An estimated 2,000 miners had been trapped underground after police blocked food and water from families and supporters in an attempt to force them into surrendering for arrest. In total, 87 died, many from starvation or dehydration, according to civic groups. Some survivors reportedly resorted to eating cockroaches or the flesh of their deceased colleagues to survive.
Illegal miners, known as “zama zamas” in South Africa, are people who enter mining sites without authorization to extract leftover gold and other minerals, often under dangerous and exploitative conditions.
This incident highlights the current failures in security governance at abandoned mining sites. Rather than ensuring safety and protecting lives, the police response contributed to the scale of the tragedy.
To prevent similar tragedies, security governance at abandoned or closed mining sites must be improved, and inclusive policies that address employment needs must be implemented.
A dangerous occupation
As more mining sites in South Africa and across the world reach the end of their life cycles, the number of mine closures will increase, along with the need for more effective security governance.
The value of remaining minerals, combined with the dearth of alternatives to sustain livelihoods, has led some people to engage in illegal artisanal mining, despite the significant risks involved.
Current enforcement efforts are doing little to address the decades of poor post-mine closure management. South Africa’s Petroleum and Mineral Resources Development Act requires mining companies to rehabilitate sites after closure, although compliance is sporadic, leaving communities and ecosystems at risk.
The Buffelsfontein incident is a grim reminder that security governance cannot rely solely on policing tactics. Addressing the worsening socioeconomic cycle of miners trapped in abandoned and uncontrolled mines will require governments, companies and local communities to build stronger relationships before crises arise.
The Petroleum and Mineral Resources Development Act should be amended so mining permits are only granted when firms provide a mine closure security plan. This plan must include physical barriers like fencing and sealed shafts, with local communities involved in security enforcement. Funding would come from an independent relinquishment fund via annual contributions over the active lifespan of the mine to an interest-earning annuity held by a local financial institution and monitored by government and civil society.
Security efforts should combine private security firms with community-based approaches, including hiring local residents in monitoring roles. This approach will foster trust, create jobs, improve security governance and enhance environment, social and governance (ESG) investment ratings.
Drawing from successful models in other countries like Chile, drones, unmanned aerial vehicles and artificial intelligence monitoring methods can help monitor and secure high-risk areas. When used ethically, such technologies can reduce unauthorized mining activities.
With unemployment in South African mining regions exceeding 40 per cent, governments and the private sector must focus on renewable energy, agriculture and entrepreneurship as economic alternatives for mining communities. Germany’s Emscher Park Project, for instance, has transformed coal mining regions into renewable energy hubs that create jobs and revitalize local economies. South Africa can also repurpose abandoned mining sites for such initiatives.
The Buffelsfontein tragedy should serve as a wake-up call: security governance must evolve from punitive enforcement to proactive protection. Providing alternative livelihoods to illegal mining weakens criminal networks, removes dangerous working conditions, reduces environmental harms and saves lives.
Though Canada is considered a mining superpower, it could learn valuable lessons from South Africa’s experience. Adopting our suggested solutions could help Canada address its own abandoned mine risks and ensure a more sustainable future for its mining communities.
Andrew Grant has received grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Benjamin Ofosu-Atuahene has received funding in the form of an Ontario Graduate Scholarship.
Olusola Ogunnubi has received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
Video of the speech is available HERE.
Santa Fe, N.M. – On Presidents’ Day, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) delivered remarks to a joint session of the New Mexico Legislature at the New Mexico State Capitol.
“It’s always an honor to be back at the Roundhouse. As a proud son of New Mexico, I grew up witnessing the dedication and hard work of those who serve in the State Legislature. Through my dad and his colleagues, I learned the importance of working together, standing up for what’s right, and serving our fellow New Mexicans. I’ll always be a strong voice for our state, and I’m grateful for the partnership of the legislature.
“My job is to serve the people of New Mexico. Just last year, through constituent services, we saved New Mexicans millions of dollars—helping families, veterans, and small businesses navigate federal agencies. My team is committed to going above and beyond for our communities.
“I had the privilege of welcoming several guests for my address. One of them was Mariah Solano from Santa Fe. She had been denied life-saving cancer treatment by her insurance, but my office intervened. Thanks to the quick efforts of everyone involved, I’m happy to share that she is now receiving the care she needs. Another guest, Leo Maes, a beloved New Mexico musician, faced a life-altering medical emergency while traveling abroad, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. My office worked closely with the State Department to coordinate his treatment and bring him home. Today, thanks to the grace of God and the incredible care of New Mexico’s medical professionals, he is not only recovering but walking again.
“No matter our political differences, our shared values and traditions as New Mexicans unite us. In challenging times, like those we face today, we must stand together, speak up, and look out for one another.”
BILLINGS — The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana today announced the departure of U. S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich, effective yesterday.
Mr. Laslovich has served as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the District of Montana since being sworn into office on June 2, 2022. President Joe Biden nominated Mr. Laslovich for the position on Jan. 31, 2022, and the U.S. Senate confirmed him on May 17, 2022.
As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Laslovich oversaw all federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation on behalf of the U.S. government. The district has offices in Helena, Great Falls, Missoula, Butte, and Billings.
“It has been the honor of my life to serve as the United States Attorney for the state that raised me. I am profoundly grateful to the talented and hard-working people in this office, as well as our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners who strive every day to uphold the rule of law, keep people safe, and steadfastly defend the interests of the United States of America. I have never been prouder to have served with them, and I will always be rooting hard for their continued safety and success,” Mr. Laslovich said.
During Mr. Laslovich’s tenure, the U.S. Attorney’s Office focused on prosecuting drug trafficking and violent and sexual abuse crimes occurring on Montana’s six Indian Reservations that are within federal jurisdiction for major crimes; building strong partnerships with other federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement agencies; addressing violent and firearms crimes in communities across the state through initiatives like Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF); and protecting civil rights for all Montanans. The office continued its work to protect children from online and in person sexual predators, abusers, and traffickers, and to catch fraudsters, especially those who prey on elderly and vulnerable persons.
