21 March marks both the beginning of spring and Mother’s Day in Palestine. A day of celebration, of hope, but it is hard for us to think of hope now.
My 12-year-old son apologized to me because he could not buy me a present on Mother’s Day, I hugged him and said that their survival – for now – is the most precious present that God has given me, I want nothing more.
I live in Beit Lahia. We are still sweeping the rubble, trying to restore our damaged house, to make it livable, more than a month after our return to the north. Everything here is a struggle: to be a mother during genocide is to fight, every minute, every second to maintain your family when nothing is available. Getting clean water is a battle; securing food is a battle; getting fresh vegetables or fruits is a dream, but I am a lucky mother because my children are still alive.
I look at my children and feel guilty because they have been denied their childhood, they were forced into the cruel world of adulthood, of war: no schools, no playgrounds, no daily walks by the sea. I hear bombs and wish I could wrap them with my own body, wish that my love, larger than the universe could protect them, shelter them.
Half an hour before we were due to break our fast, on Mother’s Day, in Ramadan, we saw that the Israeli military has ordered our area to “evacuate,” but to where? We are tired of displacement, of carrying an entire life on our shoulders and fleeing again, starting all over again; we are trying to rebuild the remnants of our lives: we were hoping to do that without fearing the non-stop bombs raining on us. Was that too much to ask?
You have no choice under genocide. You gamble with death: please stay away from my children; We were already displaced on nine occasions to flee death. We try to cheat it, but eventually you know that we are all defenseless against this.
A mother from Beit Lahia, Gaza.
You have no choice under genocide. You gamble with death: please stay away from my children; We were already displaced on nine occasions to flee death. We try to cheat it, but eventually you know that we are all defenseless against this.
I do not know if we will survive this round of bombardment, I do not know if the world will remember that one day people lived in a small place called Gaza, which had the most beautiful coastline in the world. Here lived people who wanted to live, they had so many dreams, they wanted to raise their children under normal circumstances but never got the chance to do so.
All I know that if we do not make it, we will leave knowing that we did everything in our power and beyond to protect our children. Beit Lahia is the capital of strawberries and flowers; it is now a city of rubble, smoke, and stench of death. But please remember us by our strawberries and poppies and remember the names and faces of our martyred children, who will never have the chance to give their mothers a present on Mother’s Day.
The author’s name has been withheld for security reasons.
To join Amnesty International’s call to end Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza take action here.
DALLAS – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Thomas Afram Chammo, a 27-year-old citizen of Lebanon, April 3, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Chammo entered the United States through Dallas, Texas, as a non-immigrant visa holder July 12, 2024, for military training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was scheduled to return to Lebanon on Dec. 5, 2024, after completing training, but failed to board his scheduled return flight and absconded.
ICE Dallas Field Office made the arrest. Chammo remains in ICE custody, pending immigration removal proceedings.
As a non-immigrant visa entrant, Chammo is entitled to a hearing before an immigration judge to determine if he can remain in the U.S. or be removed.
For more news and information on ICE’s efforts to enforce our nation’s immigration laws in North Texas and Oklahoma follow us on X at @ERODallas.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit explores future of AI and digital technologies The WIC designated Hong Kong to host the Asia-Pacific Summit for the first time, affirming Hong Kong’s pivotal role as an important bridge and two-way platform connecting our country and the world. At the opening ceremony of the Summit this morning, the Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Mr Wang Yong, and the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, delivered their remarks, while the Minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China and Chairman of the WIC, Mr Zhuang Rongwen, gave a keynote speech. The Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Mr Zheng Yanxiong; the CEO of GSMA Ltd., Mr John Hoffman; the Chair of ZTE Corporation, Mr Fang Rong; the “father of the Internet in Africa”, Mr Nii Narku Quaynor, and other distinguished guests, also spoke at the opening ceremony, sharing their valuable insights on building an open and cooperative community with a shared future in cyberspace.
After the opening ceremony, a government-enterprise dialogue session was co-hosted by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, and the Secretary General of the WIC, Mr Ren Xianliang. The session brought together ministerial officials and senior representatives of industry corporations from countries and regions such as Algeria, Tanzania and Oman, as well as business leaders from Intel, Alibaba Cloud, Ping An Group and many more to conduct in-depth exchanges on ways to harness I&T to drive economic development, support enterprises’ overseas expansion, inject new impetus for economic growth, and actively building practical cooperation platforms. The Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, also attended the session and delivered a speech, introducing the latest development of Hong Kong’s digital government.
The focus of the Summit in the afternoon was the main forum on the digital intelligence future which covered three key thematic sections: “Building robust foundations for a digital future”, “AI applications across industries” and “Security and governance in the digital era”. The forum had a stellar lineup of speakers, including the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; Professor Sun Dong, alongside Co-Founder and CTO of Manycore Tech, Mr Zhu Hao, from Hangzhou’s “Six Little Dragons” tech cluster; the CEO of Arm China, Mr Chen Feng; the General Manager of IBM Asia Pacific, Mr Hans Dekkers, and other representatives from renowned organisations and corporations. Additionally, the Summit hosted a briefing on Practice Cases and Awards for Pioneering Science and Technology and a workshop on AI governance and sustainable development to further promote exchange and collaboration in related fields.
Question for written answer E-001399/2025 to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Rule 144 Nikolas Farantouris (The Left)
In the last twenty-four hours, images of the continued targeting of Christian and other religious communities in Syria by forces and extremists close to the al-Jolani regime have come to light. By way of illustration, on Sunday 6 April, Islamists invaded the Church of St George in the Greek Orthodox town of Budan [sic], doused the seats with petrol and planted explosive devices, which fortunately did not detonate. Other reports state that high-ranking Government officials from the Ministry of Interior – ‘former’ members of extremist organisations and Al-Qaeda – support terrorist attacks, such as the plan circulating online to bomb the Roman Catholic Church of the Virgin Mary in Tartus. It is clear that Alawites, Christians and other communities in Syria are under threat from the regime in Damascus. In these circumstances, the EU must urgently intervene to do what Jolani refuses to do, to protect the lives of all Syrians, regardless of religion.
Given the above:
1.Why is the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy not intervening decisively with the Government in Damascus, demanding the protection of Christian and other threatened communities?
2.Why is the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy not finally sending a team of observers to document the massacres and incidents of violence?
3.Why is the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy not coordinating a humanitarian aid mission to the threatened coastal areas, with the participation of Member States such as Greece, Cyprus, France and others, as requested by the representatives of the affected and terror-stricken areas?
Question for written answer E-001179/2025/rev.1 to the Commission Rule 144 Costas Mavrides (S&D)
Further to question E-001888/2021[1] on the desecration of the only remaining Armenian monastery located in the Turkish-occupied Pentadaktylos, the Commission stated in its concluding statement that ‘the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage will start the conservation works as soon as they can be safely implemented’. However, the Armenian community in Cyprus has called for immediate action, warning of a cultural tragedy, as the Armenian Monastery, exposed to the weather and vandals, has been reduced to ruins.
In the past, the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage in Cyprus carried out a feasibility study for the monastery complex and its partial restoration, funded by the UNDP-PFF. The conservation works started in early 2020, but were interrupted a month later due to the pandemic and since then there has been no update on the Committee’s activities.
In light of the above:
1.Council Regulation (EC) No 389/2006 requires reporting on financial support implemented under the financial assistance programme for the Turkish Cypriot community. Can the Commission explain why the Armenian Monastery is missing from these reports[2]?
2.Given the situation, what immediate actions could the Commission take to support the conservation and protection of the Monastery?
On 17 December 2024, the President of the Commission held a meeting[1] in Ankara with President Erdoğan as part of the re-engagement agenda with Türkiye as laid down in the November 2023 Joint Communication[2].
The December 2024 Council conclusions on Enlargement[3] highlighted the EU’s strategic interest in a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the development of a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship with Türkiye.
The discussion in Ankara also addressed the Cyprus issue, with the President of the Commission reiterating EU’s full commitment to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, within the United Nations agreed framework, and highlighting the importance the EU is attaching to resumption of and progress in the Cyprus settlement talks in further enhancing EU-Türkiye cooperation.
In line with the relevant Council conclusions[4], accession negotiations with Türkiye are at a standstill since 2018, and no further chapters can be considered for opening or closing.
Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Friday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) led a group of colleagues in sending a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick regarding the Biden administration’s AI Diffusion Rule (AIDR). The letter calls on the Trump administration to withdraw Biden’s bad rule and propose an alternative that is effective in preventing Communist China from capturing the world market in a leading technology. The letter states:
“We applaud President Trump’s commitment to ensuring American dominance in the tech sector. Today, we are in an enviable position: American companies dominate in crucial areas that will define tomorrow’s economy including semiconductor design, compute infrastructure, and artificial intelligence (AI). This leadership position has been hard fought. Maintaining and growing our tech lead requires diligently advancing an American-led, global ecosystem around the world.”
“With the compliance deadline of May 15, 2025, rapidly approaching, immediate action is necessary to prevent irreversible damage to American innovation and competitiveness,” the letter continues. “Every day this rule remains in place, American companies face mounting uncertainty, stalled investments, and the risk of losing critical global partnerships that cannot be easily regained. Therefore, we urge you to withdraw this rule and propose an alternative that is effective in preventing Communist China from capturing the world market in a leading technology without compromising American advantages.”
The letter was also signed by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Ted Budd (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).
Read the full letter here or below:
Dear Secretary Lutnick:
We applaud President Trump’s commitment to ensuring American dominance in the tech sector. Today, we are in an enviable position: American companies dominate in crucial areas that will define tomorrow’s economy including semiconductor design, compute infrastructure, and artificial intelligence (AI). This leadership position has been hard fought. Maintaining and growing our tech lead requires diligently advancing an American-led, global ecosystem around the world.
Concerningly, President Biden’s recently issued Artificial Intelligence Diffusion Rule
(AIDR) threatens to undermine this leadership and advancement. Among other things, the rule categorizes countries into three tiers, imposing complex restrictions on the purchase of U.S. technology. Only Tier 1 countries—limited to just 18 nations—would have access to American technology. Even these 18 would only have access if they comply with a burdensome and ever-evolving set of federal regulations. The vast majority of nations fall into Tier 2. These countries face arbitrary purchase limits and a cumbersome licensing process to acquire U.S. computing technologies. Strikingly, key allies and partners like Israel have been inexplicably excluded from the top tier and placed into Tier 2. Tier 3 countries, including Communist China, are already rightly restricted.
While the AIDR claims to provide secure ecosystems for the responsible diffusion of AI, this rushed midnight rule’s impact and overly broad scope will result in consequences that divorce it from its intent. Fundamentally, the rule places burdensome constraints on U.S. companies that would be difficult to comply with and even harder for the Federal government to enforce. Buyers, particularly in Tier 2 countries that are constrained from purchasing U.S. technology, would be incentivized to turn to Communist China’s unregulated, cheap substitutes. Additionally, technology companies in Tier 2 countries could be motivated to create their own AI technology stack that is outside our export control regime. Neither outcome furthers our nation’s long-term economic and national security goals.
With the compliance deadline of May 15, 2025, rapidly approaching, immediate action is necessary to prevent irreversible damage to American innovation and competitiveness. Every day this rule remains in place, American companies face mounting uncertainty, stalled investments, and the risk of losing critical global partnerships that cannot be easily regained. Therefore, we urge you to withdraw this rule and propose an alternative that is effective in preventing Communist China from capturing the world market in a leading technology without compromising American advantages.
Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Congressman Greg Steube (R-FL) introduced the Safeguarding Charity Act to protect the independence of our nation’s tax-exempt organizations. It safeguards churches, nonprofits, and private schools from a perilous line of litigation in federal courts that could subject them to burdensome federal regulations.
“Tax-exempt organizations should not live in fear of federal control every day because courts want to redefine the meaning of tax-exempt status. Tax-exempt status is not the same as receiving federal funding, and it should not be used as political leverage against the nonprofits in Oklahoma and across the nation,” said Lankford. “We should be focused on enabling the work of these organizations—not burdening them with unnecessary and costly federal requirements.”
“Radical judges do not have the authority to twist federal law and force religious institutions to choose between their convictions and compliance,” said Steube. “The Safeguarding Charity Act reaffirms that tax-exempt status does not mean an organization is receiving federal financial assistance. This bill is about protecting churches, religious schools, and charities from federal overreach. I’m grateful to Senator Lankford for his leadership on this important effort in the Senate.”
“Charities and other nonprofits provide invaluable services to their communities,” said Greg Baylor, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) Senior Counsel. “In part to recognize their critical work, nonprofits are tax-exempt so that they can devote scarce resources to serving those in need. Until recently, no one really thought that their tax-exempt status was the sort of “federal financial assistance” that triggered the application of several burdensome federal statutes and regulations. But some courts have embraced this unfounded view, and Congress needs to set things straight. Let’s be clear: a nonprofit’s tax-exempt status should not be considered government funding and thus should not trigger multiple burdensome federal laws under which charities and other nonprofits could lose their tax-exempt status. ADF commends Sen. Lankford and Rep. Steube for introducing the Safeguarding Charity Act to protect nonprofits from these financially crushing burdens so that nonprofits can continue to serve their communities free from unfair and unexpected government overreach.”
“ACSI commends Senator Lankford and Congressman Steube for their leadership in introducing the Safeguarding Charity Act,” said P. George Tryfiates, VP for Public Policy and Legal Affairs at the Association of Christian Schools International. “This legislation is critical to set the record straight: an organization’s nonprofit status is not the receipt of federal financial assistance. It never has been. It is not now. Politically motivated lawsuits based on this false premise must stop, or else all nonprofits will be at risk. We urge every member of Congress to support the Safeguarding Charity Act.”
“Agudath Israel of America is pleased to support the ‘Safeguarding Charity Act (SCA),’ introduced by Senator James Lankford and Representative Greg Steube,” said Rabbi Abba Cohen, VP for Government Affairs of Agudath Israel of America. “This legislation is vitally important to nonprofits across the country, including synagogues, religious schools and charities within the Jewish community. It will enshrine into law that which has generally been understood that ‘tax-exempt status’ does not constitute ‘federal financial assistance.’”
Background
The legislation is also supported by Philanthropy Roundtable, Seventh-day Adventist Church, ERLC, American Association of Christian Schools, Association for Biblical Higher Education, Family Research Council, Citygate Network, Christian Employers Alliance, and National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.
Lankford first introduced the legislation with Congressman Steube in 2024.
In 2023, Lankford also introduced the Charitable Act to incentivize giving to America’s nonprofits. The bill would expand and extend the expired non-itemized deduction for charitable giving that would ensure Americans who donate to charities, houses of worship, religious organizations, and other nonprofits of their choice are able to deduct that donation from their federal taxes at a higher level than the previous $300 deduction.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
UK sanctions Iranian organised crime network
The UK has announced further sanctions to tackle the domestic threat posed by the Iranian regime by sanctioning Iranian-backed, Swedish-based Foxtrot criminal Network and its leader, Rawa Majid, for their role in attacks against targets across Europe.
Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said:
Today, the UK has announced sanctions against the notorious criminal Foxtrot Network and its leadership.
The Iranian regime uses criminal gangs across the world to threaten people. The UK has targeted this criminal network and its leader, Rawa Majid, due to their involvement in violence against Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe on behalf of the Iranian regime. The UK will not tolerate these threats.
This forms part of the UK Government’s ongoing response to Iranian hostilities in Europe. Last month, we announced that Iran will be placed on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) and to date, the UK has sanctioned more than 450 Iranian individuals and entities, in response to the regime’s human rights violations, nuclear weapons programme and malign influence internationally.
The UK Government will continue to hold the Iranian regime and criminals acting on its behalf to account.
Background
The Individual that is subject to a UK travel ban, asset freeze and director disqualification:
Rawa Majid, Head of the Foxtrot Network
The following organisation is also being sanctioned by the UK and is subject to an asset freeze and director disqualification:
Foxtrot Network
Since the start of 2022, the UK has responded to more than 20 Iran-backed plots, presenting potentially lethal threats to British citizens and UK residents.
Today’s designations were made under the 2023 Iran Sanctions Regulations, which came into force in December 2023 : [Iran sanctions: guidance – GOV.UK](Iran sanctions: guidance – GOV.UK
On 4 March 2025 the Security Minister’s statement to Parliament confirmed Iran would be specified on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), and that the government will work with our allies to better understand, expose, and condemn Iranian actions; and bring Iranian-linked criminals to justice wherever in the world they may be – Protecting national security – GOV.UK
The US designated Majid and the Foxtrot Network in March 2025.
Definitions:
Asset freeze: an asset freeze prevents any UK citizen, or any business in the UK, from dealing with any funds or economic resources which are owned, held or controlled by the designated person. It also prevents funds or economic resources being provided to or for the benefit of the designated person. UK financial sanctions apply to all persons within the territory and territorial sea of the UK and to all UK persons, wherever they are in the world.
Travel ban: a travel ban means that the designated person must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom, as the individual is an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971.
Director disqualification: Where director disqualification sanctions apply, it is an offence for a person designated for the purpose of those sanctions to act as a director of a UK company, or a foreign company that is sufficiently-connected to the UK, or to take part in the management, formation or promotion of a company.
The South African Presidency of the Group of Twenty (G20) is this week convening the second Development Working Group (DWG) meeting in the Western Cape.
“The G20 DWG plays a pivotal role in shaping global development priorities, focusing on reducing inequalities, promoting sustainable growth, and strengthening international partnerships,” the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation said.
Starting on Monday, 14 April and ending on Wednesday, 16 April, the meeting will serve as a platform for in-depth discussions on key development challenges and cooperative solutions.
The G20 is an international forum of both developing and developed countries, which seeks to find solutions to global economic and financial issues.
South Africa’s G20 Presidency commenced on 1 December 2024 and will run until 30 November 2025.
The gathering will bring together representatives from G20 member states, invited countries, and international organisations to deliberate on policies that foster inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.
In alignment with the theme of Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability, the discussions will focus on three high-level priorities: • High-Level Principles on Global Public Goods and Global Public Investment. • Mobilising Finance for Development and Means of Implementation. • Building Resilience through Universal Social Protection Floors.
The G20 members represent around 85% of the global Gross Domestic Product, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
It comprises 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom, and United States) and two regional bodies, namely the European Union (EU) and African Union (AU).
The three-day meeting is taking place at the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset. –SAnews.gov.za
HOUSTON, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — APA Corporation (Nasdaq: APA) today announced key updates to its executive leadership team.
Ben Rodgers has been named executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective May 12, 2025. In this role, he will oversee all financial activities and departments, including Accounting, Audit, Investor Relations, Planning, Tax and Treasury. Rodgers joined APA in 2018 and previously served as SVP, Finance and Treasurer. He also served as CFO of Altus Midstream and later as a director on the board of Kinetik Holdings Inc. He currently serves on the board of Khalda Petroleum Company, a joint venture between APA subsidiary Apache Corporation and Egypt Petroleum Company.
Steve Riney will continue in his role as president, overseeing asset development and operations. As part of Steve’s team, the company has added two key executives to help oversee operations.
Shad Frazier has joined as senior vice president, U.S. Onshore Operations, effective immediately. Shad has nearly 30 years of industry experience, most recently as vice president, Production Operations at Endeavor Energy Resources, LP. Previously, he held various leadership positions at Legacy Reserves and SandRidge Energy. He holds a petroleum engineering degree from Texas Tech University and a master’s degree in business administration from Oklahoma University.
Donald Martin will also be joining the company as vice president, Decommissioning, effective May 26, 2025. Donald has 20 years of operations and decommissioning portfolio experience, most recently as the head of decommissioning & projects at Spirit Energy E&P. He has also managed decommissioning at Canadian Natural Resources E&P. Donald holds a master’s degree with distinction in major programme management from Oxford University.
“I am pleased to welcome Ben to our executive leadership team. He has done a tremendous job and will bring valuable expertise to our financial operations,” said John J. Christmann, APA Corporation CEO. “I am also excited to welcome both Shad and Donald to the team. Their extensive experience and leadership will be instrumental in driving our operations forward.”
About APA
APA Corporation owns consolidated subsidiaries that explore for and produce oil and natural gas in the United States, Egypt and the United Kingdom and that explore for oil and natural gas offshore Suriname and elsewhere. APA posts announcements, operational updates, investor information and press releases on its website, www.apacorp.com.
WASHINGTON, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — United Bank (NASDAQ: UBSI) and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHLBank Atlanta) announced today an investment of $4.7 million in grant funding, designated for five separate projects that will create 363 new affordable housing units in Washington, D.C. and Virginia.
The funding is sourced from FHLBank Atlanta’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP) General Fund and administered through United Bank.
These funds will go toward the following projects in Washington, D.C.:
Hope View Apartments received $1 million to use for the development of 42 housing units for seniors with incomes 80% or below the area median income (AMI), 16 of which are reserved for homeless households. This development will include approximately 8,000 square feet for community services for residents and the surrounding community. Anacostia Economic Development Corporation is the sponsor and developer, and T&H Investment Properties LLC also sponsored the project, which is expected to be completed in early 2026.
2229 M Street NEApartments received $1 million for the development of 92 rental units for families, 89% of which are for households with incomes at or below 50% of AMI. The project is sponsored by Housing Up and THC Affordable Housing and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Wagner Senior Residences received $742,805 for the development of an apartment complex that will provide 67 affordable housing units, 90% of which will be for seniors with incomes below 50% of AMI. The Residences are sponsored by Justice Housing Inc. in partnership with Miller Housing LLC and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
2911 Rhode IslandAvenue NE Apartments received $1 million toward the development of a new affordable rental project, which will provide 100 units for households between 30% and 80% of AMI. The project is sponsored by Lincoln-Westmoreland Housing, Inc. and is expected to be completed in spring of 2028.
In Harrisonburg, Va.:
Bluestone Town Center Residences received $1 million for the development of 62 affordable housing units for seniors with incomes between 30% and 60% of AMI. These senior housing units will be part of the full Bluestone Town Center development, a 90-acre master planned, multi-phased community that will create 900 units of mixed-income housing and service-oriented commercial space less than five minutes from downtown Harrisonburg. Harrisonburg Redevelopment & Housing Authority is the project sponsor and developer. The project is expected to be completed by early 2026.
Each property will provide residents with high-speed internet and offer education and training services on topics including computer skills, life skills, money management, GED preparation, literacy, and nutrition.
“United Bank has a longstanding history of supporting community development initiatives that provide affordable housing, support low- or moderate-income senior citizens and families, and revitalize communities in meaningful ways,” said Christina Cudney, Corporate Social Responsibility Officer, United Bank. “These funds from FHLBank Atlanta help us continue to move the needle on pressing challenges faced by our communities to fulfill this ongoing commitment. With the rise in construction costs, several projects in our area had a need for gap funding, and FHLBank Atlanta’s grant program is enabling these initiatives to cross the finish line sooner than otherwise possible.”
