, especially in the context of agriculture and climate action, by ensuring access to localized and context-specific environmental data.
Harnessing the power of AI for Africa’s success
A strong consensus emerged across the panel – for Africa to harness AI effectively, it must focus on three foundational pillars:
– Human Capital: Equip the next generation with AI literacy and professional expertise.
– Data Infrastructure: Build the digital backbone for connectivity, storage, and secure data exchange.
– Localized Data: Train AI systems on African realities, including languages, culture, and societal needs.
With Africa holding just 1.3% of global data storage capacity and lagging in digital readiness, speakers agreed that the continent is at a crossroads and must urgently make the choice to invest now, or risk falling further behind.
As Africa moves forward in artificial intelligence, the African Development Bank reaffirms its commitment to shaping a digital future that is inclusive, sovereign, and anchored in shared prosperity.
For more information or to revisit this session, click here (https://apo-opa.co/4eu3i9P)
– on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Contact: Chara Tsitoura Communication and External Relations media@afdb.org
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Care for those with learning disabilities or autistic people
New guidance published today will provide a boost in the quality of care for people with a learning disability or autistic people
New guidance published today to ensure health and care staff have skills to provide care for people with a learning disability and autistic people
Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism named after teenager who died in 2016 after having severe reaction to medication given to him against family’s wishes
Training will aim to tackle health inequalities faced by people with a learning disability and autistic people, who face poorer health outcomes than general population
People with a learning disability and autistic people will get safer, more personalised care as the government publishes new guidelines for health and care providers to train staff.
The Oliver McGowan code of practice on statutory learning disability and autism training aims to ensure staff have the right skills to provide care and boost understanding of the needs of these groups of people.
It sets out the standards that providers are expected to meet to be compliant with the law and help make sure patients are kept safe.
Those with a learning disability or autistic people face poorer health outcomes than the general population, and it is crucial that health and social care staff have the right knowledge and skills to tackle these inequalities.
The training and the Code of Practice are named after Oliver McGowan, an 18-year-old from Bristol with a mild learning disability who died following a severe reaction to medication given to him against his and his family’s strong wishes.
Under the law, health and care providers registered by the Care Quality Commission have a requirement to ensure staff have the appropriate training.
Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock said:
I pay tribute to Paula McGowan OBE and Tom McGowan and their incredible campaign to improve the care of people with a learning disability and autistic people after the tragic death of their son, Oliver.
Through their work, they have shown admirable dedication, commitment and passion – Oliver’s memory and legacy lives through them.
This government recognises the appalling health inequalities faced by people with a learning disability and autistic people.
Everyone deserves to receive high-quality, empathetic and dignified care but this cannot be achieved if staff do not have the right training. The Oliver McGowan Code of Practice published today will be a boost for anyone with a learning disability or autistic people, their families and loved ones.
Paul and Tom McGowan said:
The publication of the Code of Practice marks a deeply emotional and significant milestone for us and will ensure Oliver’s legacy will continue to make a difference by safeguarding people with a learning disability and autistic individuals from the same preventable failings that he tragically endured.
The Code establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the delivery of the training, promoting consistency and a deeper understanding across health and social care services.
We are profoundly grateful to cross party politicians for their unwavering support and especially to Baroness Sheila Hollins, whose leadership has been pivotal in advancing this important work.
Our heartfelt thanks extend to everyone within the NHS and social care sectors, to our expert trainers, and to individuals with a learning disability and or autism, along with their families and carers. This is a true example of what meaningful change looks like, giving a voice to those who are not always seen or heard, creating a lasting impact that will continue to transform lives for the better.
Tom Cahill CBE, National Director, Learning Disability and Autism NHS England said:
We know that often the quality of care and support for people with a learning disability and autistic people has not been good enough and we are determined to make this better .
This code of practice – a result of Paula and Tom McGowan’s tireless dedication – will mean all NHS staff have the training and support they need to reduce inequalities and give people with a learning disability or autistic people the care they deserve.
Rebecca Bushell-Bauers, Care Quality Commission Director for people with a learning disability and autistic people said:
Today highlights Paula and Tom McGowan’s tireless campaigning in their son’s name for better care for autistic people and people with a learning disability.
We are dedicated to advocating for and improving the health and care outcomes for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. The code of practice will further support us in assessing and inspecting whether health and social care providers are training their carers and staff to support autistic people and people with a learning disability appropriately and hold them to account to ensure they are delivering good, informed and safe care.
Baroness Hollins said:
I am delighted that, following my amendment to the 2022 Health and Care Act, the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice has now been laid before Parliament. This milestone supports the requirement that health and care staff complete training that equips them to better care for people with a learning disability and autistic people.
I pay special tribute to Paula and Tom McGowan, whose tireless advocacy in memory of their son, Oliver, has led to lasting change including through the Code and training in his name. This is a vital step towards tackling health inequalities and improving care across health and social care services.
The training will be backed by funding as part of the Learning and Development Support Scheme for adult social care in Autumn 2025.
Any adult social care providers who arrange for training for their staff between April 2025 and March 2026 will be reimbursed for the costs.
The Health and Care Act 2022 set out a legal requirement for CQC health and care providers to ensure staff receive appropriate training in caring for those with a learning disability or autistic people.
Oliver McGowan was repeatedly prescribed antipsychotic medications despite medical notes highlighting his severe adverse reactions to these drugs and against his and his family’s wishes.
Healthcare staff consistently failed to understand how autism presented alongside epilepsy and did not make the adjustments needed to accommodate for his needs.
Oliver died after developing a severe side effect to the medication which caused brain damage, and after life support was withdrawn by his parents, he died on 11 November 2016.
Oliver’s parents, Paula and Tom McGowan, have campaigned for better training for health and care staff to improve understanding of the needs of people with a learning disability or autistic people.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, on 14 June, has honored the President of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) Dr Akinwumi Adesina describing him as “a visionary leader, a tireless son of Africa who has dedicated his life to transform the narrative of the continent.”
President Samia Suluhu Hassan praised Adesina’s vital role in the development of her country’s economy, singling out large-scale infrastructure projects financed by the Bank.
During a two-day visit to Tanzania that began on Friday, Bank president Dr Akinwumi Adesina was invited on a tour of some of the Bank-financed infrastructure projects that are transforming Tanzania’s economy and strengthening its regional and international roles. This includes a new international airport and a major highway that encircles the administrative capital of Dodoma.
The Tanzanian leader highlighted projects in other sectors, such as agriculture and energy, that are financed by the Bank.
“This is in addition to the construction of a modern Standard Gauge Railway line that will link Tanzania to Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said President Suluhu Hassan.
The African Development Bank Group has invested $9 billion in Tanzania since it started its operations in the country in 1971. Total financial support over the last 10 years under Adesina’s leadership stands at $4.73 billion, equivalent to 53% of the Bank’s lending to Tanzania over the past 54 years.
“On behalf of the people of Tanzania, I express our gratitude to the African Development Bank for being a dependable partner of our country’s development journey,” the Tanzanian President said.
Referencing the Bank’s transformative impact, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan told Adesina, “Your visionary leadership has brought significant socio-economic change to Tanzania and across Africa.”
To cheers from the crowd President Suluhu Hassan announced, “I have accepted a recommendation by the Ministry of Works to rename the Dodoma Outer Ring Road as the Dr Akinwumi Adesina Road.”
Adesina, accompanied by his wife, Grace Yemisi Adesina, was visibly moved to tears.
The newly named 112-kilometer dual carriageway is a strategic link in the Cape to Cairo continental corridor. It will decongest Tanzania’s fast-growing administrative capital and enhance regional connectivity.
The Bank provided $138 million in funding for the project, with an additional $42 million from the Africa Growing Together Fund and $34.69 million from the Government of Tanzania.
Earlier, Adesina surprised the crowd when he delivered a lengthy portion of his speech in Kiswahili, the national language of Tanzania, which is widely spoken in East and Central Africa. After recognizing all dignitaries in Kiswahili, he went on to thank President Suluhu Hassan for the warm and generous hospitality accorded to him, first in the City of Peace, Dar es Salaam, and in the attractive city of Dodoma.
“Mheshimiwa Rais Samia Suluhu Hassan, ningependa kukushukuru kwa mapokezi yako ya upendo na ukarimu tuliopewa jana katika jiji la amani, Dar es Salaam na hapa pia katika jiji lenye mvuto la Dodoma. Nimefurahi sana kuwa hapa Dodoma,” Adesina said as the crowd cheered him on.
Earlier, on Friday 13 June, Adesina was awarded a Doctor of Science Honorary Degree (Honoris Causa) from the prestigious University of Dar es Salaam.
The citation highlighted Adesina’s leadership and “lifelong dedication to public service, evidence-based policymaking, and pan-African progress.”
It read further: “Dr Adesina exemplifies the rare blend of academic brilliance, visionary leadership, and practical impact that honorary doctorates are meant to recognize. His emphasis on inclusive growth, innovation, and economic resilience makes him a beacon of integrity, excellence, and servant leadership.”
The honorary degree was bestowed on Adesina by the Chancellor of the University and former President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, who said, “I would like to tell Tanzanians, the African Development Bank has been a major anchor of Tanzania’s development sector. When it comes to infrastructure, no institution comes close to the African Development Bank.”
Addressing the graduating class, Adesina spoke of his humble beginnings, emphasizing resilience, character, and unity. “Success cannot be achieved alone,” he said, inviting the students to rise, link hands, and repeat together: “Together, we will succeed and make a difference.”