Mr. Laslovich also emphasized the importance of strong working relationships with numerous law enforcement agencies at the local, state, tribal and federal levels. Mr. Laslovich and office representatives met regularly with tribal leadership to discuss various issues. The office also worked closely with other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners and organizations to strengthen trust, communications, and cooperation in working toward the shared goal of keeping people safe and holding offenders accountable.
In Indian Country, the U.S. Attorney’s Office worked with tribal and federal law enforcement partners to shut down trafficking rings attempting to set up bases on Montana reservations and enlist residents to distribute drugs transported from outside Montana. One of those cases involved dismantling a large, multi-state drug trafficking organization that was based on Crow Indian Reservation property known as Spear Siding and distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl to three other Montana Indian reservations and communities from suppliers in Washington and a Mexican cartel. The case resulted in federal convictions in Montana of 27 persons and was one of the largest federal drug trafficking investigations in Montana.
Additionally, a recent six-month-long enforcement initiative led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, in cooperation with Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Indian Affairs Reservation, led to indictments of multiple individuals on drug crimes. The enforcement action was aimed at identifying hot spots and devoting law enforcement resources to communities facing rising rates of drug-related violent crime and overdose deaths.
During the last three years, federal prosecutors remained committed to making communities across Montana safer by identifying and prosecuting the most dangerous offenders through initiatives like PSN and OCDETF. In Great Falls, a multi-agency investigation into a large fentanyl trafficking ring led to a coordinated take down of suspects and convictions of 10 individuals.
During Mr. Laslovich’s tenure, prosecutions of individuals on federal firearms crimes increased significantly. The average number of defendants charged with illegal possession of a firearm averaged 111 cases a year from 2022 through 2024, compared with an average of 83 cases per year from 2014 to 2021. And the number of defendants charged with carrying a firearm in relation to a crime of violence or drug trafficking also increased to an average of 56 cases a year from 2022 to 2024 from an average of 40 cases per year from 2014 to 2021.
Additionally, Mr. Laslovich oversaw the launch in Montana of United Against Hate, a Justice Department initiative focused on improving the prevention of hate crimes and hate incidents by building relationships at the local level. Laslovich and the office’s civil rights coordinator and prosecutor held a series of community meetings across the state with law enforcement partners, community and faith organizations, tribal communities, and citizens to discuss identifying and reporting hate crimes and to learn about available resources. Further, the office successfully prosecuted a Basin man on federal hate and firearms crimes after he fired an AK-style assault rifle at the residence of a woman, who identified as lesbian, and was home at the time. The defendant was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
The office’s civil team continued its work defending the United States in litigation, collecting debts owed to the federal government, and investigating fraud. As part of that work, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reached a civil settlement agreement in 2024 between the federal government and St. Peter’s Health, in Helena, in which St. Peter’s agreed to pay $10,844,201 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims for payments to federal health care programs for services performed by an oncology doctor.
Prior to becoming U.S. Attorney, Mr. Laslovich served as regional vice president for SCL Health Montana-Wyoming since 2017. From 2009 to 2016, Mr. Laslovich was chief legal counsel in the office of the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, where he prosecuted securities fraud cases. During 2011 and 2012, Laslovich also served as a special assistant U.S. attorney on securities cases in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana. He previously worked in the Montana Attorney General’s Office. Mr. Laslovich began his legal career at Datsopoulos, MacDonald & Lind, P.C. in Missoula and taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Montana School of Law for two semesters.
As one of the youngest Montanans ever elected to the Montana Legislature, Mr. Laslovich first served in the House of Representatives from 2001 through 2004 and then in the Senate from 2005 to 2010, representing Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Granite, and Powell counties.
Mr. Laslovich received his J.D. from the University of Montana School of Law in 2006 and his B.A., with high honors, from the University of Montana in 2003.
The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.
About 15% of the global population live with disabilities and face significant challenges in education and employment. To ensure equitable opportunities, the education system and the workplace need to be remodelled.
How can we effectively remove barriers and support equal access and opportunities for all?
Speakers: David Edwards, Islam Alijaj, Urs Gredig, Shanti Raghavan, Katy Talikowska, Alois Zwinggi
The 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will provide a crucial space to focus on the fundamental principles driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability.
This Annual Meeting will welcome over 100 governments, all major international organizations, 1000 Forum’s Partners, as well as civil society leaders, experts, youth representatives, social entrepreneurs, and news outlets.
The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.
World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
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Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
South Dorset MP Lloyd Hatton has visited the Winfrith Site to see how a cutting-edge robotic laser is taking apart the site’s Dragon reactor core.
Laser cutting the Dragon reactor neck ring
South Dorset MP Lloyd Hatton has visited the Winfrith Site to see how a cutting-edge robotic laser is taking apart the site’s Dragon reactor core.
MP Lloyd Hatton commented: “It was a privilege to visit the Winfrith site and witness first-hand the remarkable work being done to decommission the Dragon reactor. The innovation and dedication displayed by the team is truly impressive. The work at Winfrith is integral, both to making the UK’s nuclear waste safe, and to moving the country towards a cleaner and greener future.”
Inside the Dragon reactor control room
Pictured left to right – MP Lloyd Hatton, Andy Philps, Gary Reid, William Matheson, Ellanor Joyce and Robert Coan.
Winfrith site was constructed in the 1950s as a centre of excellence for nuclear reactor research which laid the basis for the development of nuclear power. Seven of the nine unique experimental reactors have been removed – the final two Dragon and the Steam Generated Heavy Water Reactor (SGHWR) are being decommissioned.
Dragon was a prototype 20-megawatt power output graphite moderated, helium cooled reactor. It began testing nuclear fuel and materials to support high temperature reactor programmes in 1964 – the year that Top of the Pops began, Beatlemania was global and the Forth Road suspension bridge opened in Scotland.