FHLBank Atlanta’s General Fund provides grants annually to assist in the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, or preservation of affordable housing projects. In December 2024, FHLBank Atlanta announced 66 grant recipient winners of its 2024 program, which allocated a total of $55 million to support the development and repair of more than 4,200 affordable housing units.
“It is inspiring to see United Bank’s dedication to affordable housing and economic vitality,” said FHLBank Atlanta President and CEO Kirk Malmberg. “Understanding the growing need for more affordable housing, our members like United Bank are working hand in hand with their local developers and nonprofits to make a lasting impact, and we are honored to see funds from FHLBank Atlanta support such transformational projects.”
About United Bank United Bank is a premier community bank headquartered in Greater Washington, D.C. A subsidiary of United Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: UBSI), United has consolidated assets of more than $32 billion with over 240 offices located throughout Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, as well as Washington, D.C., where it is the community bank of the nation’s capital. The Bank is committed to growing the relationships it has built since 1839 and offering a competitive suite of banking and lending products, treasury management, wealth management, mortgage services, personal and business credit cards, and more. United is also committed to providing excellence in service to the communities throughout its footprint, strategically aligning resources to move the needle on pressing challenges in vital impact areas, including financial literacy, children and education, affordable housing, health, and economic vitality. For more information, visit BankWithUnited.com.
About Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta FHLBank Atlanta offers competitively-priced financing, community development grants, and other banking services to help member financial institutions make affordable home mortgages and provide economic development credit to neighborhoods and communities. The Bank’s members—its shareholders and customers—are commercial banks, credit unions, savings institutions, community development financial institutions, and insurance companies located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. FHLBank Atlanta is one of 11 district Banks in the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Since 1990, the FHLBanks have awarded approximately $9.1 billion in Affordable Housing Program funds, assisting more than 1.2 million households.
HOUSTON, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Amplify Energy Corp. (NYSE: AMPY) (“Amplify” or the “Company”) today announced that it intends to open and immediately adjourn its Special Meeting of Stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) relating to the Company’s proposed merger with Juniper Capital’s upstream Rocky Mountain portfolio companies. There will be no voting or other matters conducted at the meeting on April 14, 2025, and the Company intends to reconvene the Special Meeting on April 23, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time (and the adjourned meeting will be held virtually via the internet at www.cesonlineservices.com/ampysm_vm). The record date for the Special Meeting, March 3, 2025, is unchanged and applies to the reconvened Special Meeting.
The Special Meeting will be adjourned to allow for further time to solicit proxies from the Company’s stockholders and provide stockholders with additional time to vote in order to facilitate broader participation. Stockholders who have already cast their votes do not need to take any action, unless they wish to change or revoke their prior proxy or voting instructions, and their votes will be counted at the reconvened Special Meeting. For stockholders who have not yet cast their votes, we urge them to vote their shares now, so they can be tabulated prior to the reconvened Special Meeting. For more information on how to vote, please call the Company’s proxy solicitor, Sodali & Co, on their toll-free number (800) 662-5200 or email AMPY@investor.sodali.com.
The Company’s Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the proposals identified in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the Special Meeting.
About Amplify Energy Amplify Energy Corp. is an independent oil and natural gas company engaged in the acquisition, development, exploitation and production of oil and natural gas properties. Amplify’s operations are focused in Oklahoma, the Rockies (Bairoil), federal waters offshore Southern California (Beta), East Texas / North Louisiana, and the Eagle Ford (Non-op). For more information, visit www.amplifyenergy.com.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes “forward-looking statements.” All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Terminology such as “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “continue,” “predict,” “potential,” “project” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company’s actual results or financial condition to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking statements contained in this press release specifically include the expected timing of the adjourned Special Meeting. Please read the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, and if applicable, the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are available on the Company’s Investor Relations website at https://www.amplifyenergy.com/investor-relations/default.aspx or on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, for a discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those in such forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise.
Important Additional Information Regarding the Mergers Will Be Filed With the SEC. In connection with the proposed mergers, the Company has filed a definitive proxy statement. The definitive proxy statement has been sent to the stockholders of record of the Company. The Company may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the mergers. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF AMPLIFY ARE ADVISED TO CAREFULLY READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT MATERIALS FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGERS, THE PARTIES TO THE MERGERS AND THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MERGERS. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents filed by Amplify with the SEC from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Security holders and other interested parties will also be able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents (when available) by (1) directing your written request to: 500 Dallas Street, Suite 1700, Houston, Texas or (2) contacting our Investor Relations department by telephone at (832) 219-9044 or (832) 219-9051. Copies of the documents filed by the Company with the SEC will be available free of charge on the Company’s website at http://www.amplifyenergy.com.
Participants in the Solicitation. Amplify and certain of its respective directors, executive officers and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of Amplify in connection with the transaction, including a description of their respective direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is included in the definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the Company’s directors and executive officers is also included in Amplify’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and 2024 Proxy Statement, which was filed with the SEC on April 5, 2024. These documents are available free of charge as described above.
“Wherever Palestinians have control is barbaric.” These were the words from New Zealand’s Chief Human Rights Commissioner Stephen Rainbow.
During a meeting with Philippa Yasbek from Jewish Voices for Peace, Dr Rainbow allegedly told her that information from the NZ Security Intelligence Services (NZSIS) threat assessment asserted that Muslims were the biggest threat to the Jewish community. More so than white supremacists.
But the NZSIS has not identified Muslims as the greatest threat to national security.
In the 2023 threat environment report, NZSIS stated that it: “Does not single out any community as a threat to our country, and to do so would be a misinterpretation of the analysis.
“White Identity-Motivated Violent Extremism (W-IMVE) continues to be the dominant IMVE ideology in New Zealand. Young people becoming involved in W-IMVE is a growing trend.”
Religiously motivated violent extremism (RMVE) did not come from the Muslim community, as Dr Rainbow has also misrepresented.
The more recent 2024 NZSIS report stated: “White identity-motivated violent extremism (W-IMVE) remains the dominant IMVE ideology in New Zealand. Terrorist attack-related material and propaganda, including the Christchurch terrorist’s manifesto and livestream footage, continue to be shared among IMVE adherents in New Zealand and abroad.”
To implicate Muslims as being the greatest threat may highlight Dr Rainbow’s own biases, racist beliefs, and political agenda. These false narratives, that have recently been strongly pushed by the US and Israel, undermine social cohesion and lead to a rise in Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism.
It is also deeply troubling that he has framed Muslim and Arab communities as potential sources of violent extremism while failing to acknowledge the very real and documented threats they have faced in Aotearoa.
The Christchurch Mosque attacks — the most horrific act of mass violence in New Zealand’s modern history — were perpetrated not by Muslims, but against them, by an individual radicalised by white supremacist ideology.
Chief Human Rights Commissioner Dr Stephen Rainbow . . . “It is also deeply troubling that he has framed Muslim and Arab communities as potential sources of violent extremism while failing to acknowledge the very real and documented threats they have faced in Aotearoa.” Image: HRC
Since that tragedy, there have been multiple threats made against mosques, Arab New Zealanders, and Palestinian communities, many of which have received insufficient public attention or institutional response.
For a Human Rights Commissioner to overlook this context and effectively invert the victim-aggressor dynamic is not only factually inaccurate, but it also risks reinforcing harmful stereotypes and undermining the safety and dignity of communities who are already vulnerable.
Such narratives are inconsistent with the Human Rights Commission’s mandate to protect all people in New Zealand from discrimination and hate.
The dehumanisation of Muslims and Palestinians As part of Israel’s propaganda, anti-Muslim and Palestinian tropes are used to justify violence against Palestinians by framing us as barbaric, aggressive, and as a threat. We are dehumanised in order to normalise the harm they inflict on our communities which includes genocide, land theft, ethnic cleansing, apartheid policies, dispossession, and occupation.
In October 2023, Dan Gillerman, a former Israeli Ambassador to the UN, described Palestinians as “horrible, inhuman animals” and was perplexed with the growing global concern for us.
That same month Yoav Gallant, then Israeli Defence Minister, referred to Palestinians as “human animals” when he announced Israel’s illegal and horrific siege on Gaza that included blocking water, food, medicine, and shelter to an entire population, the majority of which are children.
In making his own remarks about the Muslim community being a “threat” in New Zealand as a collective group, and labelling Palestinians being “barbaric”, Dr Stephen Rainbow has shattered the credibility of the Human Rights Commission. He has made it very clear that he is not impartial nor is he representing and protecting all communities.
Instead, Dr Rainbow is exacerbating divisions within society. This is a worrying trend that we are witnessing around the world; the de-humanising of groups to serve political agendas, retain power, or seek public support for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Dr Rainbow’s appointment also points a spotlight onto this government’s commitment to neutrality and inclusiveness in its human rights policies. Allowing a high-ranking official to make discriminatory remarks undermines New Zealand’s commitment to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
A high-ranking official should not be allowed to engage in Islamic and Palestinian racist rhetoric without consequence. The public should be questioning the morals, principles, and inclusivity of those currently in power. Our trust is being eroded.
Dr Stephen Rainbow’s comments can also be seen as a breach of human rights principles, as he is supposed to uphold equality and non-discrimination. Yet his beliefs seem to be peppered with racism, often falsely based on religion, ethnicity, and race.
Foreign influence in New Zealand This incident also shines accountability and concerns for foreign influence and propaganda seeping into New Zealand. The Israel Institute of New Zealand (IINZ) has published articles that some perceive as dehumanising toward Palestinians.
“The Left has found a new underdog to replace the Jews — the Palestinians — in spite of the fact that the treatment of gay people, women, and political opponents wherever Palestinians have control is barbaric.”
By publicising these comments, The Israel Institute of New Zealand signalled its support of these offensive and racist serotypes. Such statements risk reinforcing a narrative that portrays Palestinians as inherently violent, uncivilised, and unworthy of basic rights and dignity.
This kind of rhetoric contributes to what many describe as anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian racism, and it warrants public scrutiny, especially when shared by organisations involved in shaping public discourse.
Importantly, the NZSIS 2024 threat report stated that “Inflammatory and violent language online can target anyone, although most appears directed towards those from already marginalised minority communities, or those affected by globally significant conflicts or events, such as the Israel-Gaza conflict.”
Other statements and reposts published online by the IINZ on their X account include:
“Muslims are getting killed, is Israel involved? No. How many casualties? Under 100,00, who cares? Why is this even on the news? Over 100,000. Oh, that’s too bad, what’s for dinner?” (12 February 2024)
“Fact. Gaza isn’t ‘ancestral Palestinian land’. We’ve been here long before them, and we’ll still be here long after the latest propaganda campaign.” (12 February 2024)
Palestinian society was also described as being “a violent, terror-supporting, Jew-hating society with genocidal aspirations.” (16 February 2025)
The “estimate of Hamas casualties, the civilian-to-combat death ratio could be as low as 1:1. This could be historically low for urban warfare.” (21 February 2025)
“There has never been a country called Palestine.” (25 February 2025)
Even showing a picture of Gaza before Israel’s bombing campaign with a caption saying, “Open air prison”. Next to it a picture of a completely destroyed Gaza with a caption that says “Victory.” (23 February 2025)
“Palestinian society in Gaza is in my eyes little more than a death loving cult of murderers and criminals of the lowest kind.” (28 February 2025)
Anti-Palestinian bias and racism Portraying Muslims and Palestinians as a threat and extremist reflects both Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian bias and potential racism. These statements risk dehumanising Palestinians and are typical of the settler colonial narrative used to erase indigenous populations by denying our history, identity and legal claim.