In his congratulatory remarks, Finance Minister Mwigulu Nchemba said, “Tanzania is proud to stand among the nations celebrating this remarkable journey and enduring legacy.”
From Dar es Salaam, Adesina, accompanied by former President Kikwete and Finance Minister Nchemba, took the Standard Gauge Railway train for the three-hour, 450-kilometre journey to Dodoma.
The African Development Bank Group has established a syndication strategy to mobilize $1.2 billion in conjunction with Deutsche Bank, Société Générale, and other partners for the 651-kilometre extension of the electrified Standard Gauge Railway that will connect Tanzania to Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The project financing, signed during the 2024 Africa Investment Forum Market Days and includes more than $85 million from the Bank’s concessional financing window, the African Development Fund, a mix of Partial Credit Guarantees totaling $994.3 million across some sections of the railway, complemented by $247 million from the Government of Tanzania in counterpart financing. Initial disbursement from the African Development Fund and partner, the OPEC Fund, is expected by July 2025.
Adesina said, “This railway line is a cornerstone of East Africa’s regional integration vision, aimed at delivering a modern, cost-effective, and high-capacity transport system anchored on the port of Dar es Salaam and linking landlocked nations.”
“Our shift from traditional road systems to integrated transport solutions is helping position Tanzania as a key logistics and trade hub in the region,” he added.
Accompanied by Adesina, President Suluhu Hassan travelled across more than 30 kilometers of the Dodoma Outer Ring Road, stopping along the way at the Bank-funded Msalato International Airport which is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The state-of-the-art airport features a 3.6-kilometre landing strip—one of the longest in East Africa, with a capacity to accommodate Airbus A380 aircraft.
The African Development Bank has provided over $198 million to finance the Msalato International Airport project with $23 million coming from the African Development Fund and $50 million from the African Grow Together Fund.
– on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media contact: Christin Roby Regional Communication Officer for East Africa Communication and External Relations Email: media@afdb.org
About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org
Members of expert group to oversee reforms announced.
Details of an expert group that will help drive reforms to prevent avoidable deaths in custody have been announced.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance is leading the Ministerial Accountability Board overseeing the implementation of actions to address the recommendations of Sheriff Collins’ Fatal Accident Inquiry report into the deaths of Katie Allan and William Lindsay (also known as William Brown) at HMP & YOI Polmont. The first meeting of the Board was held on Thursday (19 June).
Bringing a wealth of experience from third sector, legal, operational, research and health backgrounds, the members of the Board will provide support to mitigate challenges and ensure action is delivered as quickly as possible. Engaging with families will also be a central part of the Board’s role, to ensure lived experience is integral to reform.
The Board is an interim measure until the National Oversight Mechanism – an independent national oversight body for all deaths in custody, separate from the Government – is established over the coming year. It will take on responsibility for overseeing implementation of the FAI actions along with its other responsibilities.
Ms Constance said:
“Action is already being taken to prevent avoidable deaths in custody but it is essential that these reforms are driven at pace to make lasting change.
“The members of the Ministerial Accountability Board are all leaders in their fields and will bring invaluable expertise and experience across a wide range of sectors to make sure the promise of reform is delivered.
“Engaging with families will be a vital part of the Boards role to ensure that lived experience remains central to the action taken.”
Background
The Ministerial Accountability Board members are:
Sam Gluckstein, Head of the UK National Preventive Mechanism.
Sarah Armstrong, Professor of Criminology at University of Glasgow, SCCJR researcher and co-author of ‘Nothing to See Here’.
Phil Wheatley, British prison officer, formerly the Director General of the National Offender Management Service and before that, the Director General of HM Prison Service.
Professor Nancy Loucks OBE, Chief Executive of Families Outside and co-chair of the Independent Review into Deaths in Prison Custody, Chair to the DiPC Family Reference Group.
Nicky Brown, Head of Service at Public Defence Solicitors office.
Dr Sarah Couper, Public Health Scotland, lead consultant for mental health.
The South African Police Service’s (SAPS) Vala Umgodi operations continue to make progress with 239 suspects having been arrested throughout the country.
According to the police, the suspects were arrested for illegal mining-related offences and various other crimes that include, among others, attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of unpolished diamonds, unlawful possession of explosives and contravention of the Immigration Act.
On Tuesday, a 42-year-old Sydwell Shane Mkhantswa appeared briefly in the Kwa-Mbonambi Periodical Court in connection with a case of theft of minerals from Richards Bay Minerals (RBM).
His arrest relates to a tracing operation on 03 March 2024, when members of Operation Vala Umgodi and Kwa-Mbonambi police officers responded to reports of a truck which was intercepted carrying over R800 000 worth of suspected stolen Zircon from RBM.
Further investigation linked the suspect with another Kwa-Mbonambi case of theft of minerals in which he allegedly delivered RBM minerals to Isiphingo in Durban where police found over R24 million worth of suspected stolen minerals.
After several tracking and tracing operations, the suspect was cornered and arrested at a residence in Germiston, Gauteng on 12 June 2025.
The accused is scheduled to appear in court again on 24 June 2025, where he is expected to make a formal bail application.
In operations starting from 01- 15 June 2025, six unlicensed firearms, 26 rounds of ammunition and four vehicles were seized.
Other highlights per province for the past week include: • Limpopo: Vala Umgodi teams conducted disruptive operations at Sefateng Chrome Mine and Bokone Platinum Mine on 13 June 2025. Four suspects were arrested, and a large quantity of chromite ore and illegal mining equipment was seized. • Free State: Members deployed for Operation Vala Umgodi in Free State, acting on intelligence successful intercepted a white Toyota Quantum panel van travelling from Gauteng province en route to Cape Town, and discovered a consignment of Khat plants worth R210, 000. Police arrested a 43-year-old man on charges of possession of suspected drugs and drug trafficking. • Northern Cape: On 06 June 2025, members attached to Operation Vala Umgodi arrested 11 suspects aged between 29 and 44 years in Kimberley and Kleinzee, respectively. During the operations, members received information about suspected illegal miners hiding at a Game Reserve Farm near Koingnaas. The team operationalised the information, which resulted in the arrest of nine suspects and charged them for various offences, including contravention of Immigration laws, trespassing, and possession of unpolished diamonds. • Mpumalanga: A 30-year-old illegal miner was shot and injured during a shootout with members of Vala Umgodi operation in Sabie, on 11 June 2025. The suspect was initially admitted to Sabie Hospital under police guard and has since been discharged and placed in custody. • Gauteng: A wanted suspect was fatally wounded during a shootout with members of Operation Vala Umgodi on 13 June 2025. He was wanted for shooting at police officers at Zamimpilo Informal Settlement and was located at Soul City Informal Settlement. The team recovered a firearm that will undergo ballistic tests to establish if it was used in the commission of other crimes. • North West: Vala Umgodi operation continued its clampdown on illicit mining and immigration violations in. On 05 June 2025, members conducted disruptive illegal mining operation at Rocin mine in the area of Wolwerand, led to the seizure of illegal mining equipment that include various explosives, four generators, jack hammers, spades, a welding machine, gas bottles, a water pump, four pendukas and gold bearing material.
“With coordinated operations across the affected provinces, Operation Vala Umgodi continues to deliver results in its mandate to disrupt and dismantle illegal mining activities, specifically within and around mining communities.
“Since its inception December 2023, Operation Vala Umgodi led to the arrest of more than 27 000 suspects with more than 600 firearms, that include imitation firearms (toy guns) and 16 000 rounds of ammunition seized,” said the police. – SAnews.gov.za
New data laws will make life easier for British people, cutting life admin, easing traffic and speeding up roadworks
British people will benefit from new laws which will make their day-to-day lives easier – from slashing grocery bills and cutting traffic jams to speeding up NHS diagnoses – as the government delivers on manifesto commitments.
The Data Use and Access Bill now has Royal Assent.
Data (Use and Access) Bill becomes law – to unleash the power of data to help working people save money and time.
New data regime will reduce time people spend stuck in traffic and give NHS staff more time with patients.
New laws will inject £10 billion into the British economy over ten years, helping the government deliver on its growth mission in the Plan for Change and key manifesto commitments.
It comes as the Data (Use and Access) Act has today (19th June) received Royal Assent, unleashing the power of data into the British society and economy.
The new data regime is set to pump £10 billion into the British economy over the next decade – by cutting NHS and police bureaucracy, speeding up roadworks, and turbocharging innovation in tech and science.
Measures in the Act will ensure healthcare information – like a patient’s pre-existing conditions, appointments and tests – can easily be accessed in real time across all NHS trusts, GP surgeries and ambulance services, no matter what IT system they are using. Enabling data sharing across platforms will save NHS staff 140,000 hours a year in admin, giving them more time to care for patients and make better informed decisions for them more quickly – speeding up diagnoses and treatments for the British people.
Delivering on a manifesto commitment, the Act boosts the development of technology such as price comparison apps that can provide hyper personalised experiences to people so they can save money and time with bills and food shops. The new laws will broaden the access that third parties, like energy suppliers, have to consumer data.
For example, consumers will be able to share data on their energy usage which will help create more accurate price comparisons, informing what utility provider best suits their needs. This measure will give consumers the ability to compare utility prices, find better deals, and reduce their energy use, as well as foster tech innovation and boost competition, which will ultimately grow the UK economy.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:
For too long, previous governments have been sitting on a goldmine of data, wasting a powerful resource which can be used to help families juggle food costs, slash tedious life admin, and make our NHS and police work smarter.