Early decommissioning removed the redundant plant components and equipment from the 100ft diameter cylindrical Dragon building, following defueling in the late 1990s. All that remains is the irradiated steel reactor pressure vessel and its core.
Driving innovation
The feasibility of using laser technology to cut the reactor core’s varying material types and thicknesses was initially tested on mock-up components at the Welding Institute, Cambridge. Further testing followed with a full-scale mock-up at Winfrith site.
Technical data and learning from these trials were then applied to perform keyhole surgery using a snake robot (Lasersnake) to remotely cut a three-tonne heat exchanger vessel known as the Purge Gas Pre-cooler (PGPC) from Dragon’s highly radioactive reactor core in 2018. This was a first for the UK nuclear industry and its success proved laser cutting as the principal technique for reactor core dismantling over the use of alternative hot cutting techniques.
The purge gas pre-cooler being removed in 2018
Phoebe Lynch, NRS strategic innovation programme manager, said: “Driving innovation into our mission is our greatest opportunity at NRS. All the learning from the initial operational phase of using laser cutting for the Dragon reactor core provided valuable insights into the feasibility, reliability and safety of this technique. These have been applied to refine the process to deliver this new phase of reactor core dismantling efficiently and pave the way for its broader adoption within the industry.”
Progress
The skilled team of operators have removed almost half of the one-inch-thick carbon steel plates that form the Top Ring Thermal Shield into removable sections using a telescopic mast-manipulator robotic arm and a laser cutter from a control room located outside the reactor building.
The laser cutting head cell
Laser cutting the Dragon reactor top ring thermal shield
Andy Philps, NRS senior project manager, commented: “It is fantastic to start the core dismantling after years of meticulous in-house engineering design, planning and decommissioning of the sub-systems in preparation for this phase.
“Once the upper shielding structures are removed, we will have access to the top of the reactor pressure vessel and then the core within.”
Waste management
This is the first of eleven phases to fully dismantle the Dragon reactor core over the next few years and pack it into 6m3 concrete intermediate level waste storage boxes. These will then be transported to Harwell site for storage until the national Geological Disposal Facility is available for permanent disposal.
A Meet the Council event will be held on Tuesday 11 March at the Assembly Rooms on George Street between 10:00am and 2:00pm.
Local businesses are encouraged to register in advance to secure a space to the drop-in, with opportunities throughout the day to meet with key Council teams and hear about opportunities for business growth.
Offering a single point of access for business support, the event will bring together Council officers from: • Building standards • Business Gateway • Commercial property • Cultural events • Economic development • Edinburgh Convention Bureau • Environmental health • Film Edinburgh • Forever Edinburgh • JET (Jobs, Education & Training) • Licensing • Non-Domestic Rates • Parental Employability Support • Planning • Procurement • The Edinburgh Employer Recruitment Incentive • The Edinburgh Guarantee • Trading standards • Visitor Levy
Throughout the day, external partners will also be on hand to present and share their expertise, including: • Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, an independent membership organisation which supports over 1,000 organisations who employ more than 120,000 staff in the Capital • British Business Bank, a government-owned economic bank specialised in helping businesses in the UK access financial support • Federation of Small Businesses, a non-profit organisation that helps small businesses and the self-employed • Capital City Partnership, the anchor delivery body for Edinburgh’s employability strategy, working together to tackle inequality and poverty • Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network, which works to create opportunities for Edinburgh’s Social Enterprise community to develop and thrive • Forth Green Freeport, Scotland’s largest opportunity to deliver a just transition to net zero, to attract significant inward investment, to build international trade and export capability, and to create high quality and well paid jobs.
Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said:
Edinburgh continues to have the strongest local economy outside of London and the highest number of registered Living Wage employers in Scotland. The entrepreneurialism, success and resilience of Edinburgh business owners contributes hugely to what makes our City of Edinburgh a unique and special place to live and work.
We would like to work much more closely with the business community in offering meaningful support, understand more fully the views, concerns and aspirations of business owners and work jointly in securing a vibrant, sustainable, and resilient economic future for Edinburgh.
We recognise that the current economic climate is challenging, and in working together with businesses and other partners, there is much we can do collectively to grow and sustain Edinburgh’s economy, promote the benefits of Fair Work, and become a fairer city for all. That’s why the Council is hosting this opportunity for businesses to meet us face-to-face and engage with our staff teams across a variety of services which support business.
Whether you’re looking for advice on funding, navigating licensing, or exploring how we can support employers, this event is an ideal place to connect directly with the right people, who can provide the advice and support you need.
The Meet the Council event is designed to support Edinburgh’s business community and help foster a thriving, greener, and fairer economy – as outlined in the Council’s Business Plan 2023-27.
From July 1 to December 31, 2024, officers from Saskatchewan’s municipal Crime Reduction Teams (CRTs) and Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team (STRT) seized 67 firearms, more than 23 kilograms of methamphetamine and nearly 2.5 kilograms of fentanyl from Saskatchewan communities. Officers also charged 89 people with a total of 475 criminal charges.
“These numbers highlight the tireless efforts of our specialized policing teams in Saskatchewan and the positive impact they are having on our neighbourhoods and communities,” Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod said. “We are proud to continue supporting provincial law enforcement initiatives, and we are grateful for the work that is done by our municipal police services every day in support of community safety and wellbeing.”
There are currently three municipal CRT and STRT teams operating out of Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon. CRTs are dedicated to targeting street gangs and prolific offenders while responding to urban and rural crime surges when needed. STRT investigates illegal weapons, drugs and human trafficking cases.
“Crime is more complex than ever, and we need to be able to respond to the changing needs of our community,” Regina Police Service Chief Farooq Sheikh said. “Collaborating with government and community partners allows us to respond more effectively. This ongoing funding is a great example of how working together we can keep our communities safe.”
Between July and December 2024, municipal STRTs opened 19 human trafficking files and initiated 21 human trafficking interventions.