The IINZ has published content that many see as mocking the deaths of Palestinian Muslims and Christians, which is not only ethically questionable but can be seen as a complete lack of empathy.
And posting the horrific images of a completely destroyed Gaza, appears to revel in the suffering of others and contradicts basic ethical norms, such as decency and compassion.
There also appears to be a common theme among pro-Israeli organisations, not just the IINZ, that cast negative connotations on our national symbols including our Palestinian flag and keffiyeh.
In an article on the IINZ webpage, titled “A justified war”, they write “chorus of protesters wearing keffiyehs, waving their Palestinian and terrorist flags, and shouting about Israel’s alleged war crimes.”
It seemingly places the Palestinian flag — an internationally recognised national symbol– alongside so-called “terrorist flags,” suggesting an equivalence between Palestinian identity and terrorism. Many view this language as dehumanising and inflammatory, erasing the legitimate national and cultural characteristics of Palestinians and feeding into harmful stereotypes.
The Palestinian flag represents a people, their identity, and national aspirations.
There is nothing wrong with our keffiyeh, it is part of our national dress. The negative connotations of Palestinian cultural symbols have to stop, including vilifying other MPs or supporters who wear it in solidarity.
This is happening all too often in New Zealand and must be called out and addressed. Our keffiyeh is not just a scarf — it is a symbol of our Palestinian identity, our resistance, and our rich, historic and deeply rooted cultural heritage.
Pro-Israeli groups attack it because they aim to delegitimise Palestinian identity and resistance by associating it with violence, terrorism, or extremism.
In 2024, ISESCO and UNESCO both recognised the keffiyeh as an essential part of their Intangible Cultural Heritage lists as a way of safeguarding Palestinian cultural heritage and reinforcing its historical and symbolic importance.
As a safeguarded cultural artifact, much like indigenous dress and other traditional attire, attempts to ban or demonize it are acts of cultural erasure and need to be called out as such and dealt with accordingly.
In the same IINZ article titled “A Justified War”, the authors present arguments that appear to defend Israel’s military actions in Gaza, including the targeting of civilians.
Many within the community (most of us have been affected), including survivors and those with direct ties to the region, have found the article deeply distressing and feel that it lacks compassion for the victims of the ongoing violence, and the framing and tone of the piece have raised serious ethical concerns, especially as some statements are factually incorrect.
The New Zealand Palestinian communities affected by this unimaginable genocide are suffering. Our family members are being killed and are at threat daily from Israel’s aggression and illegal war.
Unfortunately, much rhetoric from this organisation aligns with Israeli state narratives and includes statements that some view as racist or immoral, warranting further scrutiny from the government.
There is growing public concern over the association of Human Rights Commissioner Dr Stephen Rainbow with the IINZ, which promotes itself as a research and advocacy body.
A Human Rights Commissioner requires neutrality and a commitment to protecting all communities from discrimination; aligning with Israel and publishing harmful rhetoric may lead to bias in policy decisions and discrimination.
It is also important to remember that we are not a monolithic group. Christian Palestinians exist (I am one) as well as Muslim and historically Jewish Palestinians. Christian communities have lived in Palestine for two thousand years.
This is also not a religious conflict, as many pro-Israeli groups wish the world to believe, and it is not complex. It is one of colonialism, dispossession, and human rights. A history that New Zealand is all too familiar with.
“A Human Rights Commissioner requires neutrality and a commitment to protecting all communities from discrimination; aligning with Israel and publishing harmful rhetoric may lead to bias in policy decisions and discrimination.” Image: HRC screenshot APR
The need for accountability Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith’s inaction and disrespectful response, claiming that a staunchly pro-Israeli supporter can be impartial and will be “very careful” from now on, hints that he may also support some forms of racism, in this case against Muslims and Palestinians.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith . . . “There needs to be accountability for Goldsmith. Why has he not removed Dr Rainbow from office and acted appropriately?” Image: NZ Parliament
You cannot address only some groups who are discriminated against but then ignore others, or accept excuses for racist, intolerable actions or statements. This is not justice.
This is the application of selective principles, enforced and underpinned by political agendas, foreign influence, and racism. Does Goldsmith understand that justice is as much about human rights, fairness and accountability as it is about laws?
Without accountability, there is no justice at all, or perhaps he too is confused or uncertain about his role, as much as Dr Rainbow seems oblivious to his?
There needs to be accountability for Goldsmith. Why has he not removed Dr Rainbow from office and acted appropriately? If Dr Rainbow had said that Jews were the biggest threat to Muslims or that Israelis were the biggest threat to Palestinians, would this government and Goldsmith have sat back and said, “he didn’t mean it, it was a mistake, and he has apologised”?
Questions New Zealanders should be asking are, what kind of Human Rights Commissioner speaks of entire peoples this way? What kind of minister, like Paul Goldsmith, looks at that and does very little?
What kind of Government claims to champion justice, while turning a blind eye to genocide? This is betraying the very idea of human rights itself.
Although we are a small country here in New Zealand, we have remained strong by upholding and standing by our principles. We said no to apartheid in South Africa. We said no to nuclear weapons in the Pacific. We said no to the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
And we must now say no to dehumanisation — anywhere. Are we a nation that upholds justice or do we sit on the sidelines while the darkest times in modern history envelopes us all?
The attacks against Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims must stop. We have already faced horrific acts of violence against us here in New Zealand and currently in Palestine. We need support and humanity, not dehumanisation, demonisation and cruelty. This is not what New Zealand is about, we must do better together.
There needs to be a formal enquiry and policy review to see if structural biases exist in New Zealand’s Human Rights institutions. This should also be done across some government bodies, including the Ministry of Education and Immigration NZ, to determine if there has been discrimination or inequality in the handling of humanitarian visas and how the Education Ministry has handled the complaints of anti-Palestinian discrimination at schools.
Communities have particular concern at how the curriculum in many schools deals with the creation of the state of Israel but is silent on Palestinian history.
Public figures should be held to a higher standard, with consequences for spreading racially charged rhetoric.
The Human Rights Commission needs to rebuild trust in our multicultural New Zealand society. The only way this can be done is through fair and just measures that include enforcement of anti-discrimination laws, true inclusivity and action when there is an absence of these.
We are living in a moment where silence is complicity. Where apathy is betrayal.
This is a test of whether New Zealand, Minister Goldsmith and this government truly uphold human rights for all, or only for some.
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – “Faced with the appalling injustice of evil, we never carry the cross of Christ in vain; on the contrary, it is the most tangible way for us to share in his redemptive love.” Under a gray sky, in St. Peter’s Square filled with pilgrims, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Vice Dean of the College of Cardinals, gave voice to the Pope by reading Pope Francis’ homily for Palm Sunday, the day that marks the beginning of Holy Week.The Pope, who is entering his fourth week of convalescence after being hospitalized for bilateral pneumonia, was absent from the ceremony, which began, as is tradition, with the blessing of olive and palm branches at the foot of the ancient obelisk in the center of St. Peter’s Square. From there, the procession continued to the square, decorated with olive trees.As last Sunday, at the end of the celebration, the Pope appeared unexpectedly on the square, greeted by long applause. “Happy Palm Sunday! Happy Holy Week!” These were the words spoken by the Pope, who, before returning to Casa Santa Marta, stopped to greet the Cardinals present and the authorities who had participated in the rite.[embedded content]In his commentary on today’s Gospel, that of the Passion according to Luke, Pope Francis, in the homily read by Cardinal Sandri, focused on the figure of Simon of Cyrene, the man who “while coming in from the countryside” was seized by the soldiers who then “laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.”The Pope described this action of carrying the cross as “ambivalent” because the man from Cyrene “was forced to carry the cross: he did not help Jesus out of conviction, but out of coercion.”On the other hand, “he then becomes personally involved in the Lord’s passion,” so that “Jesus’ cross becomes Simon’s cross. He was not the Simon, called Peter, who had promised to follow the Master at all times.That Simon disappeared on the night of betrayal, even after he had exclaimed: “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death”. Yet the Master had clearly taught: “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me”. Simon of Galilee spoke but did not act. Simon of Cyrene acts but does not speak. Between him and Jesus, there is no dialogue; not a single word is spoken. Between him and Jesus, there is only the wood of the cross.””The cross of wood that Simon of Cyrene bore is the cross of Christ, who himself bore the sins of all humanity,” the Pope emphasized, recalling that Christ carries the cross “for love of us, in obedience to the Father, he suffered with us and for us. It is precisely in this unexpected and astonishing way, Simon of Cyrene becomes part of the history of salvation, in which no one is a stranger, no one a foreigner.”And when “we see the great crowds of men and women whom hatred and violence are compelling to walk the road to Calvary, let us remember that God has made this road a place of redemption, for he walked it himself, giving his life for us. How many Simons of Cyrene are there in our own day, bearing the cross of Christ on their shoulders! Can we recognize them? Can we see the Lord in their faces, marred by the burden of war and deprivation?Faced with the appalling injustice of evil, we never carry the cross of Christ in vain; on the contrary, it is the most tangible way for us to share in his redemptive love.” Jesus’ passion “becomes compassion whenever we hold out our hand to those who feel they cannot go on, when we lift up those who have fallen, when we embrace those who are discouraged.””In order to experience this great miracle of mercy, let us decide how we are meant to carry our own cross during this Holy Week: if not on our shoulders, in our hearts. And not only our cross, but also the cross of those who suffer all around us; perhaps even the cross of some unknown person whom chance — but is it really chance? — has placed on our way. Let us prepare for the Lord’s paschal mystery by becoming each of us, for one another, a Simon of Cyrene,” the Pope concluded.In the text of the reflection prepared for the recitation of the Angelus, released for the ninth consecutive Sunday only in written form, the Pontiff thanks all the faithful for their prayers on his behalf: “At this time of physical weakness, they help me to feel God’s closeness, compassion and tenderness even more. I too am praying for you, and I ask you to entrust all those who suffer to the Lord together with me, especially those affected by war, poverty or natural disasters.”The Bishop of Rome then turned his thoughts to Santo Domingo: “May God receive in His peace the victims of the collapse of a building in Santo Domingo, and comfort their families.” Then the appeal for peace, beginning with Africa: “The 15th of April will mark the second sad anniversary of the beginning of the conflict in Sudan, in which thousands have been killed and millions of families have been forced to flee their homes. The suffering of children, women and vulnerable people cries out to heaven and begs us to act. I renew my appeal to the parties involved, that they may end the violence and embark on paths of dialogue, and to the international community, so that the help needed may be provided to the populations.And let us also remember Lebanon, where the tragic civil war began fifty years ago: with God’s help, may it live in peace and prosperity.””May peace come at last to martyred Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, the Democratic Republic of Congo, to Myanmar, to South Sudan. May Mary, Mother of Sorrows, obtain this grace for us and help us to live this Holy Week with faith,” is the plea at the end of Pope Francis’s text. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 13/4/2026)
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Cyprus and the UK are set to collaborate more closely on space activities following a successful bilateral event held in Nicosia on 27-28 March.
The first Cyprus-UK Bilateral Cooperation Event brought together representatives from the space sectors and governments of both countries, with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA).
The Cypriot Government used the event to announce its intention to join ESA as an Associate Member, a move which could unlock further growth in its space sector and greater collaboration with other ESA member states such as the UK.
Professor Anu Ojha, International Director at the UK Space Agency, said:
There is great potential for collaboration on space activities to add a new dimension to the UK’s strong partnership with Cyprus. This has never been more important, with space firmly established as a vital tool for driving economic growth, environmental protection and national security.