These new laws will finally unleash that power for hardworking people – putting cash back in pockets and boosting vital public services, all part of our Plan for Change.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, said:
This is a game-changing moment for UK healthcare.
No longer will patients be left waiting needlessly for treatment as NHS staff battle “computer says no” bureaucracy.
We’re making it easier for GPs, nurses, and paramedics to access the information they need, when they need it, safely, securely and at speed.
Only by challenging the status quo and cutting through red tape can we truly deliver our Plan for Change and an NHS Fit for the Future.
Another key manifesto commitment the Act will deliver on is legislation to help bereaved parents get the answers they deserve when social media activity is linked to the death of their child. The new laws will establish a data preservation process that will require Ofcom, when notified by a coroner, to issue a data preservation notice to social media companies supporting their investigations into the death.
The data regime will also ease the frustrations of traffic by creating a National Underground Asset Register, a map of the country’s underground pipes and cables, which will allow construction workers to instantly see their exact location – information which currently takes 6 days to access. Slashing the average data-sharing process to 6 seconds, workers in the field will have quick access to a rich view of buried assets, helping them make more informed decisions on how to carry out works safely and efficiently – speeding up roadworks and closures and reducing delays for those on the road.
By legislating on digital verification services and introducing trusted digital verification tools, people will be able to prove their identity online more easily. This will simplify important tasks such as renting a flat and starting work. The measures will give companies who provide tools for verifying identities the ability to get certified against the government’s stringent trust framework of standards, and receive a ‘trust mark’ to use as a result. As well as increasing trust in the market, these efficiency gains will boost the UK economy by £4.3 billion over the next decade.
Today we also announce the launch of a recruitment campaign for 7 Non-Executive members to the board of the new Information Commission, which will be established by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 to replace the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as the UK’s data regulator. This is an important step in modernising the ICO and ensuring that the regulator has a diversity of skills, experience and perspectives at the top of the organisation. The closing date for applications is Friday 1 August 2025. We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom.
Heat-Health Alerts issued by UKHSA and the Met Office
The latest heat-health alert (HHA) issued by UKHSA and the Met Office for all regions of England.
Our UKHSA data dashboard provides the latest details on heat-health alerts currently in place and their duration, while our latest blog details how exactly heat impacts the body and what we can do avoid the negative effects.
Latest
Thursday 19 June 2025
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office have issued an amber heat-health alert (HHA) for all regions of England.
The alert is currently in place from 12 noon on Thursday 19 June to 9am on Monday 23 June. The Met Office has forecast temperatures exceeding 30°C.
Under the Weather-Health Alert system, an amber alert means that weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service. At this level, we may begin to see some health impacts across the wider population. We may also see an increase in risk to health for individuals aged over 65 years or those with pre-existing health conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said:
We have already seen warm weather across the week, and temperatures are set to increase in the coming days, exceeding 30°c in many areas.
Our findings show that heat can result in serious health outcomes across the population, especially for older adults or those with pre-existing health conditions. It is therefore important to check on friends, family and neighbours who are more vulnerable and to take sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.
Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Dan Holley, said:
The highest temperatures from this hot spell are forecast for Saturday, with low 30s Celsius fairly widely across England, and up to 34°C possible in eastern areas. Despite this, the more uncomfortable heat will be in northern and western areas initially, where despite somewhat lower temperatures the air will be more humid.
The nights will also be quite warm, with the possibility of temperatures not falling below 20°C in some areas, making it hard to sleep. This is what we term a ‘tropical night’.
Temperatures will ease from the west on Sunday as fresher air arrives from the Atlantic, although parts of East Anglia and the far southeast of England could still see 28 to 29°C for a time.
if you do go outside, cover up with suitable clothing, such as an appropriate hat and sunglasses, and seek shade and apply sunscreen regularly
keeping out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm
if you are going to do a physical activity (for example, exercising or walking the dog), plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler, such as the morning or evening
Our UKHSA data dashboard provides the latest details on HHAs currently in place and their duration, while our latest blog details how exactly heat impacts the body and what we can do avoid the negative effects.
Previous
Tuesday 17 June 2025
First yellow heat-health alert of 2025 issued for 4 regions
Today sees the first yellow heat-health alert issued of the year, as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reminds health and social care services to prepare for further alerts through summer as temperatures heat up.
The alert is currently in place from 9pm on Thursday 12 June to 8am on 15 June and covers the East of England, East Midlands, London and South East regions.
The Met Office has forecast temperatures of up to 30 degrees Celsius (ºC) on Friday. Whilst temperatures may not seem too high for the general population for now, data from UKHSA shows that even at these forecasted temperatures, vulnerable groups and health care services can be impacted.
Under UKHSA and the Met Office’s Weather-Health alerting system, a yellow alert means that any impacts will likely include:
increased use of health care services by vulnerable populations
an increase in risk to health for individuals aged over 65 years or those with pre-existing health conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases
Dr Agostinho Sousa, Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection at UKHSA, said:
“Our findings shows that even moderate heat can result in serious health outcomes, especially for older adults, and it is therefore important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.
“The forecasted high temperatures are expected to be short-lived but could primarily impact those over the age of 65 or those with pre-existing health conditions. If you have friends, family or neighbours who are more vulnerable, it is important to check in on them and ensure they are aware of the forecasts and are following the necessary advice.’’
if you do go outside, cover up with suitable clothing, such as an appropriate hat and sunglasses, and seek shade and apply sunscreen regularly
keeping out of the sun at the hottest time of the day, between 11am and 3pm
if you are going to do a physical activity (for example, exercising or walking the dog), plan to do these during times of the day when it is cooler, such as the morning or evening
Our UKHSA data dashboard provides the latest details on HHAs currently in place and their duration, while our latest blog details how exactly heat impacts the body and what we can do avoid the negative effects.
For centuries, humans have searched for ways to extend life. Alchemists never found the philosopher’s stone, but scientists have consistently shown that a longer life can be attained by eating less – at least in certain lab animals. But can we find a way to live longer while still enjoying our food?
Compounds that mimic the biological effects of dieting could be the answer, and the two most popular diet-mimicking drugs are rapamycin and metformin. In a new study, my colleagues and I found that rapamycin prolongs life almost as consistently as eating less, whereas metformin does not.
Eating less, or dietary restriction, has been the gold standard for achieving a longer life ever since a study nearly a century ago in which laboratory rats that ate less surprised scientists by outliving their well-fed lab mates.
But for many people, sticking to a permanent diet is hard and far from enjoyable. Also, if taken to extremes, it can even be bad for health. That is why we wanted to know whether drugs that are dieting mimics could bring the same benefit of eating less without the unwanted side-effects.
Rapamycin was first discovered in bacteria living in Easter Island soil in the 1970s, and medical professionals now use it to prevent organ-transplant rejection, as it is a powerful immunosuppressant. It works by blocking a molecular switch that tells cells when nutrients are abundant.
Metformin, meanwhile, is a synthetic descendant of a compound found in French lilac (also known as goat’s rue) and is widely prescribed to control blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. Both drugs are involved in the body’s ability to sense nutrients and energy, so biologists like us hoped they might copy the mechanisms activated by eating less.
To find out, we pooled the results of many studies to see if there were any overall patterns. We carefully examined thousands of scientific papers to finally home in on 167 studies on eight vertebrate species, from fish to monkeys, that provided sufficient details on survival and how the study was done. Then we compared three longevity strategies: eating less, taking rapamycin and taking metformin.
We found that eating less still came out on top as the most consistent way to prolong life in all animals but rapamycin was close behind. Metformin, in contrast, showed no clear benefit. The life-extension effect of eating less was the same in both sexes, and it didn’t matter whether the diet plan involved eating smaller portions or intermittent fasting.
That makes rapamycin one of the most exciting leads for new anti-ageing therapies. Ageing might not be considered a disease, but it is a risk factor behind many diseases from cancer to dementia. If we slow that underlying process, the benefit will be extra years of quality life and lower healthcare bills as the world’s population grows older.
Rapamycin was first isolated from bacteria found in the soil on Easter Island. JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock.com
Encouraging early signs, but we’re not quite there yet
However, there are some important points to consider. First, we discovered considerable variation from experiment to experiment with some studies even showing that eating less or taking rapamycin reduced lifespan.
Also, most of the evidence originates from mice and rats that have many of our genes but are clearly not exactly like us.
Finally, rapamycin may have side-effects such as repressing immunity and reproduction. Researchers are now investigating milder doses of rapamycin to see if they provide the advantages without the side-effects.
The preliminary signs are encouraging. In an ongoing human rapamycin trial, volunteers given low, intermittent doses of rapamycin have experienced positive effects on indicators of healthspan. For metformin, the human trial is still in progress and the findings are expected to be out in a few years time.
For now, nobody should run to their doctor asking for prescriptions of rapamycin to live longer. But this drug, extracted from obscure soil bacteria, shows us that interfering with a single molecular pathway can be enough to mimic the benefits of eating less. The challenge is to use this discovery to produce therapies that make us healthier for longer without compromising our quality of life – or our taste for the occasional slice of chocolate cake.
Dr. Zahida Sultanova works for the University of East Anglia and is funded by the Leverhulme Trust. She is a member of European Society of Evolutionary Biology (ESEB) and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Society of Turkey (EkoEvo).
As the world prepares to celebrate the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on June 21, India has announced a robust line-up of ten Signature Events to commemorate a decade of the global yoga movement. With the overarching theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” these events aim to broaden yoga’s reach across demographics, geographies, and disciplines, reinforcing its transformative impact on health, lifestyle, and cultural integration.