On November 27, 2024, members of the Saskatoon Police CRT investigated a case of suspected drug trafficking, resulting in the seizure of:
$69,000 CAD;
approximately 16 kilograms of methamphetamine;
470 grams of powdered cocaine;
175 grams of carfentanyl;
4 litres of gamma-hydroxybutyrate;
16 grams of fentanyl; and
assorted paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking.
As a result of this investigation, 15 charges were laid related to the possession of controlled substances and the proceeds of crime over $5,000.
“The Saskatoon Police Service is appreciative of provincial funding and support that allows us to enhance our policing efforts, invest in critical resources, and ensure our officers have the tools they need to keep our neighbourhoods safe,” Saskatoon Police Service Chief Cameron McBride said. “It is not just an investment in law enforcement – it is an investment in the safety and wellbeing of all of our communities.”
On October 24, 2024, during the execution of two search warrants, the Prince Albert Police Service CRT charged two individuals and seized over 1,200 grams of cocaine, more than $39,000 cash, over 1,300 grams of cutting agent, two firearms and other evidence related to drug trafficking.
“The provincially funded CRTs and STRTs continue to play a critical role in enhancing public safety across the province, including Prince Albert,” Prince Albert Police Service Chief Patrick Nogier said. “These specialized units provide the resources and flexibility needed for officers to focus on 21st century policing initiatives. In Prince Albert, their ongoing efforts have substantially contributed to reducing drug trafficking, removing illegal firearms and disrupting organized crime. This sustained impact reflects the dedication of the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety in supporting proactive policing initiatives that protect our communities and promote long-term public safety.”
Farmer confidence has risen to its highest level in over a decade, rebounding from record lows in recent years.
Federated Farmers’ latest Farm Confidence Survey shows falling interest rates, rising incomes and more favourable farming rules have all played a major role in that improvement.
“I’ve definitely noticed a significant shift in the mood of rural New Zealand. Farmers are feeling a lot more positive,” Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says.
“The last few years have been bloody tough for a lot of our farming families, with falling incomes, rising interest rates and unpaid bills starting to pile up on the kitchen bench.
“At the same time, we’ve also been struggling with an incredibly challenging regulatory environment and farming rules that haven’t always been practical, affordable or fair.
“These survey results paint a clear picture of a sector finally able to breathe a sigh of relief as some of that weight is lifted.”
The January survey shows farmers’ confidence in current general economic conditions has surged from a deeply negative -66% in July 2024 to a net positive score of 2%.
This marks the largest one-off improvement since the question was introduced in 2016.
Meanwhile, a net 23% of farmers now expect better economic conditions over the next year – the highest confidence level since January 2014.
There has also been a sharp lift in profitability, with 54% of farmers now reporting making a profit – double the number in the last survey six months ago.
Langford says it’s important to note that, despite confidence being at its highest point in more than a decade, it’s still only just in the positive.
“It’s been a remarkable recovery in farmer confidence over a short period of time, but I’m very conscious that we were coming off an extremely low base.
“We’ve come a long way, but there’s a long way to go yet. Federated Farmers will keep pushing hard to cut costs out of farmers’ businesses and reduce some of that regulatory burden.”
The survey results show regulation and compliance costs remains the greatest concern for farmers, followed by interest rates and banks, and input costs.
“When it comes to farmer confidence, a lot of it comes down to what’s coming into our bank account, and what’s going out the other side. It’s a simple equation,” Langford says.
“A lot of that is market driven, and farmers are used to riding those highs and lows, but Government rules and regulations have a significant impact on farmers’ costs.
“Those compliance costs really can make or break your season and have a significant impact on a farmer’s confidence to keep investing in their business.
“The Government have made a great start cutting through red tape for farmers and repealing a lot of the most unworkable rules, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.”
Interest rates and banking issues have consistently been a top concern for farmers, which is why Federated Farmers fought so hard for a banking inquiry, Langford says.
“Interest payments are a huge cost for most farming businesses and farmers have been under massive pressure from their banks in recent years.
“We want to see the Government take a much closer look at our banking system and whether farmers are getting a fair deal from their lenders.”
The survey shows farmers’ highest priorities for the Government are the economy and business environment, fiscal policy, and reducing regulatory burdens.
“If the Government are serious about their ambitious growth agenda and doubling exports over the next decade, this is where they need to be focusing their energy,” Langford says.
“For farmers to have the confidence to invest in our businesses, employ more staff, and grow our economy, we need to have confidence in our direction of travel as a nation too.
“As a country, we’re never going be able to regulate our way to prosperity, but with the right policy settings, we might just be able to farm our way there.”
The report’s key findings include:
–General economic conditions (current):Farmer confidence has surged by 68 points since July 2024, rebounding from a deeply negative -66% to a net positive score of 2%. This marks the largest one-off improvement since the question was introduced in 2016.
–General economic conditions (expectations):Optimism is rising, with net expectations increasing by 29 points since January 2024. A net 23% of farmers now anticipate better conditions over the next year-the highest confidence level seen since January 2014.
–Farm profitability (current):The number of farmers making a profit has doubled since the last survey, with 54% of farmers now reporting a profit-up from just 27%. The net profitability score has surged by 60 points, the strongest turnaround since July 2022.
–Farm profitability (expectations):Confidence in future profitability continues to climb, with a net 31% of farmers expecting improvement over the next 12 months-a 41-point increase since July 2024. This is the highest forward-looking profitability score since July 2017.
–Farm production (expectations):A net 16% of farmers expect production to increase in the next year, extending a positive trend. This marks the first time since 2016/17 that there have been three consecutive periods of predicted growth.
–Farm spending (expectations):Spending intentions have strengthened, with a net 23% of farmers planning to increase spending over the next 12 months-up 26 points from July 2024. This is the strongest expected rise since January 2023.
–Farm debt (expectations):41% of farmers plan to reduce their debt in the next year, up from 23% in July 2024. Lower interest rates, improved confidence, and stronger production forecasts are driving this shift.