That’s why Cyprus has been working with ESA and growing its space sector to great effect over recent years, and we are looking forward to working very closely with them in the future.
Mr. George Komodromos, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, said:
The high-level dialogue and engagement among companies, as well as among delegations is encouraging and shows that we are moving in the right direction.
We are especially grateful for the UK’s continued support of our efforts to position ourselves within the global space ecosystem, a highly revolving and rapidly changing environment in a vastly changing world.
The event featured a number of working sessions on topics including regulation, the development of space strategies, commercial development and future missions and opportunities within ESA.
Cypriot universities and companies shared information on national space projects in areas such as Earth observation, satellite research and digital infrastructure. Ten UK space companies, alongside fourteen Cypriot entities, delivered presentations on their growing capabilities, while ESA representatives explained the potential funding programmes that could support future joint UK-Cyprus initiatives.
The UK is a founding member of ESA, which currently has 23 member states. In addition, Cyprus is one of four countries with a cooperation agreement with ESA, signed in 2016, aiming to achieve Associate Membership in ESA by 2026.
The UK Space Agency will host a reciprocal visit by the Cypriot government, academics and companies later this year, and both countries will work together to map existing capabilities and identify areas for future collaboration.
Kaltura (Nasdaq: KLTR), the AI Video Experience Cloud, announced the Kaltura TV Genie has won the Product of the Year for Streaming at the 2025 NAB Show Awards. This official awards program recognizes some of the most significant and promising new products and technologies showcased by exhibitors at NAB Show.
Kaltura’s TV Genie enables media and telecommunication companies to offer AI-powered, hyper-personalized lean-forward viewing experiences for audiences, as well as streamline their operations through the enhancement and automation of content enrichment and curation.
TV Genie uses advanced AI to analyze a user’s real-time mood and feedback, their preferences, and more, learning their behavior to generate more accurate and tailored viewing recommendations, transforming endless content searches into instant engaging discovery. It makes a broader range of content accessible to wider audiences with automatic translation and improved navigation through advanced content chaptering, allowing users to easily skip to their desired viewing moments.
Beyond generating hyper-personalized recommendations for users, TV Genie helps streaming services create better content for their viewers, automatically curating and suggesting content in real-time for editors based on their catalogue and current trends – driving continuous and ongoing engagement.
“AI is transforming the entire content lifecycle – from creation to discovery to consumption – driving down costs and boosting viewer engagement and revenue,” said Natan Israeli, Chief Customer Officer at Kaltura. “We’re honored by this recognition from NAB and remain committed to innovating AI technologies that deliver hyper-personalized viewing experiences.”
NAB Show Product of the Year Award Winners were selected by a panel of industry experts in 16 categories and announced in a live awards ceremony at NAB Show on April 8. To be eligible for an award, nominated products had to come from companies exhibiting at the 2025 NAB Show and be delivered within the 2025 calendar year.
“NAB is proud to recognize the industry’s top work driving a remarkable range of solutions opening new frontiers and shaping the future of content creation, distribution and monetization,” said Eric Trabb, senior vice president and chief customer success officer at NAB. “Congratulations to Kaltura on earning the 2025 NAB Show Product of the Year Award for its TV Genie— a breakthrough solution transforming a pivotal stage of the content lifecycle and empowering storytellers to meet today’s challenges while shaping the future of media.”
Click here for more information about the 2025 NAB Show Product of the Year Awards.
Learn more about Kaltura AI-infused video solutions, here
About Kaltura
Kaltura’s mission is to create and power AI-infused hyper-personalized video experiences that boost customer and employee engagement and success. Kaltura’s Video Experience Cloud includes a platform for enterprise and TV content management and a wide array of Gen AI-infused video-first products, including Video Portals, LMS and CMS Video Extensions, Virtual Events and Webinars, Virtual Classrooms, and TV Streaming Applications. Kaltura engages millions of end-users at home, at work, and at school, boosting both customer and employee experiences, including marketing, sales, and customer success; teaching, learning, training and certification; communication and collaboration; and entertainment, and monetization. For more information, visit www.corp.kaltura.com.
About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America’s broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.
About NAB Show
NAB Show is the preeminent conference and exhibition driving the evolution of broadcast, media and entertainment, held April 5-9, 2025 (Exhibits April 6-9) in Las Vegas. Produced by the National Association of Broadcasters, NAB Show is the ultimate marketplace for next-generation technology inspiring superior audio and video experiences. From creation to consumption, across multiple platforms, NAB Show is where global visionaries convene to bring content to life in new and exciting ways. Learn more at NABShow.com.
The financial close for Quail Ranch includes $243 million of construction loans; COD is expected towards the end of 2025
Enlight’s three U.S. projects now under construction have a combined capacity of 1.4 FGW and are projected to generate total annual revenues of $135-140 million
TEL AVIV, Israel, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd. (“Enlight”, “the Company”, NASDAQ: ENLT, TASE: ENLT.TA), a leading global renewable energy platform, announces the financial close for project Quail Ranch (“Quail Ranch” or “the Project”), located near Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. The Company, through its U.S. subsidiary Clenera Holdings LLC, has secured $243 million in construction financing commitments for the Project.
Combining 128 MW solar generation with 400 MWh of battery storage capacity, Quail Ranch is scheduled for completion towards the end of 2025. Offtake for both generation and storage volumes is secured by a 20-year busbar PPA with the Public Service Company of New Mexico (“PNM”).
The Project is an expansion of Atrisco, which commenced commercial operation in 2024. The shared infrastructure between the two sites accelerated Quail Ranch’s development and will reduce construction and operating costs. Both projects are situated on a desert plateau at an elevation of 1,800 meters, offering optimal solar generation conditions.
Quail Ranch’s financial close joins those of Roadrunner and Country Acres, two other projects now under construction in the U.S., which have achieved a total of $1.5 billion in financing over the past four months with the same consortium of lenders. The three projects have a combined capacity of 1.4 FGW and are expected to generate annual revenues of $135-140 million and EBITDA of $100-110 million when commencing operations in 2025-2026.
The financial close was led by a consortium of four global banks, including BNP Paribas Securities Corp, Crédit Agricole, Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking, and Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale (Nord/LB). Upon the Project’s COD, the construction loan is expected to convert into a $120 million term loan. The Project is expected to be eligible for the Energy Community Tax Credit Bonus, and the Company anticipates finalizing a tax equity transaction during 2025.
Gilad Yavetz, CEO of Enlight, said, “We are proud to have achieved the exceptional milestone of three significant financial closings within such a short timeframe, completing the funding for the second wave of Enlight’s U.S. projects. When operational, they will join Atrisco and Apex to generate combined annual revenues of approximately $200 million in the U.S. Quail Ranch completed its financial close after the administration announced its new tariff policy, demonstrating the project’s strength and the Company’s preparedness for this scenario.
“Additionally, Enlight is focused on advancing the development of two additional megaprojects in the western U.S. with a combined capacity of 2.6 FGW, and which are located in areas with some of the highest solar irradiation in the country. The new projects are part of the Company’s third wave in the U.S., and construction is expected to begin in the coming months.”
“I am very proud to partner with world-leading banks and complete a third major funding package this year,” said Adam Pishl, CEO and President of Clenera. “We continue to demonstrate our ability to bring high-quality projects banks remain excited about, despite market turbulence. Quail Ranch builds on our incredible success in New Mexico and will help meet the high demand for power to fuel American businesses and homes.”
About Enlight Renewable Energy
Founded in 2008, Enlight develops, finances, constructs, owns, and operates utility-scale renewable energy projects. Enlight operates across the three largest renewable segments today: solar, wind and energy storage. A global platform, Enlight operates in the United States, Israel and 10 European countries. Enlight has been traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange since 2010 (TASE: ENLT) and completed its U.S. IPO (Nasdaq: ENLT) in 2023. Learn more at www.enlightenergy.co.il.
Investor Contact
Yonah Weisz Director IR investors@enlightenergy.co.il
Erica Mannion or Mike Funari Sapphire Investor Relations, LLC +1 617 542 6180 investors@enlightenergy.co.il
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements as contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s expectations relating to the Project, the PPA and the related interconnection agreement and lease option, and the completion timeline for the Project, are forward-looking statements. The words “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “target,” “seek,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “contemplate,” “possible,” “forecasts,” “aims” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: our ability to site suitable land for, and otherwise source, renewable energy projects and to successfully develop and convert them into Operational Projects; availability of, and access to, interconnection facilities and transmission systems; our ability to obtain and maintain governmental and other regulatory approvals and permits, including environmental approvals and permits; construction delays, operational delays and supply chain disruptions leading to increased cost of materials required for the construction of our projects, as well as cost overruns and delays related to disputes with contractors; our suppliers’ ability and willingness to perform both existing and future obligations; competition from traditional and renewable energy companies in developing renewable energy projects; potential slowed demand for renewable energy projects and our ability to enter into new offtake contracts on acceptable terms and prices as current offtake contracts expire; offtakers’ ability to terminate contracts or seek other remedies resulting from failure of our projects to meet development, operational or performance benchmarks; various technical and operational challenges leading to unplanned outages, reduced output, interconnection or termination issues; the dependence of our production and revenue on suitable meteorological and environmental conditions, and our ability to accurately predict such conditions; our ability to enforce warranties provided by our counterparties in the event that our projects do not perform as expected; government curtailment, energy price caps and other government actions that restrict or reduce the profitability of renewable energy production; electricity price volatility, unusual weather conditions (including the effects of climate change, could adversely affect wind and solar conditions), catastrophic weather-related or other damage to facilities, unscheduled generation outages, maintenance or repairs, unanticipated changes to availability due to higher demand, shortages, transportation problems or other developments, environmental incidents, or electric transmission system constraints and the possibility that we may not have adequate insurance to cover losses as a result of such hazards; our dependence on certain operational projects for a substantial portion of our cash flows; our ability to continue to grow our portfolio of projects through successful acquisitions; changes and advances in technology that impair or eliminate the competitive advantage of our projects or upsets the expectations underlying investments in our technologies; our ability to effectively anticipate and manage cost inflation, interest rate risk, currency exchange fluctuations and other macroeconomic conditions that impact our business; our ability to retain and attract key personnel; our ability to manage legal and regulatory compliance and litigation risk across our global corporate structure; our ability to protect our business from, and manage the impact of, cyber-attacks, disruptions and security incidents, as well as acts of terrorism or war; changes to existing renewable energy industry policies and regulations that present technical, regulatory and economic barriers to renewable energy projects; the reduction, elimination or expiration of government incentives for, or regulations mandating the use of, renewable energy; our ability to effectively manage our supply chain and comply with applicable regulations with respect to international trade relations, the impact of tariffs on the cost of construction and our ability to mitigate such impact, , sanctions, export controls and anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws; our ability to effectively comply with Environmental Health and Safety and other laws and regulations and receive and maintain all necessary licenses, permits and authorizations; our performance of various obligations under the terms of our indebtedness (and the indebtedness of our subsidiaries that we guarantee) and our ability to continue to secure project financing on attractive terms for our projects; limitations on our management rights and operational flexibility due to our use of tax equity arrangements; potential claims and disagreements with partners, investors and other counterparties that could reduce our right to cash flows generated by our projects; our ability to comply with tax laws of various jurisdictions in which we currently operate as well as the tax laws in jurisdictions in which we intend to operate in the future; the unknown effect of the dual listing of our ordinary shares on the price of our ordinary shares; various risks related to our incorporation and location in Israel; the costs and requirements of being a public company, including the diversion of management’s attention with respect to such requirements; certain provisions in our Articles of Association and certain applicable regulations that may delay or prevent a change of control; and other risk factors set forth in the section titled “Risk factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and our other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC.