Over the past ten years, IDY has evolved from a symbolic celebration into a nationwide and global wellness initiative. The Ministry of AYUSH, which spearheads the event, has designed these ten Signature Events to deepen yoga’s engagement with various segments of society — from children and senior citizens to international delegates and urban youth.
Yoga Sangam: A Synchronized National Demonstration
The flagship event, Yoga Sangam, will see a mass yoga demonstration based on the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) held simultaneously at over one lakh locations across India on June 21 from 6:30 AM to 7:45 AM. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the national event from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The Common Yoga Protocol, developed by the Ministry of AYUSH, is designed to be inclusive and accessible, with materials available in 22 Indian languages, 6 UN languages, and 9 other foreign languages.
Fostering International Collaboration with Yoga Bandhan
Yoga Bandhan focuses on international exchange, promoting bilateral collaboration through the mutual participation of yoga practitioners from India and partner countries. Indian delegates will conduct sessions and discussions abroad, while foreign representatives will be hosted in immersive programs in India culminating in the main IDY celebrations.
Creating Wellness Spaces Through Yoga Park
The Yoga Park initiative seeks to convert public parks in rural Panchayats and urban municipalities into dedicated yoga-friendly zones. These upgraded parks will host regular sessions led by trained instructors and feature informative displays to facilitate self-guided practice. Accessibility for all age groups and health needs remains a key component of this effort.
Inclusive Health with Yoga Samavesh
Acknowledging the diverse health requirements of different populations, Yoga Samavesh has developed special yoga modules tailored to groups such as children, adolescents, pregnant women, senior citizens, and individuals managing conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and mental health issues.
Evaluating a Decade of Impact with Yoga Prabhav
Yoga Prabhav is a research-driven initiative that assesses the ten-year journey of IDY, highlighting its influence on public health, policy, and awareness. The findings were unveiled during Yoga Connect, a global summit held on June 14, which brought together leading yoga experts from across the world.
A Global Platform in Yoga Connect
Yoga Connect aims to serve as an inclusive platform for global dialogue on yoga. With hybrid participation, the summit encouraged cross-cultural exchanges, institutional collaborations, and discourse on making yoga relevant in modern, everyday life.
Promoting Sustainability with Harit Yoga
Linking wellness with environmental responsibility, Harit Yoga incorporates eco-friendly activities such as tree plantation drives and cleanliness campaigns into its yoga outreach. The initiative also promotes awareness about climate change and sustainable living through educational campaigns.
Youth Engagement through Yoga Unplugged
To appeal to younger audiences, Yoga Unplugged blends traditional yoga with modern formats. Youth festivals, workshops, and social media campaigns aim to spark interest in yoga. Events will include fusion performances, contests, and talks tailored for digital natives.
Festival-Style Celebrations with Yoga Mahakumbh
Yoga Mahakumbh will bring the festive spirit of yoga to ten cities across India, each focusing on specific themes like environment, youth, and inclusivity. Organised in collaboration with public sector enterprises, these events seek to make yoga more visible and accessible to the general public.
Integrative Medicine in Samyoga
Lastly, Samyoga will explore the integration of yoga with other health systems including Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy, and modern medicine. Through collaborative events and expert discussions, Samyoga aims to create a shared knowledge base for public health interventions.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Logistics deal cleared with remedies to help keep supermarket warehousing costs low
CMA has cleared GXO’s acquisition of Wincanton following the business’s offer to sell Wincanton’s dedicated grocery warehousing business.
iStock
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has cleared the merger between contract logistics services providers, GXO and Wincanton – subject to the sale of Wincanton’s dedicated grocery warehousing business to a CMA-approved buyer.
In its final report, the independent inquiry group leading the CMA’s investigation found that GXO’s purchase of Wincanton would reduce competition in the supply of dedicated warehousing services to grocery customers in the UK.
The loss of competition would likely lead to higher costs for grocers which, in turn, could be passed onto shoppers across the UK and lead to more expensive products at the checkout. The loss of competition resulting from the deal could hamper innovation and reduce service levels in the market – impacting the efficiency of goods reaching supermarket shelves.
As a result, GXO has agreed to sell Wincanton’s dedicated grocery warehousing business to a CMA-approved buyer. The inquiry group is satisfied that this remedy sufficiently addresses its competition concerns and is therefore clearing the deal.
Logistics, including warehousing, is essential to the operation of supermarkets and many other businesses in the UK. Efficient logistics systems help to lower costs for both businesses and consumers and ensure that products are available in stores when needed.
Richard Feasey, Chair of the independent inquiry group, said:
Warehousing services play a crucial role in ensuring the seamless movement of goods across the UK, allowing our supermarkets to maintain well-stocked shelves with thousands of items we buy every day.
Healthy competition in this market is key to managing costs for supermarkets and grocers and improving their performance – ultimately ensuring consumers pay the best possible prices for products in stores. We are pleased to approve this deal, having worked with GXO and Wincanton to secure the necessary changes to the deal which resolve our concerns.
Alongside publishing the final report, the CMA has also issued an interim order to permit GXO and Wincanton to begin integration once Wincanton’s dedicated grocery warehousing business has been appropriately ringfenced, pending its sale to a suitable CMA-approved buyer.
The independent inquiry group’s final report will be published on the GXO / Wincanton case page in due course.
Contract logistics services (CLS) encompass a range of B2B and B2C supply chain-related services, which enable businesses to supply goods to customers and consumers. These services include transport and distribution, warehousing and additional value-added services.
All media enquiries should be directed to the CMA press office by email on press@cma.gov.uk or by phone on 020 3738 6460.
BOSTON and PHOENIX, June 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NCS Engineers, a leader in providing a diverse array of water and wastewater engineering solutions, announced that it has chosen Midaxo software to power its strategy to develop a scalable acquisition program.
“If you create a new approach for every deal based on personal preferences, that’s a recipe for inconsistent outcomes,” observed Steve Winchester, Chief Strategy Officer and head of NCS’s M&A activities. “I am creating a process that delivers consistent results in our M&A efforts. The objective is to embed the process in software to guide a consistent approach for NCS. Midaxo will facilitate that, giving me more time to focus on sourcing and advancing deals rather than developing spreadsheets and preparing reports for the Board.”
“We are excited to partner with NCS Engineers to help them develop and scale their strategic M&A program,” said Jude McColgan, Midaxo CEO. “They found Midaxo’s ability to get up and running quickly, save significant time and money, and be supported by the best customer success team in the industry will help them achieve the inorganic growth they and their investors are seeking.”
About NCS Engineers Founded in 1998 by CEO Ramesh (“Ram”) Narasimhan, NCS provides innovative turn-key water and wastewater engineering solutions across the U.S., with a focus on Arizona, California, Texas, Nevada, Maryland, and Virginia. The Company provides mission-critical engineering services for water infrastructure projects including water and wastewater treatment plants, pump stations, water reuse and water storage.
About Midaxo Midaxo provides the most widely used work management solution for corporate development. Digitally transforming the transaction process, Midaxo Cloud leverages automation, AI, and machine learning to deliver accelerated inorganic growth while decreasing deal risk. The platform can be customized to fit the needs of each company to enable corporate development and M&A leaders to find, evaluate, and deliver inorganic growth with unprecedented speed and accuracy. Users of the M&A capabilities report identifying and managing 5x more targets, reducing diligence time by 50%, and accelerating time to value realization up to 40%. More than 500 Midaxo customers, including Banner Health, Daimler AG, Professional Services Co., and United Site Services, have closed over 5,000 transactions valued in excess of $1 trillion.
Contact: Hanna Brenner Midaxo hanna.brenner@midaxo.com
BOSTON and PHOENIX, June 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NCS Engineers, a leader in providing a diverse array of water and wastewater engineering solutions, announced that it has chosen Midaxo software to power its strategy to develop a scalable acquisition program.
“If you create a new approach for every deal based on personal preferences, that’s a recipe for inconsistent outcomes,” observed Steve Winchester, Chief Strategy Officer and head of NCS’s M&A activities. “I am creating a process that delivers consistent results in our M&A efforts. The objective is to embed the process in software to guide a consistent approach for NCS. Midaxo will facilitate that, giving me more time to focus on sourcing and advancing deals rather than developing spreadsheets and preparing reports for the Board.”
“We are excited to partner with NCS Engineers to help them develop and scale their strategic M&A program,” said Jude McColgan, Midaxo CEO. “They found Midaxo’s ability to get up and running quickly, save significant time and money, and be supported by the best customer success team in the industry will help them achieve the inorganic growth they and their investors are seeking.”
About NCS Engineers Founded in 1998 by CEO Ramesh (“Ram”) Narasimhan, NCS provides innovative turn-key water and wastewater engineering solutions across the U.S., with a focus on Arizona, California, Texas, Nevada, Maryland, and Virginia. The Company provides mission-critical engineering services for water infrastructure projects including water and wastewater treatment plants, pump stations, water reuse and water storage.
About Midaxo Midaxo provides the most widely used work management solution for corporate development. Digitally transforming the transaction process, Midaxo Cloud leverages automation, AI, and machine learning to deliver accelerated inorganic growth while decreasing deal risk. The platform can be customized to fit the needs of each company to enable corporate development and M&A leaders to find, evaluate, and deliver inorganic growth with unprecedented speed and accuracy. Users of the M&A capabilities report identifying and managing 5x more targets, reducing diligence time by 50%, and accelerating time to value realization up to 40%. More than 500 Midaxo customers, including Banner Health, Daimler AG, Professional Services Co., and United Site Services, have closed over 5,000 transactions valued in excess of $1 trillion.