–Ability to recruit (experienced):Hiring challenges persist, with a net 16% of respondents reporting difficulty recruiting skilled staff in the past six months, largely unchanged from July 2024. However, this is the least difficult period for recruitment since July 2012.
–Greatest concerns (current):The top concerns for farmers remain Regulation & Compliance Costs, Debt, Interest & Banks, and Input Costs.
–Highest government priorities:Farmers want the Government to prioritise the Economy & Business Environment, Fiscal Policy, and reducing Regulatory Burdens.
In our last Congress.gov post, Emily announced that Statute Compilations are now available on Congress.gov. Today, we are excited to announce enhancements to the Congressional Globe on Congress.gov that continue the process of migrating the Globe from our legacy Century of Lawmaking site.
The Globe is a predecessor to the Congressional Record and it covers the years 1833-1873, which means that it includes debates on many significant events in American history, including the Civil War and a portion of Reconstruction. You can locate the Congressional Globe by clicking on the browse page at the top of the screen, selecting a Congress between the 23rd – 42nd Congresses, and then taking a look under the heading “Debates of Congress.”
The Globe is legacy data that is not yet full-text searchable, so it is a good idea to use the indexes for the volumes to locate what you are interested in. If you have a particular date in mind, you can also select“Browse by Date.” For instance, you could find congressional reactions to a significant Civil War battle by browsing any debates that took place shortly after the battle. I used the browse-by-date feature to locate a reaction to the first Battle of Bull Run by Rep. Wright.
Map of the Battles of Bull Run Near Manassas. Solomon Bamberger. (1861). World Digital Library, https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.wdl/wdl.2743
Though the Globe is not yet full-text searchable, it is possible to search the page headings of the Globe by selecting “Congressional Record” in the dropdown menu on the Congress.gov homepage, typing in your search terms, and then at the bottom left-hand side of the results screen, clicking on the “Debates of Congress Edition” filter, and selecting “Congressional Globe.” Here is an example of search results concerning debates on the Civil War that have the page heading “Defense of the Union.”
When you select a page you would like to read, you will see a page-turner that has controls at the top that allow you to jump to a certain page using a dropdown menu, turn the page using the arrow buttons, zoom in on the page using the + or – buttons, or download the page. Continuing with the Civil War and Reconstruction theme, this example demonstrates the page-turner with a speech beginning at the bottom, right-hand side of the page by Hiram Revels, the first African American senator who served as a senator from Mississippi from 1870 to 1871.
Hiram R. Revels of Miss. 1870. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cwpbh.00554The page-turner display for the Congressional Globe on Congress.gov.
Do you have ideas on how to continue to improve the presentation of the Congressional Globe on Congress.gov? Send us your feedback.
Enhancements
Enhancement – Congressional Globe
Congress.gov Tip
Congress.gov has several two-minute tip videos available on topics ranging from how to set up email alerts, how to locate a bill, how to use search terms and filters, and how to locate appropriations resources on Congress.gov.
Most-Viewed Bills
The most-viewed bills for the week of February 9, 2025 are below.
1.
H.R.899 [119th]
To terminate the Department of Education.
2.
H.R.86 [119th]
NOSHA Act
3.
H.R.722 [119th]
To implement equal protection under the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution for the right to life of each born and preborn human person.
4.
H.R.55 [119th]
To repeal the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.
5.
H.R.8281 [118th]
SAVE Act
6.
S.5 [119th]
Laken Riley Act
7.
H.R.25 [119th]
FairTax Act of 2025
8.
H.Res.59 [119th]
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the sermon given by the Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde at the National Prayer Service on January 21st, 2025, at the National Cathedral was a display of political activism and condemning its distorted message.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Tracy Ledger, Head: Energy and Society Programme, University of Johannesburg
South Africa is one of only 52 countries that guarantee access to water as a human right. “Access” from a human rights perspective means that water is physically accessible, clean and safe for consumption, and affordable. Section 27 of the country’s constitution stipulates that everyone has the right to access sufficient water.
But South Africa is not doing well on meeting the standards of a full human rights approach to water access. In a recent paper, I and my colleagues at the Public Affairs Research Institute’s Just Transition Programme set out the extent of this failure, and mapped out what needs to be done to rectify the situation.
The Just Transition Programme aims to contribute to a successful climate transition that prioritises social justice, equity and poverty reduction.
Part of our research method is ethnography – spending time in communities struggling to access water. We do this to learn what concrete changes are required to improve people’s lives, from their own perspective.
Physical access to water for households has increased significantly since the country’s first democratic elections in 1994. Nevertheless, water quality and safety has declined over the past ten years. Almost half the country’s drinking water is considered unsafe for human consumption. Water service interruptions – sometimes lasting days – are becoming more common.
South Africa’s household poverty rate (the number of households who live below the upper bound poverty line) is now at 55%. We found that water is becoming more and more unaffordable for impoverished households. The result is that these families have to limit the amount of water they use. This worsens poverty and inequality.
To solve this problem, the South African government needs to embrace a human rights approach to access to water, where people are given enough water to live a full life.
What went wrong?
The first problem is affordability. People cannot access water if they don’t have the money to pay for it, but most clean and safe water in South Africa must be paid for. Poverty is a key barrier to access.
The United Nations special rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation has emphasised that it is the responsibility of the state to assess whether households can afford to pay for water, without sacrificing other basic essential items such as food. It is up to governments to take steps to make water affordable.
The country’s Free Basic Water policy was originally intended to address this issue. It guaranteed impoverished households access to a free 6,000 litres of water per month. This is roughly 200 litres per household of eight people per day. However, in practice this policy is not a meaningful solution, for two reasons:
the amount provided is an average of 25 litres of water per person per day. This is way below the World Health Organization recommendation of a minimum water allowance of between 50 and 100 litres of water per person per day.
many millions of poor households are excluded from the benefit because of poor implementation of the policy by municipalities.
This situation reflects the failure to create, implement and oversee a regulatory environment that is necessary to realise affordable access to sufficient, clean water for all South Africans.