These statements reflect management’s current expectations regarding future events and speak only as of the date of this press release. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. Except as may be required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
In response to the court decision allowing deportation proceedings for Mahmoud Khalil to continue, Justin Mazzola, Deputy Director of Research at Amnesty International USA, said:
“This decision by the court sends a painfully chilling message to anyone living in the United States – under the Trump administration, free speech is only reserved for the few and not for all.
“Let’s be clear, this is a dangerous step towards further repression of freedom of expression and the right to protest for everyone in the U.S. on any issue.
“Targeting and threatening peaceful protesters and their immigration or residency status flies in the face of human rights.
“The continued targeting of immigrant students and communities – from silencing their speech to arbitrarily shackling people and sending them to cruel prisons in El Salvador without any due process – further pushes people deeper in the shadows in fear that they could be next.
“What the Trump administration has done to Mahmoud Khalil and too many other students across the country is to leverage the mass deportation machine in service of silencing dissent at home and crushing advocacy to stop the ongoing war crimes and genocide by Israel against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip. At the same time, the U.S. is continuing to provide weapons to the Israeli government.
“Colleges and universities across the country should protect their students and faculty who wish to express their opinions freely without the threat of arrest, detention, and deportation by the Trump administration.
“Far too many students are now facing a similar fate. This is nothing but racism.
“While Mahmoud Khalil has been unlawfully and arbitrarily detained, including in one of the harshest ICE facilities in the country, he remains a lawful permanent resident with the rights to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, and due process—rights that all who live in the U.S., regardless of immigration status, unquestionably have.
“Amnesty International will continue to strongly advocate for Mahmoud Khalil and all students and faculty being unjustly targeted by this administration’s racist policies.”
AMSTERDAM, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Theta Capital, the largest European investor in blockchain venture capital, has published its annual report on venture capital investment in blockchain technology, “The Satellite View”, synthesizing insights from leading venture capitalists and founders on the forces shaping blockchain investing in 2025.
Spanning institutional adoption, AI’s convergence with crypto, the rise of real-world blockchain infrastructure (DePIN), and the next evolution of consumer applications, the report distills complex trends into actionable investor takeaways, separating signal from noise in one of the most transformative years in the industry’s history.
The Satellite View is compiled from Theta Capital’s annual Legends4Legends event on blockchain technology and its investment opportunities with the top minds in the industry. The report presents bold predictions from leading experts including many of the crypto-native venture funds Theta invests in, with insights on the blockchain industry, investment opportunities, themes and strategies. Unlike other industry reports, The Satellite View is written by investors for investors, offering exclusive insights from top venture capitalists and founders.
The report focuses on five key takeaways from 2025’s biggest shifts:
How stablecoins, tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) & institutional DeFi are becoming core components of global financial infrastructure.
How AI relies on blockchain to unlock global resource networks, ensuring transparency, security and economic coordination in a “less-centralized” AI future.
Why Decentralized Physical Infrastructure (DePIN) is set for a breakout year, transforming energy, data, and connectivity markets.
How blockchain infrastructure maturing is opening the path for consumer applications to deliver better-than-Web2 quality user experiences.
How crypto is reshaping attention markets, where behavior as content and social engagement merge into investable assets.
“2025 is not just another market cycle—it’s a year of structural transformation. Institutions are integrating digital assets at scale, AI is leveraging crypto for coordination and verifiability, and the era of real-world blockchain infrastructure has arrived,” said Ruud Smets, Managing Partner & CIO at Theta Capital. “The Satellite View is built for investors who need to understand the full picture of where the industry is going.”
The report highlights a critical turning point in the digital asset space: the merger of traditional financial markets and crypto is no longer theoretical—it’s happening now.
Stablecoins now hold hundreds of billions in U.S. Treasuries, solidifying their role as key sources of global liquidity.
Tokenized markets for equities, bonds, and real estate are moving from pilots to mainstream adoption.
Banks and asset managers are leveraging blockchain for trading, settlement, and collateralization, integrating crypto into core financial infrastructure.
Leading figures from the space who participated included J. Christopher Giancarlo (Former CFTC Chairman), Lasse Clausen (Founding Partner, 1kx), Nic Carter (Founding Partner, Castle Island), Robert Mitchnick (Head Digital Assets, BlackRock), Vance Spencer (Co-Founder, Framework Ventures), Jon Charbonneau (Co-Founder, DBA), Alex Pack (Managing Partner, Hack VC), Olaf Carlson-Wee (Founder, Polychain Capital), Andrej Radonjic (Founder, Grass), Balder Bomans (Managing Partner, Maven 11), Christopher Perkins (President, CoinFund), Min Teo (Co-Founder, Ethereal Ventures), Franklin Bi (General Partner, Pantera Capital), Catrina Wang (General Partner, Portal Ventures), Nick Tomaino (Founder, 1confirmation), Mike Zajko (Co-Founder, Lattice Capital), Tarun Chitra (Managing Partner, Robot VC and CEO, Gauntlet), Michael Jordan (Co-Founder, DBA), Clay Robbins (CEO, Colosseum), Tyler Spalding (President, Acronym Foundation), Carlos Pereira (Partner, BITKRAFT), Hootie Rashidifard (Founder, Hash3), Mike Dudas (Managing Partner, 6MV), Shaishav Todi (General Partner, Lemniscap) and Jason Kam (Founder, Folius Ventures).
Whether you’re a venture capitalist, hedge fund manager, institutional allocator, or entrepreneur, The Satellite View provides the strategic clarity needed to navigate 2025’s evolving landscape. The full report is now available. For access, visit https://thetacapital.com/the-satellite-view/ or contact info@thetacapital.com.
ENDS
About Theta Capital
Founded in 2001, Theta Capital Management has been among the earliest and largest institutional investors globally to invest in blockchain technology, having deployed capital in the space since January 2018. Theta Capital works with over 45 deeply specialized VC partners leading to more than 1,000 venture style investments in the technology. Deep domain expertise has led to a leading position in the universe of crypto-native venture capital.
China-made new energy vehicles are becoming popular in overseas markets, which is expected to fuel the upward spiral of the country’s vehicle exports.
In March, NEV makers operating in the country, including foreign ones such as Tesla, shipped more than 143,000 vehicles overseas, up 6.4 percent compared with same period last year, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association.
The continuous rise came when exports of passenger cars fell 8 percent to 391,000 units that month.
For NEVs, Europe and Southeast Asia are among the top destinations. Last week, BYD introduced its alternative premium brand, Denza, to the European market with a brand launch in Milan, Italy.
Denza unveiled the Z9 GT station wagon at the Milan Design Week, which ran from April 6 to 13. The model is expected to hit European showrooms in the fourth quarter.
The model impressed attendees with its signature features, including parking assist, high-speed tire blowout stability control, extreme steering capabilities, a tight turning circle, and intelligent crab walking capabilities.
Since 2024, the brand has entered several Asian markets, including China’s Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It also plans to enter dozens of European countries within the next two years.
State-owned GAC also made a splash at the Milan Design Week, where the Aion UT made its European debut. The electric hatchback, born in the carmaker’s Milan Advanced Design Center, harmonizes Italian design aesthetics with local market preferences.
Among other things, it features a 14.6-inch central touch screen, an 8.88-inch digital instrument display, and Level 2 driving assistance.
Its second-generation Magazine Battery enables fast charging from 30 percent to 80 percent in just 24 minutes. Analysts say the model will take on local European models like the Volkswagen ID.3.
Thomas Schemera, chief operating officer of GAC International, said: “By empowering production through design, we aim to deliver products with outstanding design, top-tier quality, and pioneering technology — ultimately creating better mobility experiences for European consumers.”
The growing popularity of Chinese NEVs is expected to boost the country’s total vehicle exports this year.
The trade conflict between the United States and China won’t have much effect on domestic automakers, as the US is a tiny market for Chinese cars, the CPCA said.
China shipped a total of 6.41 million vehicles overseas in 2024, a surge of 23 percent year-on-year. The top five countries driving China’s growth in vehicle exports were Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Belgium and Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, some carmakers are stepping up efforts to produce vehicles in overseas markets.
Chery was the first to establish a European manufacturing plant. Located in Barcelona, Spain, the plant will produce Chery’s Omoda 5 SUV, among other models.
Chery, the partner of British premium carmaker Jaguar Land Rover, is also planning to set up a $1 billion plant in Turkiye, Bloomberg reported in late March, citing the country’s industry ministry.
It will make EVs and components at the new facility in Samsun, which will have an annual production capacity of 200,000 vehicles, said the media group.
These strategic moves underscore Chinese automakers’ dedication to establishing a robust international presence, leveraging technological innovation, and localized production to navigate the complexities of global trade and meet diverse consumer preferences, said analysts.
At a recent investment promotion event in north China’s Tianjin Municipality, Turkish businessman Mehmet Sahin was seen exchanging business cards with entrepreneurs from Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries.
This undated file photo shows a view of the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone in Ain Sokhna district of Suez province, Egypt. (TEDA Investment Holding Co., Ltd./Handout via Xinhua)
“I really appreciate attending this event,” said Sahin, vice president of global purchasing and logistics at Hattat Holding A.S., a Turkish company engaged in energy, automotive, agricultural and real estate development. He noted his assurance that the event would help him meet with potential Chinese and Russian investors and cooperation partners.
The China-SCO Sustainable Development Industrial Investment Promotion Event, which concluded on Friday, saw Sahin’s company engage in negotiations with the China Coal Technology & Engineering Group to explore investment opportunities in potential coal-cleaning projects.
Broader cooperation with Chinese enterprises is also underway in sectors such as engine assembly, production and sales, as well as wind power generation, according to Sahin.
“This event has been a good start, and the upcoming SCO summit will further promote mutual understanding and future planning among all participating countries,” he said.
China will host an SCO summit in Tianjin this autumn. Among the summit’s advance events, the promotional event Sahin attended has brought fresh momentum to economic and trade cooperation between China and SCO member states, observer states and dialogue partners.
Türkiye, Sri Lanka, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia were among the participating SCO dialogue partners.
During the event, the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone disclosed significant progress.
The Tianjin TEDA Electric Power Company announced a partnership with SCZone Utilities S.A.E., and revealed that the China-Africa TEDA Investment Co., Ltd., which developed the cooperation zone, will build a 200-megawatt substation.
This critical infrastructure project aims to resolve power supply constraints for major projects in the cooperation zone, lower business costs for enterprises while drawing in premium investors, and accelerate industrial clustering in the zone, according to Wang Weihua, general manager of the Tianjin TEDA Electric Power Company.
Established in 2008, the zone has become Egypt’s most competitive industrial hub, serving as a benchmark of China-Egypt cooperation.
“Tianjin TEDA is one of our best partners,” said Ahmed Salaheldin Abdelfattah Elhomosani, general manager of SCZone Utilities S.A.E., noting that the cooperation zone has attracted a significant amount of investment.
Trade between China and SCO member states, observer states and dialogue partners came in at a record high of 890 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, accounting for approximately 14.4 percent of China’s total foreign trade that year, according to official statistics.
The third edition of InnoEX, a four-day innovation and technology expo, kicked off in Hong Kong on Sunday, spotlighting cutting-edge advancements in AI, robotics, low-altitude economy, cybersecurity, and smart mobility.
Co-organized by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the event aims to foster global collaboration in tech innovation, focusing on the theme of “Innovate, Automate and Elevate”.