Contact: Hanna Brenner Midaxo hanna.brenner@midaxo.com
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
TUI Blue and TUI Suneo extend their portfolio in North Africa
New openings planned in The Gambia and Côte d’Ivoire
New luxury brand The Mora celebrates its first anniversary
TUI Group (www.TUIGroup.com) continues to expand its hotel business worldwide and pursues ambitious plans to support the African hospitality industry. With its 12 leisure hotel brands, TUI offers unique experiences for holidaymakers and invites them to enjoy the respective region with its culinary delights, natural beauty and cultural heritage. A few weeks ago, the brands TUI Blue and TUI Suneo expanded their portfolio in Africa. In Egypt, TUI Blue Samaya with 143 rooms and an aqua park has been added to the premium brand’s portfolio. The hotel is located in the growing destination of Marsa Alam. For holidaymakers looking for value for money, TUI Suneo Palm Beach Skanes in Tunisia has also opened its doors. With 294 rooms and a large garden area, the hotel is offering an attractive all-inclusive package with a wide range of sports and entertainment options.
“Together with our long-standing JV partners, we have more than 20 hotels in our pipeline that will open in Africa in the coming months and years”, says Artur Gerber, Managing Director TUI Hotels & Resorts, at the Future Hospitality Summit Africa. “We already have a strong presence in North Africa, the Cape Verde Islands and Zanzibar, but we are convinced that other destinations can also benefit from our strong leisure hotel brands.” For example, the lifestyle brand TUI Blue is planning its first hotel in The Gambia, which will open at the end of this year. The resort features 140 rooms and a unique location along Kotu Beach. “With our expertise, along with management and franchise agreements, we are also attracting hotel partners in entirely new destinations. One example is Côte d’Ivoire, where the construction of a new TUI Blue hotel has just started and is scheduled to open in 2027”, adds Wesam Okasha, Head of Global Development TUI Blue.
Last year, TUI launched a new brand targeting the upscale market and selected Tanzania as its inaugural destination. The Mora Zanzibar has just celebrated its first anniversary, offering laid-back, contemporary luxury with highly personalized and flexible service. “Our guest reviews show that The Mora is resonating strongly with this new audience and delivering an exceptional experience. We are very proud of this achievement and look forward to introducing more carefully selected The Mora hotels across Africa,” says Artur Gerber.
TUI Hotels & Resorts’ current portfolio in Africa comprises a total of 97 hotels with over 30,000 rooms across eight countries.
– on behalf of TUI Blue Hotels.
TUI Group – Group Corporate & External Affairs: Natascha Kreye Corporate Communications Phone: +49 (0) 511 566 6029 natascha.kreye@tui.com
group.communications@tui.com www.TUIGroup.com
About TUI Group: The TUI Group is one of the world’s leading tourism groups and operates worldwide. The Group is headquartered in Germany. TUI shares are listed in the MDAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and in the regulated market of the Lower Saxony Stock Exchange in Hanover. TUI Group offers its over 20 million customers integrated services from a single source and forms the entire tourism value chain under one roof. The Group owns over 400 hotels and resorts with premium brands such as RIU, TUI Blue and Robinson and 18 cruise ships, ranging from the MS Europa and MS Europa 2 in the luxury class and expedition ships in the HANSEATIC class to the Mein Schiff fleet of TUI Cruises and cruise ships operated by Marella Cruises in the UK. The Group also includes Europe’s leading tour operator brands and online marketing platforms, for example for hotel-only or flight-only offers, five airlines with 125 modern medium- and long-haul aircraft and around 1,200 travel agencies. In addition to expanding its core business with hotels and cruises via successful joint ventures and activities in vacation destinations, TUI is increasingly focusing on the expansion of digital platforms. The Group is transforming itself into a global tourism platform company.
Global responsibility for sustainable economic, environmental and social action is at the heart of our corporate culture. With projects in 25 countries, the TUI Care Foundation initiated by TUI focuses on the positive effects of tourism, on education and training and on strengthening environmental and social standards. In this way, it supports the development of vacation destinations. The globally active TUI Care Foundation initiates projects that create new opportunities for the next generation.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Decade long Infrastructure Strategy to deliver stability, investment and national renewal
10 Year Infrastructure Strategy published today (19 June) will deliver on the Government’s growth mission, as part of the Plan for Change, transforming how infrastructure projects are planned and delivered.
Safer hospitals, modernised schools, and renovated courts to replace crumbling public sector buildings, as Strategy pledges at least £9 billion per year over next decade for renewal of Health, Education and Justice estates
New approach to infrastructure will include vital reforms to ensure planning and delivery is joined up, backed by £725 billion in long-term funding for maintenance and major projects.
The soaring maintenance backlog which has left our schools, colleges, hospitals and courts in a state of disrepair will be turned around as part of the government’s landmark 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy published today (19 June).
The Strategy sets out a long-term plan for how the government will invest in infrastructure and ensure that funding is spent effectively and efficiently, marking a new approach to how projects are planned and delivered.
This government is committed to doing things differently to deliver infrastructure and fix the failures of the past, having accepted all of the James Stewart Review’s recommendations on HS2. The Strategy provides the certainty and stability needed to attract investment, boosting British supply chains and jobs, and takes a joined-up view to improve planning and delivery across all types of infrastructure.
It will also encourage inward investment by providing a long-term vision that gives investors the confidence and certainty they need to truly commit funding to projects, creating job opportunities and boosting living standards for people across the country, delivering on the Plan for Change.
These plans are backed by at least £725 billion of government funding over the coming decade, from which at least £9 billion will be allocated in 2025-26 to address the critical maintenance needs of health, education and justice estates, rising to over £10 billion per year by 2034-35.
This will increase access to quality, modern public services, following years of underinvestment, and deliver significant real-world benefits for patients, students, staff, and communities.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:
Infrastructure is crucial to unlocking growth across the country, but for too long investment has been squeezed. Crumbling public buildings are a sign of the decay that has seeped into our everyday lives because of a total failure to plan and invest.
We’re not just fixing buildings – we’re enhancing public services, improving lives and creating the conditions for sustainable economic growth in communities throughout the UK.
This will deliver the decade of national renewal we promised Britain, and fulfil our Plan for Change goals to kickstart economic growth, and build an NHS fit for the future.
The 10-year maintenance investment will deliver tangible improvements for people across the country:
Health: Over £6 billion per year will create safer hospital environments across England with reduced waiting times, improved patient outcomes, and better working conditions for NHS staff. By eliminating RAAC concrete and addressing critical infrastructure risks, patients will receive care in modern facilities that support rather than hinder their treatment and recovery.
Education: Investment in school and college maintenance will rise to almost £3 billion annually, transforming learning environments across England and providing safe and high-quality spaces for children and young people, improving educational outcomes and breaking down barriers to opportunity.
Justice: At least £600 million investment each year will improve safety and security in prisons across England and Wales, reducing incidents and creating environments more conducive to rehabilitation. Enhanced court facilities will help reduce backlogs and improve access to justice.
This strategic investment approach will help break the cycle of deterioration and emergency repairs that has characterised public infrastructure maintenance for decades. By adopting a preventative approach, services will face fewer disruptive closures, operate more efficiently, and deliver better value for taxpayers in the long term.
The programme directly supports the government’s mission to build an NHS fit for the future, with healthcare facilities that enable earlier diagnosis and better treatment outcomes. It also advances the mission to break down barriers to opportunity by ensuring all children have access to quality learning environments, regardless of where they live.
To support delivery of this strategy, the government is funding at least £725 billion for the country’s infrastructure over the next decade, ensuring that public infrastructure capital funding continues to grow in line with inflation after the current Spending Review period. This funding certainty will help government and industry plan further ahead, allowing for more efficient delivery of UK wide infrastructure.
The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), established by the government this year, will work with partners across government and industry to effectively implement the strategy across the whole of the UK. NISTA will periodically review the progress made and work with devolved governments to ensure that infrastructure strategy across the UK is joined up.
Becky Wood, Chief Executive Officer of NISTA, said:
This investment is a welcome part of the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy and will help us to address some of the challenges that our key public services have faced over recent years.
Strategic preventative maintenance based on longer-term plans is a more effective approach than making decisions in the absence of certainty about the future – and will ensure our vital public services remain resilient and fit for purpose.
By approaching replacement and maintenance of our infrastructure in an informed and systematic way, we can target interventions effectively and plan properly for the future.
More information
The 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy outlines the government’s comprehensive approach to infrastructure investment across all sectors.
This funding commitment follows recommendations from the National Audit Office on the need for long-term, sustainable maintenance funding.
The funding in the 10YIS includes:
£1 billion to carry out maintenance on key transport infrastructure, including crumbling bridges, flyovers and crossing.
£590 million to start work on the Lower Thames Crossing.
£16 billion of new public investment will help build over 500,000 new homes, which will also unlock over £53bn of private investment.
The government’s 10-year infrastructure strategy is a good step in the right direction – providing clarity, ambition, and commitment to long-term investors in UK infrastructure, like Pension Insurance Corporation. We welcome the clearer pipeline of projects and a renewed focus on social value, something that is of real importance for local people. The Government’s wider efforts on planning reform, transparent delivery bodies, and reducing the regulatory burden will supplement this new strategy – offering a much more investable environment across the UK.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley said:
The Strategy set out today is a serious plan for addressing the long-running challenges that have prohibited investment for years. The government needs to be transparent in how it selects its infrastructure investments to drive growth and this Strategy is a big step forward in doing that. I look forward to further detail on the government’s plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail.