The policy failures
Firstly, water policy – at both national and municipal levels – has failed to take a human rights approach. A human rights approach requires that access to sufficient, quality and affordable water is the starting point for all policy making and resource allocation decisions. This has not been the case.
Secondly, access to water has been narrowly defined as making water physically available without considering affordability. Most water access policy in South Africa includes statements declaring that water must be affordable for everyone. Unfortunately, all of these policy promises have remained exactly that – just promises.
Meeting the goal of affordability requires more from the government than stating that water should be affordable. The state must develop affordability standards – in other words, calculate a water tariff that everyone can afford – and monitor it. At the moment, there is no national government oversight of water tariffs and so the affordability policy is effectively meaningless.
The actual state practices of tariff setting and approval, particularly in local municipalities, have not translated any of these promises into reality.
Fourthly, the state has failed to acknowledge the contradiction between providing universal access to services, and requiring municipalities to generate enough money to cover 90% of their running costs. Tariffs for water have increased at rates well above inflation over the past 20 years. But in a very impoverished environment where many people cannot afford to pay for water, up to two thirds of South Africa’s municipalities have been classified as being in financial distress.
There is a fundamental – and currently insoluble – conflict between the tariffs that municipalities must charge in order to maintain fully funded budgets, and the tariffs that could be defined as affordable.
What needs to be done?
These actions should be taken in the short term:
the free basic water allowance must be increased
the household indigent policy, which determines how households can access free municipal services like water, must be restructured.
affordability standards must be developed in close consultation with affected communities. This is the only way to set water tariffs that are based on what households are actually able to pay.
there must be oversight of the provision of sufficient, affordable water for everyone.
In the longer term, these two additional problems must be solved:
the local government fiscal framework requires that municipalities earn a surplus on trading services such as water. This must be changed so that municipal finances prioritise affordability of water instead.
The ethnographic research team for this work was led by Mahlatse Rampedi, who holds a master’s degree and has ten years of experience, together with Ntokozo Ndhlovu, who holds an honours degree.
– South Africa has failed to deliver access to enough water for millions – a new approach is needed – https://theconversation.com/south-africa-has-failed-to-deliver-access-to-enough-water-for-millions-a-new-approach-is-needed-247831
I thank Minister Wang Yi and China for convening this important discussion.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.
Born out of the ashes of the Second World War, our organization was the result of a global commitment to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.”
It also signaled a commitment to an entirely new level of international cooperation grounded in international law and our founding Charter.
To help countries move past the horrors of conflict to forge sustainable peace.
To tackle poverty, hunger and disease.
To assist countries in climbing the development ladder.
To provide humanitarian support in times of conflict and disaster.
To embed justice and fairness through international law and respect for human rights.
And to work through this Council to push for peace through dialogue, debate, diplomacy and consensus-building.
Eight decades later, one can draw a direct line between the creation of the United Nations and the prevention of a third world war.
Eight decades later, the United Nations remains the essential, one-of-a-kind meeting ground to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights.
But eight decades is a long time.
And because we believe in the singular value and purpose of the United Nations, we must always strive to improve the institution and the way we work.
We have the hardware for international cooperation — but the software needs an update.
An update in representation to reflect the realities of today.
An update in support for developing countries to redress historical injustices.
An update to ensure countries adhere to the purposes, principles and norms that ground multilateralism in justice and fairness.
And an update to our peace operations.
Excellencies,
Global solidarity and solutions are needed more than ever.
The climate crisis is raging, inequalities are growing, and poverty is on the rise.
As this Council knows well, peace is getting pushed further out of reach — from the Occupied Palestinian Territory to Ukraine to Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond.
Terrorism and violent extremism remain persistent scourges.
We see a dark spirit of impunity spreading.
The prospect of nuclear war remains — outrageously — a clear and present danger.
And the limitless promise of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence is matched by limitless peril to undermine and even replace human thought, human identity and human control.
These global challenges cry out for multilateral solutions.
The Pact for the Future you adopted in September is aimed at strengthening global governance for the 21st century and rebuilding trust — trust in multilateralism, trust in the United Nations, and trust in this Council.
At its heart, the Pact for the Future is a pact for peace — peace in all its dimensions.
It puts forward concrete solutions to strengthen the machinery of peace, drawing from proposals to the New Agenda for Peace that prioritize prevention, mediation and peacebuilding.
The Pact seeks to advance coordination with regional organizations, and ensure the full participation of women, youth and marginalized groups in peace processes.
And it calls for strengthening the Peacebuilding Commission to mobilize political and financial support for nationally owned peacebuilding and prevention strategies.
The Pact also includes the first multilateral agreement on nuclear disarmament in more than a decade…
New strategies to end the use of chemical and biological weapons…
And revitalized efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space and advance discussions on lethal autonomous weapons.
It also calls on Member States to live up to their commitments enshrined in the UN Charter, and the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the political independence of states.
It reaffirms unwavering commitment to abide by international law and prioritize the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue.
It recognizes the role of the United Nations in preventive diplomacy.
It reinforces the need to uphold all human rights — civil, political, economic, social and cultural.
It calls for the meaningful inclusion of women and youth in all peace processes.
And it specifically calls on this Council to ensure that peace operations are guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable — with viable exit strategies and transition plans.
But the Pact does even more for peace.
It recognizes that we must address the root causes of conflict and tensions.
The Pact includes support for an SDG Stimulus to help developing countries invest in their people and tackle key challenges, like moving towards a future anchored in renewable energy.
It includes a revitalized commitment to reform the global financial architecture to better and more fairly represent the needs of developing countries.
And it includes a Global Digital Compact that calls for an AI governance body that brings developing countries to the decision-making table for the first time.
Excellences,
Le Pacte reconnaît également que le Conseil de sécurité doit refléter le monde d’aujourd’hui, et non celui d’il y a 80 ans, et énonce des principes importants pour guider cette réforme tant attendue.
Ce Conseil devrait être élargi et devenir plus représentatif des réalités géopolitiques d’aujourd’hui.