Sun Dong, secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, said the expo brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and tech leaders worldwide through exhibitions, networking sessions, and seminars, creating opportunities for international partnerships.
HKTDC Executive Director Margaret Fong said this year’s InnoEX features over 500 exhibitors from 17 countries and regions, including first-time participants such as Australia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates, alongside expanded showcases from Japan, Thailand, and the UK.
Running concurrently, the 21st Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) focuses on smart home solutions, health tech, and wearable devices.
As core events of Hong Kong’s International I&T Business Week 2025, the twin expos have drawn more than 2,800 exhibitors from 29 countries and regions.
Ida Liu, marketing director of Seagull (Suzhou) Flying Car Limited, said in an interview that the company is leveraging Hong Kong’s global connectivity to expand its international presence and explore partnerships.
Derek Chim, head of Startup Ecosystem and Development at Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), said the InnoEX has become a flagship innovation and technology exhibition in Asia, attracting industry experts, investors and buyers from around the world.
“We will seize this opportunity to accelerate the expansion of tech enterprises in the Asia-Pacific region and global markets,” he added.
The expo also features four themed days, each hosting forums on trending tech topics, further enriching the exchange of ideas.
Samsung Electronics today announced the addition of five new Young Leaders to Generation17, an initiative in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that supports young changemakers driving progress to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the ‘Global Goals.’
Since launching Generation17 in 2020, Samsung and UNDP have supported Young Leaders from across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and North America, addressing critical issues that span all 17 Global Goals. The partnership has provided these Young Leaders with the latest Samsung Galaxy technology, along with networking and mentorship opportunities, to amplify their stories and advance their work. The newest cohort, focused on advancing solutions in marine conservation, environmental sustainability, gender equality and quality education, reflects Samsung’s continued commitment to a more equitable future for all.
“As we accelerate efforts to achieve the Global Goals, we are proud to welcome the next cohort of Young Leaders to Generation17,” said Stephanie Choi, EVP & Head of Marketing, Mobile eXperience Business, Samsung Electronics. “Their passion, creativity and commitment to addressing global challenges embody the spirit of innovation that fuels meaningful change. We look forward to seeing how these five new Young Leaders will leverage technology for good to inspire action, mobilize communities and create lasting impact for a more sustainable and equitable world.”
Five Global Changemakers
The newest Generation17 Young Leaders were selected from hundreds of applicants and bring new areas of expertise to the initiative, expanding the reach of Generation17. As members of the Generation17 community, they will leverage technology and global platforms to advocate for the issues that matter most to them.
Brigitta Gunawan (Indonesia) — An ocean-climate advocate who has engaged with over 15,000 people in 100+ locations with environmental education and marine conservation opportunities through her organizations 30×30 Indonesia and Diverseas.
“At 17, it struck me that we were nothing but a small speck in a big world that remains largely unexplored — that if we continued as bystanders, we would see this fragile ecosystem cripple within our lifetime — so there I was, ready to co-create a future where people and planet prosper.”
José Francisco Ochoa (Ecuador) — A biologist and co-founder of Academia del Océano, an edtech platform promoting marine conservation, digital tools and sustainability in Spanish-speaking communities, equipping thousands with the tools to protect marine ecosystems.
“The ocean sustains life, yet many don’t realize how deeply connected we are to it. We must embrace innovation, education and collective action to protect our blue planet before it’s too late.”
Renata Koch Alvarenga (Brazil) — Founder and Executive Director of EmpoderaClima, a youth-led organization advocating for climate justice by addressing the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and promoting girls’ climate action.
“Climate disasters are exacerbating gender inequality, but through the Global Goals, we can raise awareness of the need for women’s leadership in climate decision-making and ensure no one is left behind.”
Rahaf Abu Mayyaleh (Jordan) — A climate activist, sustainable technology advocate and founder of IBTKRGO, which develops eco-friendly educational kits using recyclable materials, including e-waste, to empower youth with digital skills.
“Green technology is key to a sustainable future, and young innovators have the power to lead this transformation. Through IBTKRGO, I strive to bridge the gap between technology and sustainability, ensuring solutions that serve both people and the planet.”
Soumya Dabriwal (India) — Co-founder of Project Baala, a social enterprise addressing menstrual hygiene and reproductive health access through innovative solutions, including the sustainable distribution of reusable sanitary products and educational initiatives to de-stigmatize women’s health while generating employment for women.
“Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) is a fundamental human right. Through collective advocacy and innovation, we can break barriers, challenge stigmas and build a world where everyone has the freedom and resources to make informed choices about their own bodies and futures.”
Elevating Youth Voices for Global Action
Since the launch of Generation17 in 2020, Samsung and UNDP have partnered to empower Young Leaders — helping them amplify their stories and accelerate their efforts to drive meaningful change in communities across the world. Additionally, the initiative provides opportunities for Young Leaders to showcase their impact on a global scale.
In the coming months, these Young Leaders will attend various major global events, where they will engage with policymakers, innovators and fellow changemakers. Through these platforms, they will contribute to international conversations on sustainable development and drive tangible progress toward the Global Goals, ensuring that youth voices play a crucial role in shaping a more sustainable future.
This year, Generation17 alum Tamara Gondo took the stage at Samsung’s Galaxy Tech Forum, highlighting the company’s commitment to sustainability and the power of collaboration with like-minded partners to tackle worldwide challenges. She also shared how the initiative has helped scale her organization’s impact since she joined in 2022.
“Young people are the future of global development, and with fewer than five years left to achieve the Global Goals, the time to act is now,” said Achim Steiner, Administrator of UNDP. “Through our long-standing partnership with Samsung, we are empowering youth to advance solutions that address climate and human rights challenges and to inspire a new generation to join the fight for a more sustainable and just future.”
Generation17 reflects the shared commitment of Samsung and UNDP to harness technology for positive impact. Their collaboration began in 2019 with the launch of the Samsung Global Goals App — a mobile platform that educates users about the Goals while enabling them to contribute through everyday use of their Galaxy devices. As detailed in Samsung’s Global Goals Report, as of September 2024, the app has been installed on nearly 300 million Samsung Galaxy devices worldwide — including smartphones, tablets and smartwatches — and has helped generate more than $20 million USD to support UNDP’s global environmental and social initiatives.
About UNDP
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with a broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, UNDP helps nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at www.undp.org.
About Generation17
Generation17 is an initiative from Samsung and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that elevates the voices of Young Leaders who are changing the world and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or ‘Global Goals.’ Samsung and UNDP are providing mentorship, technology and networking opportunities for the Young Leaders as they advance their work. Learn more at www.undp.org/generation17.
Iran said on Sunday that its indirect negotiations with the United States held in Oman were focused solely on Tehran’s nuclear program and the removal of U.S. sanctions, ruling out any discussion of other issues.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told state television that Iran’s stance in the talks remained unchanged, centering on lifting sanctions and preserving its nuclear rights.
The talks, held on Saturday between Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, were conducted through intermediaries.
Baghaei added that Iran remained committed to preserving its nuclear infrastructure and achievements, while also demonstrating its willingness to engage in dialogue to assure the international community of the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities.
“Iran considers itself obligated to use all legal and diplomatic tools to safeguard its legitimate rights as a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a signatory to the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) safeguards agreements,” he said.
Speaking to reporters in Muscat after the meeting, Araghchi described the first round of talks as “constructive” and held in a “calm and respectful atmosphere.”
“No inappropriate language was used, and both sides showed commitment to pursuing the negotiations from an equal footing toward a mutually beneficial agreement,” he said.
He added that a second round of talks was scheduled for the following Saturday, likely at a different venue.
The Muscat discussions followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement in March that he had sent a letter to Iranian leaders via the United Arab Emirates proposing nuclear talks.
Iran later confirmed receiving the letter and expressed openness to indirect engagement.
Iran signed the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with six world powers, namely, the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France, and Germany, agreeing to curb its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Washington unilaterally withdrew from the pact in 2018 and reimposed sanctions, prompting Tehran to scale back its nuclear commitments.
Efforts to revive the deal have so far failed to make significant progress.
The Total accounts column represents the number of Financial Accounts held by foreign tax residents; it does not represent the number of foreign tax residents holding accounts. An account holder may be a tax resident of multiple jurisdictions, so accounts may be reported more than once.
The Balance ($A) column represents the total balance or value of the Financial Assets held in the accounts. The figure includes:
cash
securities
bonds
commodities
partnership interests
debt interests and equity interests.
Where an account is held by more than one account holder, the balance or value is attributed in full to each account holder. Where an account is held by a passive non-financial entity, such as a trust, the value of the equity interest is attributed in full to each controlling person. These accounts will be reported in the Total accounts and Balance ($A) columns more than once.