Keith Lawson, Executive Vice President, Jacobs said:
Jacobs welcomes the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy as a testament to the Government’s commitment to driving economic growth, empowering communities, and providing market certainty. We are excited about the potential for this ambitious strategy to attract new talent to our sector, embrace new technologies, and promote the UK’s ability to compete globally.
By investing in public services, transport, and clean energy, we are not only addressing today’s needs but also laying the foundation for a resilient future. The combined efforts of the Spending Review, NISTA, and the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy provide the stability, coordination, and long-term vision necessary for efficient infrastructure delivery.
At Jacobs, we are committed to partnering with the Government to deliver these vital projects, creating lasting positive impacts across the UK.
Grassroots examples of how Dundee City Council and partners are tackling fairness and child poverty issues are to be showcased to councillors.
The frontline actions are contained in a new report which highlights the scale of the task faced by local agencies during the continuing cost of living crisis.
While Dundee is setting itself the ambitious goal of matching the Scottish Government’s overall national target of reducing child poverty to less than 10% of children living in relative poverty, latest figures show a rate of 26.1 % for the city.
A combined Fairness and Local Child Poverty Action Plan Report for 2024/25 is to go before the City Governance committee at its next meeting on Monday June 23. The document sets out how the council and partners will continue to work together to improve the situation for families and communities across Dundee.
It also takes on board the latest recommendations of the Dundee Fairness Leadership Panel, which is looking to prioritise efforts around mental health and isolation, fair housing and support to third sector projects offering crisis assistance to tackle poverty.
In the report, areas of improvement over the last year are highlighted.
These include:
The number of council and registered social landlord housing completions (increased by 29.2%).
percentage point gap in literacy in p1-p7 between pupils living in SIMD 1 areas and SIMD 5 areas (decreased by 16.6%)
number of children living in temporary accommodation (decreased by 13.4%)
Within the report, a number of case studies are used to illustrate the efforts that are ongoing throughout the city. These are grouped under themes and some of the projects listed include:
Social Inclusion and Stigma
Strengthening family support through volunteering – DVVA Programme
Promoting community-led suicide prevention – Dundee Creating Hope Awards Pilot
Work and Wages
Supporting young people into employment – Employability Pathfinder (LFI Linlathen)
Safe Housing Enabling Employment – Housing & Communities Team
Benefits and Advice
Preventing housing insecurity through school-based advice
Securing backdated benefits for an older resident
Attainment and Child Poverty
Tackling poverty and increasing attainment in Longhaugh and St Francis’ Primary Schools
Closing the attainment gap through the Strategic Equity Fund
Health Inequalities
Promoting wellbeing and resilience in schools – S2 Health & Wellbeing Group
Supporting mental health through community-led events – Hilltown Community
Housing and Communities
Adapting homes for children with disabilities
Providing coordinated housing and community support
Committee depute convener Councillor Willie Sawers said: “The voices of communities with experience continue to be listened to as they are a vital help to us to develop responses to inequalities and poverty.
“Statistics concerning child poverty in Dundee are stark, that is why we committed to doing as much as we can to turn this around.
“I am heartened by the strong partnerships that exist between Dundee organisations and agencies across the public, private and third sectors and the ongoing desire to work together to transform life for people in the city.”
Had Israel not launched its unprovoked attack on Iran on Friday night, in direct violation of the UN Charter, Iran would now be taking part in the sixth round of negotiations concerning the future of its nuclear programme, meeting with representatives from the United States in Muscat, the capital of Oman.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu claimed he acted to prevent Iran from building a nuclear bomb, saying Iran had the capacity to build nine nuclear weapons. Israel provided no evidence to back up its claims.
On 25 March 2025, Trump’s own National Director of Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard said:
“The IC [Intelligence Community] continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorised the nuclear weapons programme he suspended in 2003. The IC is monitoring if Tehran decides to reauthorise its nuclear weapons programme”
Even if Iran had the capability to build a bomb, it is quite another thing to have the will to do so.
Any such bomb would need to be tested first, and any such test would be quickly detected by a series of satellites on the lookout for nuclear detonations anywhere on the planet.
It is more likely that Israel launched its attack to stop US and Iranian negotiators from meeting on Sunday.
Only a month ago, Iran’s lead negotiator in the nuclear talks, Ali Shamkhani, told US television that Iran was ready to do a deal. NBC journalist Richard Engel reports:
“Shamkhani said Iran is willing to commit to never having a nuclear weapon, to get rid of its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, to only enrich to a level needed for civilian use and to allow inspectors in to oversee it all, in exchange for lifting all sanctions immediately. He said Iran would accept that deal tonight.”
Inside Iran as Trump presses for nuclear deal. Video: NBC News
Shamkhani died on Saturday, following injuries he suffered during Israel’s attack on Friday night. It appears that Israel not only opposed a diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear impasse: Israel killed it directly.
A spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmaeil Baghaei, told a news conference in Tehran the talks would be suspended until Israel halts its attacks:
“It is obvious that in such circumstances and until the Zionist regime’s aggression against the Iranian nation stops, it would be meaningless to participate with the party that is the biggest supporter and accomplice of the aggressor.”
On 1 April 2024, Israel launched an airstrike on Iran’s embassy in Syria, killing 16 people, including a woman and her son. The attack violated international norms regarding the protection of diplomatic premises under the Vienna Convention.
It is worth noting how the TheNew York Times described the occupation of the US Embassy in November 1979:
“But it is the Ayatollah himself who is doing the devil’s work by inciting and condoning the student invasion of the American and British Embassies in Tehran. This is not just a diplomatic affront; it is a declaration of war on diplomacy itself, on usages and traditions honoured by all nations, however old and new, whatever belief.
“The immunities given a ruler’s emissaries were respected by the kings of Persia during wars with Greece and by the Ayatollah’s spiritual ancestors during the Crusades.”
Now it is Israel conducting a “war on diplomacy itself”, first with the attack on the embassy, followed by Friday’s surprise attack on Iran. Scuppering a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear issue appears to be the aim. To make matters worse, Israel’s recklessness could yet cause a major war.
Trump: Inconsistent and ineffective In an interview with Time magazine on 22 April 2025, Trump denied he had stopped Israel from attacking Iran’s nuclear sites.
“No, it’s not right. I didn’t stop them. But I didn’t make it comfortable for them, because I think we can make a deal without the attack. I hope we can. It’s possible we’ll have to attack because Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.
“But I didn’t make it comfortable for them, but I didn’t say no. Ultimately I was going to leave that choice to them, but I said I would much prefer a deal than bombs being dropped.”
— US President Donald Trump
In the same interview Trump boasted “I think we’re going to make a deal with Iran. Nobody else could do that.” Except, someone else had already done that — only for Trump to abandon the deal in his first term as president.
In July 2015 Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) alongside the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and the European Union. Iran pledged to curb its nuclear programme for 10-15 years in exchange for the removal of some economic sanctions. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also gained access and verification powers.
Iran also agreed to limit uranium enrichment to 3.67 per cent U-235, allowing it to maintain its nuclear power reactors.
Despite clear signs the nuclear deal was working, Donald Trump withdrew from the JCPOA and reinstated sanctions on Iran in November 2018. Despite the unilateral American action, Iran kept to the deal for a time, but in January 2020 Iran declared it would no longer abide by the limitations included in JCPOA but would continue to work with the IAEA.
By pulling out of the deal and reinstating sanctions, the US and Israel effectively created a strong incentive for Iran to resume enriching uranium to higher levels, not for the sake of making a bomb, but as the most obvious means of creating leverage to remove the sanctions.
As a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Iran is allowed to enrich uranium for civilian fuel programmes.
Iran’s nuclear programme began in the 1960s with US assistance. Prior to the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iran was ruled by the brutal dictatorship of the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahavi.
American corporations saw Iran as a potential market for expansion. During the 1970s the US suggested to the Shah he needed not one but several nuclear reactors to meet Iran’s future electricity needs. In June 1974, the Shah declared that Iran would have nuclear weapons, “without a doubt and sooner than one would think”.
In 2007, I wrote an article for Peace Researcher where I examined US claims that Iran does not need nuclear power because it is sitting on one of the largest gas supplies in the world. One of the most interesting things I discovered while researching the article was the relevance of air pollution, a critical public health concern in Iran.
In 2024, health officials estimated that air pollution is responsible for 40,000 deaths a year in Iran. Deputy Health Minister Alireza Raisi said the “majority of these deaths were due to cardiovascular diseases, strokes, respiratory issues, and cancers”.
Sahimi describes levels of air pollution in Tehran and other major Iranian cities as “catastrophic”, with elementary schools having to close on some days as a result. There was little media coverage of the air pollution issue in relation to Iran’s energy mix then, and I have seen hardly any since.
An energy research project, Advanced Energy Technologies provides a useful summary of electricity production in Iran as it stood in 2023.
Iranian electricity production in 2023. Source: Advanced Energy Technologies
With around 94.6 percent of electricity generation dependent on fossil fuels, there are serious environmental reasons why Iran should not be encouraged to depend on oil and gas for its electricity needs — not to mention the prospect of climate change.