Nous devons aussi continuer à améliorer les méthodes de travail du Conseil afin de le rendre plus inclusif, plus transparent, plus efficace, plus démocratique et plus responsable.
Cela fait plus de dix ans que l’Assemblée générale examine ces questions.
Le moment est venu de tirer parti de l’élan donné par le Pacte pour l’avenir et d’œuvrer en faveur d’un consensus plus large entre les groupes régionaux et les États Membres – y compris les membres permanents de ce Conseil – afin de faire avancer les négociations intergouvernementales.
À tous les niveaux, j’appelle les membres de ce Conseil à surmonter les divisions qui bloquent une action efficace en faveur de la paix.
Le monde compte sur vous pour contribuer véritablement à mettre fin aux conflits et à alléger les souffrances que ces guerres infligent à des innocents.
Les membres du Conseil ont montré qu’il était possible de trouver un terrain d’entente.
Qu’il s’agisse du déploiement d’opérations de maintien de la paix… de l’adoption de résolutions vitales sur l’aide humanitaire… de la reconnaissance historique des problèmes de sécurité rencontrés par les femmes et les jeunes… ou encore de la résolution 2719, qui appuie les opérations de soutien à la paix menées par l’Union africaine à travers des contributions obligatoires.
Même aux heures les plus sombres de la guerre froide, la prise de décisions collégiales et le dialogue vif entretenu au Conseil de sécurité ont permis de préserver un système de sécurité collective, certes imparfait, mais fonctionnel.
Je vous exhorte à retrouver cet esprit, à poursuivre vos efforts pour surmonter les divergences et bâtir les consensus nécessaires pour instaurer la paix dont tous les peuples ont tant besoin et qu’ils méritent.
Excellences,
La coopération multilatérale est le cœur battant de l’Organisation des Nations Unies.
Guidé par les solutions offertes dans le Pacte pour l’avenir, le multilatéralisme peut devenir un instrument de paix encore plus puissant.
Mais la puissance du multilatéralisme dépend directement du niveau d’engagement de chaque pays.
Face aux enjeux du monde qui nous entoure, j’invite tous les États Membres à continuer de renforcer et d’actualiser nos mécanismes mondiaux de résolution des problèmes.
Faisons en sorte qu’ils soient à la hauteur de la mission… à la hauteur des besoins des populations… à la hauteur de la paix.
Je vous remercie.
**** [all-English]
Excellencies,
I thank Minister Wang Yi and China for convening this important discussion.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.
Born out of the ashes of the Second World War, our organization was the result of a global commitment to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.”
It also signaled a commitment to an entirely new level of international cooperation grounded in international law and our founding Charter.
To help countries move past the horrors of conflict to forge sustainable peace.
To tackle poverty, hunger and disease.
To assist countries in climbing the development ladder.
To provide humanitarian support in times of conflict and disaster.
To embed justice and fairness through international law and respect for human rights.
And to work through this Council to push for peace through dialogue, debate, diplomacy and consensus-building.
Eight decades later, one can draw a direct line between the creation of the United Nations and the prevention of a third world war.
Eight decades later, the United Nations remains the essential, one-of-a-kind meeting ground to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights.
But eight decades is a long time.
And because we believe in the singular value and purpose of the United Nations, we must always strive to improve the institution and the way we work.
We have the hardware for international cooperation — but the software needs an update.
An update in representation to reflect the realities of today.
An update in support for developing countries to redress historical injustices.
An update to ensure countries adhere to the purposes, principles and norms that ground multilateralism in justice and fairness.
And an update to our peace operations.
Excellencies,
Global solidarity and solutions are needed more than ever.
The climate crisis is raging, inequalities are growing, and poverty is on the rise.
As this Council knows well, peace is getting pushed further out of reach — from the Occupied Palestinian Territory to Ukraine to Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond.
Terrorism and violent extremism remain persistent scourges.
We see a dark spirit of impunity spreading.
The prospect of nuclear war remains — outrageously — a clear and present danger.
And the limitless promise of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence is matched by limitless peril to undermine and even replace human thought, human identity and human control. These global challenges cry out for multilateral solutions.
The Pact for the Future you adopted in September is aimed at strengthening global governance for the 21st century and rebuilding trust — trust in multilateralism, trust in the United Nations, and trust in this Council.
At its heart, the Pact for the Future is a pact for peace — peace in all its dimensions.
It puts forward concrete solutions to strengthen the machinery of peace, drawing from proposals to the New Agenda for Peace that prioritize prevention, mediation and peacebuilding.
The Pact seeks to advance coordination with regional organizations, and ensure the full participation of women, youth and marginalized groups in peace processes.
And it calls for strengthening the Peacebuilding Commission to mobilize political and financial support for nationally owned peacebuilding and prevention strategies.
The Pact also includes the first multilateral agreement on nuclear disarmament in more than a decade…
New strategies to end the use of chemical and biological weapons…
And revitalized efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space and advance discussions on lethal autonomous weapons.
It also calls on Member States to live up to their commitments enshrined in the UN Charter, and the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the political independence of states.
It reaffirms unwavering commitment to abide by international law and prioritize the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue.
It recognizes the role of the United Nations in preventive diplomacy.
It reinforces the need to uphold all human rights — civil, political, economic, social and cultural.
It calls for the meaningful inclusion of women and youth in all peace processes. And it specifically calls on this Council to ensure that peace operations are guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable — with viable exit strategies and transition plans.
But the Pact does even more for peace.
It recognizes that we must address the root causes of conflict and tensions.
The Pact includes support for an SDG Stimulus to help developing countries invest in their people and tackle key challenges, like moving towards a future anchored in renewable energy.
It includes a revitalized commitment to reform the global financial architecture to better and more fairly represent the needs of developing countries.
And it includes a Global Digital Compact that calls for an AI governance body that brings developing countries to the decision-making table for the first time.