Table: CRS statistics tabled by the Minister
Jurisdiction
Total Accounts
Balance (AUD)
Afghanistan
11070
$95,581,415
Aland Islands
693
$3,871,473
Albania
728
$10,764,088
Algeria
515
$10,363,535
American Samoa
555
$7,413,499
Andorra
1355
$101,244,778
Angola
296
$10,861,848
Anguilla
166
$1,170,312
Antigua and Barbuda
234
$3,613,577
Argentina
43207
$239,451,920
Armenia
725
$5,711,104
Aruba
510
$18,999,978
Austria
16740
$394,878,370
Azerbaijan
893
$29,236,263
Bahamas
1044
$232,452,443
Bahrain
1944
$70,119,634
Bangladesh
29473
$229,111,457
Barbados
378
$15,992,240
Belarus
564
$6,673,642
Belgium
11622
$328,051,334
Belize
141
$1,882,633
Benin
147
$4,016,713
Bermuda
802
$1,003,121,189
Bhutan
33564
$129,472,928
Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
644
$4,267,066
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
65
$320,289
Bosnia and Herzegovina
1015
$18,562,691
Botswana
1551
$74,047,155
Brazil
115912
$665,938,179
Brunei Darussalam
4830
$175,136,606
Bulgaria
1168
$30,359,474
Burkina Faso
209
$6,083,998
Burundi
359
$1,251,294
Cabo Verde
57
$801,533
Cambodia
13543
$310,460,409
Cameroon
286
$12,837,192
Canada
131945
$4,655,911,312
Cayman Islands
1261
$2,287,140,562
Central African Republic (The)
65
$1,886,237
Chad
47
$1,931,612
Chile
34790
$184,569,286
China
1168312
$35,846,564,031
Colombia
117549
$329,328,309
Comoros
202
$1,192,041
Congo (Democratic Republic of The)
955
$15,603,703
Congo (The)
592
$5,826,658
Cook Islands
966
$15,755,625
Costa Rica
737
$9,190,245
Cote d’Ivoire
154
$12,847,535
Croatia
2570
$91,851,975
Cuba
270
$3,587,708
Curacao
63
$489,577
Cyprus
2728
$174,738,630
Czech Republic
5737
$138,163,643
Denmark
13370
$711,421,080
Djibouti
56
$94,469
Dominica
118
$20,557,976
Dominican Republic
6717
$219,006,335
Ecuador
4375
$24,093,968
Egypt
7828
$130,461,587
El Salvador
549
$4,583,826
Equatorial Guinea
43
$5,787,039
Eritrea
574
$3,235,597
Estonia
5283
$19,768,874
Ethiopia
2203
$22,578,132
Falkland Islands [Malvinas]
100
$662,808
Faroe Islands (The)
45
$320,055
Fiji
33661
$418,588,501
Finland
7518
$243,196,353
France
88770
$1,312,556,582
French Guiana
63
$1,169,649
French Polynesia
1466
$144,692,251
Gabon
95
$254,579
Gambia
98
$1,040,902
Georgia
519
$14,078,846
Germany
97566
$2,136,961,996
Ghana
3662
$45,920,708
Gibraltar
271
$98,559,288
Greece
18433
$874,732,119
Greenland
34
$1,090,263
Grenada
45
$860,469
Guadeloupe
59
$1,397,246
Guam
567
$22,049,141
Guatemala
609
$4,477,478
Guernsey
709
$188,289,280
Guinea
467
$16,333,658
Guinea-Bissau
22
$52,235
Guyana
145
$5,865,208
Haiti
79
$3,315,500
Holy See (The)
31
$223,543
Honduras
284
$3,912,750
Hong Kong
417259
$19,652,979,316
Hungary
4166
$89,013,732
Iceland
706
$9,559,465
India
541071
$3,337,392,017
Indonesia
141551
$2,447,310,574
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
25484
$220,602,656
Iraq
5657
$47,263,403
Ireland
99386
$1,184,004,246
Isle of man
755
$77,412,757
Israel
14404
$870,500,826
Italy
61111
$1,042,858,008
Jamaica
502
$10,346,693
Japan
122031
$2,930,986,700
Jersey
1191
$1,500,635,721
Jordan
3192
$51,114,032
Kazakhstan
2762
$76,557,742
Kenya
19121
$167,004,133
Kiribati
1728
$27,628,158
Korea (The Democratic People’s Republic of)
1300
$11,985,623
Korea (The Republic of)
120329
$692,796,653
Kuwait
2278
$59,151,943
Kyrgyzstan
253
$10,798,328
Lao Peoples Democratic Republic
3950
$56,663,831
Latvia
662
$19,990,384
Lebanon
4658
$77,228,058
Lesotho
76
$1,552,742
Liberia
331
$7,577,445
Libya
321
$5,848,095
Liechtenstein
115
$2,373,413
Lithuania
1572
$17,114,640
Luxembourg
1269
$1,281,207,061
Macao
8485
$557,432,905
Madagascar
302
$4,468,823
Malawi
602
$7,546,068
Malaysia
207495
$9,736,791,971
Maldives
1145
$9,633,668
Mali
204
$6,447,711
Malta
3940
$266,412,830
Marshall Islands (The)
142
$267,119,933
Martinique
54
$348,133
Mauritania
107
$2,254,652
Mauritius
7436
$190,515,176
Mayotte
43
$89,402
Mexico
12583
$107,075,070
Micronesia (Federated States of)
147
$15,869,862
Moldova (The Republic of)
251
$2,923,446
Monaco
655
$148,818,123
Mongolia
18288
$90,339,348
Montenegro
244
$25,032,609
Montserrat
5287
$264,020,964
Morocco
919
$34,620,243
Mozambique
551
$16,987,061
Myanmar
10713
$94,691,582
Namibia
852
$28,134,752
Nauru
1258
$71,353,711
Nepal
151948
$530,415,177
Netherlands (The)
38960
$5,741,717,769
New Caledonia
14843
$946,289,722
New Zealand
593810
$13,924,735,966
Nicaragua
212
$1,863,857
Niger (The)
118
$4,131,203
Nigeria
8518
$59,998,862
Niue
63
$457,441
Northern Mariana Islands (The)
86
$1,940,793
Norway
12085
$116,151,200
Oman
2919
$53,732,678
Pakistan
40606
$233,873,735
Palau
90
$2,489,305
Palestine, State of
490
$4,307,127
Panama
817
$22,319,621
Papua New Guinea
20645
$1,000,357,988
Paraguay
611
$4,606,315
Peru
8102
$93,464,956
Philippines
149788
$1,081,032,048
Pitcairn
42
$2,255,280
Poland
10216
$183,398,727
Portugal
8340
$364,367,730
Puerto Rico
111
$1,240,149
Qatar
5561
$199,292,806
Republic of North Macedonia
2098
$48,970,081
Reunion
198
$5,016,186
Romania
2257
$33,817,593
Russian Federation
13479
$311,237,493
Rwanda
349
$2,900,073
Saint Barthelemy
43
$132,991
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
19
$53,689
Saint Kitts and Nevis
164
$65,704,365
Saint Lucia
99
$11,339,027
Saint Martin (French part)
24
$1,272,193
Saint Vincent and The Grenadines
54
$648,955
Samoa
5642
$12,252,804
San Marino
22
$225,736
Sao Tome and Principe
16
$47,212
Saudi Arabia
17461
$290,408,054
Senegal
246
$17,019,253
Serbia
2765
$61,671,117
Seychelles
747
$66,081,694
Sierra Leone
518
$59,985,702
Singapore
216492
$16,932,866,043
Sint Maarten (Dutch)
44
$2,030,457
Slovakia
2683
$34,211,553
Slovenia
1143
$31,256,112
Solomon Islands
5670
$107,624,274
Somalia
419
$883,615
South Africa
85705
$3,036,112,507
South Sudan
409
$1,439,169
Spain
34964
$615,458,859
Sri Lanka
59417
$496,470,828
Sudan
1369
$9,428,890
Suriname
99
$808,495
Swaziland
491
$11,837,248
Sweden
24838
$395,550,321
Switzerland
27602
$2,522,289,323
Syrian Arab Republic
3146
$16,259,175
Taiwan (Province of China)
215091
$5,182,123,415
Tajikistan
150
$6,070,527
Tanzania, United Republic of
1483
$28,785,672
Thailand
115526
$1,671,533,990
Timor-Leste
5625
$103,220,105
Togo
50
$392,068
Tokelau
34
$94,511
Tonga
10335
$27,905,071
Trinidad and Tobago
429
$10,964,301
Tunisia
505
$42,954,529
Turkey
12815
$123,250,809
Turkmenistan
80
$269,557
Turks and Caicos Islands (The)
62
$12,992,454
Tuvalu
332
$24,161,951
Uganda
1469
$26,010,162
Ukraine
6358
$57,835,515
United Arab Emirates
34016
$1,525,677,609
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (The)
Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)
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JINHAE NAVAL BASE, Republic of Korea (April 9, 2025) Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Ernest Smith, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1, and a Republic of Korea navy diver are lowered into the ocean inside of a diving bell that is launched from the inside of the Tongyeong-class salvage and rescue ship ROKS Gwangyang (ATS-32), during a joint dive and salvage exercise in the harbor of Jinhae Naval Base, Republic of Korea, April 9, 2025. Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73 sustains the U.S. Navy’s maritime forces and is responsible for all diving and salvage operations in the Western Pacific in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jordan Jennings
Date Taken:
04.09.2025
Date Posted:
04.13.2025 22:26
Photo ID:
8971756
VIRIN:
250409-N-YV347-1066
Resolution:
8256×5504
Size:
34.72 MB
Location:
JINHAE, KR
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This work, Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1 conducts dive training with the Republic of Korea Navy’s Sea Salvage and Rescue Unit during SALVEX Korea 2025 [Image 17 of 17], by PO2 Jordan Jennings, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1 conducts dive training with the Republic of Korea Navy’s Sea Salvage and Rescue Unit during SALVEX Korea 2025
Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)
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JINHAE NAVAL BASE, Republic of Korea (April 10, 2025) U.S. Navy Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nick Blankshine, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1, communicates with submerged divers as they conduct an underwater search during a joint dive and salvage exercise in the harbor of Jinhae Naval Base, Republic of Korea, April 10, 2025. Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73 sustains the U.S. Navy’s maritime forces and is responsible for all diving and salvage operations in the Western Pacific in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jordan Jennings)
Date Taken:
04.10.2025
Date Posted:
04.13.2025 22:26
Photo ID:
8971763
VIRIN:
250410-N-YV347-1263
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This work, Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1 conducts dive training with the Republic of Korea Navy’s Sea Salvage and Rescue Unit during SALVEX Korea 2025 [Image 17 of 17], by PO2 Jordan Jennings, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1 conducts dive training with the Republic of Korea Navy’s Sea Salvage and Rescue Unit during SALVEX Korea 2025
Secretary of the Ministry of Minority Affairs Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar is currently on a visit to Saudi Arabia to review preparations being made for Haj 2025.
Dr. Kumar expressed satisfaction over the hygienic, stress-free stay facilities being ensured for a smooth pilgrimage experience.
Leaving no stone unturned for a comfortable #Haj2025 – Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, GoI, Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, is on a visit to Saudi Arabia to review arrangements for Indian #HajPilgrims. He expressed satisfaction over the hygienic, stress-free stay facilities… pic.twitter.com/uLelSz4QyB
— Ministry of Minority Affairs (@MOMAIndia) April 11, 2025
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Welcome Dinner of InnoEX 2025 today (April 12):
Margaret (the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Ms Margaret Fong), å¾�常委 (Member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Ms Xu Xiaolan), 任秘書長 (the Secretary General of the World Internet Conference (WIC), Mr Ren Xianliang), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Hello! ä½ å¥½! What a thrill to have you all here this evening! A very warm welcome to friends from around the world to the InnoEX 2025 in Hong Kong.
This welcome dinner is a prelude to the InnoEX 2025, Hong Kong’s signature exhibition on innovation & technology (I&T) to start tomorrow. Also an anchor event of our vibrant Business of Innovation and Technology Week (BIT Week), InnoEX 2025 can be “digitised” into the magic figure of “12345” –
1 vision to connect global I&T power;
2 much to anticipate;
3 years in a row;
4 incredible days of a full programme from April 13 to 16; and
5 frontier tech areas we are going to focus on.
InnoEX returns stronger and bigger this year, from countries and regions – from Hong Kong, Macao, and 16 Mainland provinces and cities, to France, Canada, India, the United Kingdom, Japan, Korea, and across ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations). Joining us first-time also include those from Australia, the UAE (United Arab Emirates), Malaysia, Sweden, and Luxembourg.
To the familiar faces and all new friends, thank you so much for bringing your tech, your creativity and your interest to our city!
This year’s theme of InnoEX – “Innovate • Automate • Elevate” says it all: only with innovation powering the engine, automation steering the course, our journey towards a more prosperous economies and societies could be elevated to the next higher level.
The five tech areas we focus this year, namely artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, low-altitude economy, and smart mobility, are the components of this autonomous vehicle, leading us to a better and smarter future.
Indeed, these aren’t just tech and small parts of an engine. They fundamentally change the way we work, connect, interact and grow. They change how we see the future.
And right here at InnoEX, you’ll see how these agents are applied in different places around the globe, and how ideas translate into impact on industries and people.
As the brand InnoEX implies, Hong Kong is also witnessing the exponential power of innovation. We may be like a GPU (graphics processing unit) in terms of physical size, but Hong Kong is huge in terms of innovative power – top-notch R&D (research and development), five world-class universities, 16 State Key Laboratories, and a staunch supporter of free economy and international partnerships. This is how we fuel novel ideas, groom talents, attract investment, and build an increasing robust I&T ecosystem.
And we believe innovation thrives when people come together – across sectors and borders, and blending cultures and values. That’s what the BIT Week and InnoEX are all about: a global stage with no boundaries and limits. This spirit of connection is echoed at the World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit happening soon at this convention centre.
So this evening, we are here to start conversations; to cultivate friendships; and to scale possibilities. Whether you are a policymaker, buyer, exhibitor or tech leader – there is always a space here in InnoEX for you to spark something big.
Before I close, my heartfelt thanks to our incredible partner, HKTDC, and my fellow colleagues at the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau and the Digital Policy Office for their hard work. You have made this possible.
To our guests: please enjoy the evening, get ready for four exciting days ahead, and make the best out of InnoEX! Thank you.