One could also question the safety of nuclear power in one of the most seismically active countries in the world, however it would be fair to ask the same question of countries like Japan, which aims to increase its use of nuclear power to about 20 percent of the country’s total electricity generation by 2040, despite the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran’s uranium enrichment programme “must continue”, but the “scope and level may change”. Prior to the talks in Oman, Araghchi highlighted the “constant change” in US positions as a problem.
Trump’s rhetoric on uranium enrichment has shifted repeatedly.
He told Meet the Press on May 4 that “total dismantlement” of the nuclear program is “all I would accept.” He suggested that Iran does not need nuclear energy because of its oil reserves. But on May 7, when asked specifically about allowing Iran to retain a limited enrichment program, Trump said “we haven’t made that decision yet.”
Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in a May 14 interview with NBC that Iran is ready to sign a deal with the United States and reiterated that Iran is willing to limit uranium enrichment to low levels. He previously suggested in a May 7 post on X that any deal should include a “recognition of Iran’s right to industrial enrichment.”
That recognition, plus the removal of U.S. and international sanctions, “can guarantee a deal,” Shamkhani said.
So with Iran seemingly willing to accept reasonable conditions, why was a deal not reached last month? It appears the US changed its position, and demanded Iran cease all enrichment of uranium, including what Iran needs for its power stations.
One wonders if Zionist lobby groups like AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) influenced this decision. One could recall what happened during Benjamin Netanyahu’s first stint as Israel’s Prime Minister (1996-1999) to illustrate the point.
In April 1995 AIPAC published a report titled ‘Comprehensive US Sanctions Against Iran: A Plan for Action’. In 1997 Mohammad Khatami was elected as President of Iran. The following year Khatami expressed regret for the takeover of the US embassy in Tehran in 1979 and denounced terrorism against Israelis, while noting that “supporting peoples who fight for their liberation of their land is not, in my opinion, supporting terrorism”.
The threat of improved relations between Iran and the US sent the Israeli government led by Netanyahu into a panic. The Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz reported that “Israel has expressed concern to Washington of an impending change of policy by the United States towards Iran” adding that Netanyahu “asked AIPAC . . . to act vigorously in Congress to prevent such a policy shift.”
20 years ago the Israeli lobby were claiming an Iranian nuclear bomb was imminent. It didn’t happen.
Netanyahu’s Iran nuclear warnings. Video: Al Jazeera
The misguided efforts of Israel and the United States to contain Iran’s use of nuclear technology are not only counterproductive — they risk being a catastrophic failure. If one was going to design a policy to convince Iran nuclear weapons may be needed for its own defence, it is hard to imagine a policy more effective than the one Israel has pursued for the past 30 years.My 2007 Peace Researcher article asked a simple question: ‘Why does Iran want nuclear weapons?’ My introduction could have been written yesterday.
“With all the talk about Iran and the intentions of its nuclear programme it is a shame the West continues to undermine its own position with selective morality and obvious hypocrisy. It seems amazing there can be so much written about this issue, yet so little addresses the obvious question – ‘for what reasons could Iran want nuclear weapons?’.
“As Simon Jenkins (2006) points out, the answer is as simple as looking at a map. ‘I would sleep happier if there were no Iranian bomb but a swamp of hypocrisy separates me from overly protesting it. Iran is a proud country that sits between nuclear Pakistan and India to its east, a nuclear Russia to its north and a nuclear Israel to its west. Adjacent Afghanistan and Iraq are occupied at will by a nuclear America, which backed Saddam Hussein in his 1980 invasion of Iran. How can we say such a country has no right’ to nuclear defence?’”
This week the German Foreign Office reached new heights in hypocrisy with this absurd tweet.
Iran has no nuclear weapons. Israel does. Iran is a signatory to the NPT. Israel is not. Iran allows IAEA inspections. Israel does not.
Starting another war will not make us forget, nor forgive what Israel is doing in Gaza.
From the river to the sea, credibility requires consistency.
I write about New Zealand and international politics, with particular interests in political economy, history, philosophy, transport, and workers’ rights. I don’t like war very much.
Joe Hendren writes about New Zealand and international politics, with particular interests in political economy, history, philosophy, transport, and workers’ rights. Republished with his permission. Read this original article on his Substack account with full references.
Had Israel not launched its unprovoked attack on Iran on Friday night, in direct violation of the UN Charter, Iran would now be taking part in the sixth round of negotiations concerning the future of its nuclear programme, meeting with representatives from the United States in Muscat, the capital of Oman.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu claimed he acted to prevent Iran from building a nuclear bomb, saying Iran had the capacity to build nine nuclear weapons. Israel provided no evidence to back up its claims.
On 25 March 2025, Trump’s own National Director of Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard said:
“The IC [Intelligence Community] continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorised the nuclear weapons programme he suspended in 2003. The IC is monitoring if Tehran decides to reauthorise its nuclear weapons programme”
Even if Iran had the capability to build a bomb, it is quite another thing to have the will to do so.
Any such bomb would need to be tested first, and any such test would be quickly detected by a series of satellites on the lookout for nuclear detonations anywhere on the planet.
It is more likely that Israel launched its attack to stop US and Iranian negotiators from meeting on Sunday.
Only a month ago, Iran’s lead negotiator in the nuclear talks, Ali Shamkhani, told US television that Iran was ready to do a deal. NBC journalist Richard Engel reports:
“Shamkhani said Iran is willing to commit to never having a nuclear weapon, to get rid of its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, to only enrich to a level needed for civilian use and to allow inspectors in to oversee it all, in exchange for lifting all sanctions immediately. He said Iran would accept that deal tonight.”
Inside Iran as Trump presses for nuclear deal. Video: NBC News
Shamkhani died on Saturday, following injuries he suffered during Israel’s attack on Friday night. It appears that Israel not only opposed a diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear impasse: Israel killed it directly.
A spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmaeil Baghaei, told a news conference in Tehran the talks would be suspended until Israel halts its attacks:
“It is obvious that in such circumstances and until the Zionist regime’s aggression against the Iranian nation stops, it would be meaningless to participate with the party that is the biggest supporter and accomplice of the aggressor.”
On 1 April 2024, Israel launched an airstrike on Iran’s embassy in Syria, killing 16 people, including a woman and her son. The attack violated international norms regarding the protection of diplomatic premises under the Vienna Convention.
It is worth noting how the TheNew York Times described the occupation of the US Embassy in November 1979:
“But it is the Ayatollah himself who is doing the devil’s work by inciting and condoning the student invasion of the American and British Embassies in Tehran. This is not just a diplomatic affront; it is a declaration of war on diplomacy itself, on usages and traditions honoured by all nations, however old and new, whatever belief.
“The immunities given a ruler’s emissaries were respected by the kings of Persia during wars with Greece and by the Ayatollah’s spiritual ancestors during the Crusades.”
Now it is Israel conducting a “war on diplomacy itself”, first with the attack on the embassy, followed by Friday’s surprise attack on Iran. Scuppering a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear issue appears to be the aim. To make matters worse, Israel’s recklessness could yet cause a major war.
Trump: Inconsistent and ineffective In an interview with Time magazine on 22 April 2025, Trump denied he had stopped Israel from attacking Iran’s nuclear sites.
“No, it’s not right. I didn’t stop them. But I didn’t make it comfortable for them, because I think we can make a deal without the attack. I hope we can. It’s possible we’ll have to attack because Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.
“But I didn’t make it comfortable for them, but I didn’t say no. Ultimately I was going to leave that choice to them, but I said I would much prefer a deal than bombs being dropped.”
— US President Donald Trump
In the same interview Trump boasted “I think we’re going to make a deal with Iran. Nobody else could do that.” Except, someone else had already done that — only for Trump to abandon the deal in his first term as president.
In July 2015 Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) alongside the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and the European Union. Iran pledged to curb its nuclear programme for 10-15 years in exchange for the removal of some economic sanctions. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also gained access and verification powers.
Iran also agreed to limit uranium enrichment to 3.67 per cent U-235, allowing it to maintain its nuclear power reactors.
Despite clear signs the nuclear deal was working, Donald Trump withdrew from the JCPOA and reinstated sanctions on Iran in November 2018. Despite the unilateral American action, Iran kept to the deal for a time, but in January 2020 Iran declared it would no longer abide by the limitations included in JCPOA but would continue to work with the IAEA.
By pulling out of the deal and reinstating sanctions, the US and Israel effectively created a strong incentive for Iran to resume enriching uranium to higher levels, not for the sake of making a bomb, but as the most obvious means of creating leverage to remove the sanctions.
As a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Iran is allowed to enrich uranium for civilian fuel programmes.
Iran’s nuclear programme began in the 1960s with US assistance. Prior to the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iran was ruled by the brutal dictatorship of the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahavi.
American corporations saw Iran as a potential market for expansion. During the 1970s the US suggested to the Shah he needed not one but several nuclear reactors to meet Iran’s future electricity needs. In June 1974, the Shah declared that Iran would have nuclear weapons, “without a doubt and sooner than one would think”.
In 2007, I wrote an article for Peace Researcher where I examined US claims that Iran does not need nuclear power because it is sitting on one of the largest gas supplies in the world. One of the most interesting things I discovered while researching the article was the relevance of air pollution, a critical public health concern in Iran.
In 2024, health officials estimated that air pollution is responsible for 40,000 deaths a year in Iran. Deputy Health Minister Alireza Raisi said the “majority of these deaths were due to cardiovascular diseases, strokes, respiratory issues, and cancers”.
Sahimi describes levels of air pollution in Tehran and other major Iranian cities as “catastrophic”, with elementary schools having to close on some days as a result. There was little media coverage of the air pollution issue in relation to Iran’s energy mix then, and I have seen hardly any since.
An energy research project, Advanced Energy Technologies provides a useful summary of electricity production in Iran as it stood in 2023.
Iranian electricity production in 2023. Source: Advanced Energy Technologies
With around 94.6 percent of electricity generation dependent on fossil fuels, there are serious environmental reasons why Iran should not be encouraged to depend on oil and gas for its electricity needs — not to mention the prospect of climate change.
One could also question the safety of nuclear power in one of the most seismically active countries in the world, however it would be fair to ask the same question of countries like Japan, which aims to increase its use of nuclear power to about 20 percent of the country’s total electricity generation by 2040, despite the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran’s uranium enrichment programme “must continue”, but the “scope and level may change”. Prior to the talks in Oman, Araghchi highlighted the “constant change” in US positions as a problem.
Trump’s rhetoric on uranium enrichment has shifted repeatedly.
He told Meet the Press on May 4 that “total dismantlement” of the nuclear program is “all I would accept.” He suggested that Iran does not need nuclear energy because of its oil reserves. But on May 7, when asked specifically about allowing Iran to retain a limited enrichment program, Trump said “we haven’t made that decision yet.”
Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in a May 14 interview with NBC that Iran is ready to sign a deal with the United States and reiterated that Iran is willing to limit uranium enrichment to low levels. He previously suggested in a May 7 post on X that any deal should include a “recognition of Iran’s right to industrial enrichment.”
That recognition, plus the removal of U.S. and international sanctions, “can guarantee a deal,” Shamkhani said.
So with Iran seemingly willing to accept reasonable conditions, why was a deal not reached last month? It appears the US changed its position, and demanded Iran cease all enrichment of uranium, including what Iran needs for its power stations.
One wonders if Zionist lobby groups like AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) influenced this decision. One could recall what happened during Benjamin Netanyahu’s first stint as Israel’s Prime Minister (1996-1999) to illustrate the point.
In April 1995 AIPAC published a report titled ‘Comprehensive US Sanctions Against Iran: A Plan for Action’. In 1997 Mohammad Khatami was elected as President of Iran. The following year Khatami expressed regret for the takeover of the US embassy in Tehran in 1979 and denounced terrorism against Israelis, while noting that “supporting peoples who fight for their liberation of their land is not, in my opinion, supporting terrorism”.
The threat of improved relations between Iran and the US sent the Israeli government led by Netanyahu into a panic. The Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz reported that “Israel has expressed concern to Washington of an impending change of policy by the United States towards Iran” adding that Netanyahu “asked AIPAC . . . to act vigorously in Congress to prevent such a policy shift.”
20 years ago the Israeli lobby were claiming an Iranian nuclear bomb was imminent. It didn’t happen.
Netanyahu’s Iran nuclear warnings. Video: Al Jazeera
The misguided efforts of Israel and the United States to contain Iran’s use of nuclear technology are not only counterproductive — they risk being a catastrophic failure. If one was going to design a policy to convince Iran nuclear weapons may be needed for its own defence, it is hard to imagine a policy more effective than the one Israel has pursued for the past 30 years.My 2007 Peace Researcher article asked a simple question: ‘Why does Iran want nuclear weapons?’ My introduction could have been written yesterday.
“With all the talk about Iran and the intentions of its nuclear programme it is a shame the West continues to undermine its own position with selective morality and obvious hypocrisy. It seems amazing there can be so much written about this issue, yet so little addresses the obvious question – ‘for what reasons could Iran want nuclear weapons?’.
“As Simon Jenkins (2006) points out, the answer is as simple as looking at a map. ‘I would sleep happier if there were no Iranian bomb but a swamp of hypocrisy separates me from overly protesting it. Iran is a proud country that sits between nuclear Pakistan and India to its east, a nuclear Russia to its north and a nuclear Israel to its west. Adjacent Afghanistan and Iraq are occupied at will by a nuclear America, which backed Saddam Hussein in his 1980 invasion of Iran. How can we say such a country has no right’ to nuclear defence?’”
This week the German Foreign Office reached new heights in hypocrisy with this absurd tweet.
Iran has no nuclear weapons. Israel does. Iran is a signatory to the NPT. Israel is not. Iran allows IAEA inspections. Israel does not.
Starting another war will not make us forget, nor forgive what Israel is doing in Gaza.
From the river to the sea, credibility requires consistency.
I write about New Zealand and international politics, with particular interests in political economy, history, philosophy, transport, and workers’ rights. I don’t like war very much.
Joe Hendren writes about New Zealand and international politics, with particular interests in political economy, history, philosophy, transport, and workers’ rights. Republished with his permission. Read this original article on his Substack account with full references.
This paper sets out important information for Marketing Authorisation Holders, Wholesale Dealers and Retailers and reports on the progress in safeguarding the ongoing supply of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland, and the steps that the Government will take to support this.
The following guidance accompanies the Paper and provides further technical guidance which can be found on the VMD Information Hub – GOV.UK:
Supplying veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland from 2026 – Guidance for Marketing Authorisation holders
Supplying veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland from 2026 – Guidance for Wholesalers / Retailers
Supplying veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland from 2026 – Veterinary Medicine Health Situation Scheme – Guidance
Supplying veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland from 2026 – Veterinary Medicines Internal Market Scheme guidance
Valor Hospitality Partners (www.ValorHospitality.com), a global leader in full-service hospitality solutions, today announced the signing of two new hotel management contracts in Nigeria and Senegal representing an investment in excess of approximately R540 million in West Africa. The deals were signed at the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) taking place in Cape Town this week.
The significant figure represents the combined capital expenditure for the development and establishment of the two new-build properties.
Both deals are franchise agreements with IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hospitality companies. The agreements are to manage the new Holiday Inn SD City in Dakar, Senegal and a new Crowne Plaza hotel in Lagos, Nigeria.
Significantly, these signings are Valor’s debut in the very dynamic West African market, and join Valor’s portfolio in Central, East and Southern Africa, and further strengthen Valor’s relationship with IHG globally.
Across the two properties, Valor will be responsible for the successful opening and operational management of each hotel.
“The hospitality sector on the continent is teeming with opportunity, and represents an incredible frontier for the adoption of fully-integrated management services. These signings speak to this reality and we’re excited to further expand our footprint across Africa, not only for its market potential but for the value we can bring in enhancing the sector for all stakeholders – from owners and developers, right down to the guest experience,” says Michael Pownall, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Valor Hospitality Partners.
Beyond the monetary investment, these deals signify confidence in the region’s hospitality and the growing preference for leveraging fully-integrated management services, such as those offered by Valor, to ensure global best-in-class management and operational practices at every level.
Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, IMEA, IHG Hotels & Resorts , said: “Valor Hospitality is amongst our key strategic partners in the region and we’re pleased to further extend the partnership as we expand our footprint in high-potential African markets. We look forward to working with Valor in delivering world-class welcoming experiences for travellers, across our portfolio with them.
Pownall adds: “These new deals represent a significant entry into a new, key market – namely Senegal and Nigeria in West Africa. This expansion diversifies our regional presence and strengthens our market position.”
Thanks to the global insights and strategic thinking Valor brings to the industry, combined with their commitment to blending a big-picture view with regional and cultural nuances, Valor is cementing its position as a preferred partner to significant players in the hospitality sector across Africa.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Valor Hospitality.
For media inquiries and high-resolution imagesplease contact: Delia de Villiers delia@phoenixcollective.world +27 73 710 3000
For more information about Valor Hospitality and its innovative approach to hotel management and franchising visit www.ValorHospitality.com.
ABOUT VALOR HOSPITALITY PARTNERS: Valor Hospitality Partners (www.ValorHospitality.com) is a leading global full-service hotel underwriting, acquisition, development, management, and asset management company. With over 90 hospitality projects in its international portfolio, Valor Hospitality offers an array of services, including site selection, product and brand selection, entitlements, financing solutions, conceptual design, construction and project management, procurement, technical services, pre-opening, and operations management. Valor also provides consulting services on a wide range of project scenarios, including working with new or existing ownership groups on reviewing site selection, assessing feasibility studies and project budgets, compiling project budgets, and underwriting. For more information, visit ValorHospitality.com connect with Valor on Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/462xp5L) and LinkedIn (https://apo-opa.co/3Zzd7Nq).
Question for written answer E-002365/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Carolina Morace (The Left), Valentina Palmisano (The Left), Dario Tamburrano (The Left)
To prevent shortages and boost the resilience of the European health system, the Commission, with the technical and scientific support of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and national agencies, published the EU list of critical medicines in December 2023, and updated it in 2024.
However, the list does not include medicines that are essential for women’s sexual and reproductive health, including:
• Misoprostol, used to terminate pregnancies pharmacologically;
• Levonorgestrel and ulipristal acetate, used as emergency contraceptives.
In its resolution of 11 April 2024 (2024/2655 (RSP)), Parliament defined access to safe abortion and emergency contraception as ‘fundamental rights’. These medicines, which are included in the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines, are crucial for protecting women’s sexual and reproductive rights throughout the EU.
In the light of the above:
1.What criteria led to the exclusion of those medicines from the list?
2.Will the Commission review the selection criteria with a view to including essential medicines for sexual and reproductive health?
3.What practical steps will it take to ensure their availability in all Member States, including where legislative or logistical barriers limit the right to abortion or access to emergency contraception?