Excellencies,
The Pact also recognizes that the Security Council must reflect the world of today, not the world of 80 years ago, and sets out important principles to guide this long-awaited reform.
This Council should be enlarged and made more representative of today’s geopolitical realities.
And we must continue improving the working methods of this Council to make it more inclusive, transparent, efficient, democratic and accountable.
These issues have been under consideration by the General Assembly for more than a decade.
Now is the time to build on the momentum provided by the Pact for the Future, and work towards a greater consensus among regional groups and Member States — including the permanent members of this Council — to move the intergovernmental negotiations forward.
Throughout, I call on Members of this Council to overcome the divisions that are blocking effective action for peace.
The world looks to you to act in meaningful ways to end conflicts, and ease the suffering these wars inflict on innocent people.
Council Members have shown that finding common ground is possible.
From deploying peacekeeping operations…to forging lifesaving resolutions on humanitarian aid…to historic recognitions of the security challenges faced by women and young people…to the landmark Resolution 2719 supporting African Union-led peace support operations through assessed contributions.
Even in the darkest days of the Cold War, the collective decision-making and vigorous dialogue in this Council maintained a functioning, if imperfect, system of collective security.
I urge you to summon this same spirit, continue working to overcome differences and focus on building the consensus required to deliver the peace all people need and deserve.
Excellencies,
Multilateral cooperation is the beating heart of the United Nations.
Guided by the solutions in the Pact for the Future, multilateralism can also become an even more powerful instrument of peace.
But multilateralism is only as strong as each and every country’s commitment to it.
As we look to the challenges around us, I urge all Member States to continue strengthening and updating our global problem-solving mechanisms.
Let’s make them fit for purpose — fit for people — and fit for peace.
Thank you.
**** [all-French]
Excellences,
Je remercie le Ministre Wang Yi et la Chine d’avoir organisé cet important débat.
Cette année marque le quatre-vingtième anniversaire de l’Organisation des Nations Unies.
Née des cendres de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, notre Organisation est le fruit de l’engagement pris à l’échelle mondiale de « préserver les générations futures du fléau de la guerre ».
Sa création a également marqué un engagement en faveur d’un niveau de coopération internationale entièrement nouveau, ancré dans le droit international et dans notre Charte fondatrice.
L’engagement d’aider les pays à dépasser les horreurs du conflit pour instaurer une paix durable.
De lutter contre la pauvreté, la faim et la maladie.
D’aider les pays à progresser sur l’échelle du développement.
De fournir une aide humanitaire en cas de conflit ou de catastrophe.
D’ancrer la justice et l’équité grâce au droit international et au respect des droits humains.
D’œuvrer, dans le cadre de ce Conseil, pour faire avancer la paix par le dialogue, le débat, la diplomatie et la recherche d’un consensus.
Huit décennies plus tard, on peut établir un lien direct entre la création de l’Organisation des Nations Unies et la prévention d’une troisième guerre mondiale.
Huit décennies plus tard, l’ONU reste un lieu de rencontre unique en son genre et indispensable à la promotion de la paix, du développement durable et des droits humains.
Mais huit décennies, c’est long.
Et parce que nous croyons à la valeur et à l’objectif de l’ONU, qui lui sont propres, nous devons en permanence nous efforcer d’améliorer l’institution et notre façon de travailler.
Le dispositif de coopération internationale est opérationnel, mais une refonte du système d’exploitation s’impose.
Une refonte de la représentation, pour rendre compte des réalités d’aujourd’hui.
Une refonte de l’aide apportée aux pays en développement, afin de réparer les injustices historiques.
Une refonte visant à s’assurer que les pays adhèrent aux objectifs, principes et normes qui fondent le multilatéralisme sur la justice et l’équité.
Et une refonte de nos opérations de paix.
Excellences,
La solidarité mondiale et des solutions globales sont plus que jamais nécessaires.
La crise climatique fait rage, les inégalités se creusent et la pauvreté augmente.
Comme ce Conseil le sait bien, la paix est de plus en plus hors de portée – du Territoire palestinien occupé à l’Ukraine, en passant par le Soudan, la République démocratique du Congo, etc.
Les fléaux que sont le terrorisme et l’extrémisme violent persistent.
Nous voyons se répandre une sombre culture de l’impunité.
La menace d’une guerre nucléaire demeure un danger clair et présent, ce qui est révoltant.
Les possibilités illimitées offertes par les technologies émergentes telles que l’intelligence artificielle s’accompagnent d’un risque également illimité d’affaiblissement, voire de remplacement de la pensée humaine, de l’identité humaine et du contrôle humain.
Ces problèmes mondiaux demandent des solutions multilatérales.
Le Pacte pour l’avenir que vous avez adopté en septembre vise à renforcer la gouvernance mondiale pour le vingt et unième siècle et à rétablir la confiance – confiance dans le multilatéralisme, confiance dans les Nations unies et confiance dans ce Conseil.
Au fond, le Pacte pour l’avenir est un pacte pour la paix – la paix dans toutes ses dimensions.
Il propose des solutions concrètes pour renforcer les mécanismes de paix, s’inspirant des propositions du Nouvel Agenda pour la paix qui donnent la priorité à la prévention, à la médiation et à la consolidation de la paix.
Le Pacte vise à renforcer la coordination avec les organisations régionales et à garantir la pleine participation des femmes, des jeunes et des groupes marginalisés aux processus de paix.
Il appelle au renforcement de la Commission de consolidation de la paix afin de mobiliser le soutien politique et financier nécessaire à la mise en œuvre des stratégies de prévention et de consolidation de la paix pilotées par les pays.
Il contient également le premier accord multilatéral sur le désarmement nucléaire conclu depuis plus de dix ans…
Présente de nouvelles stratégies visant à mettre fin à l’emploi d’armes chimiques et biologiques…
Ainsi que des mesures revitalisées visant à prévenir une course aux armements dans l’espace et à faire avancer les débats sur les armes létales autonomes.
Il exhorte les États Membres à respecter les engagements qu’ils ont pris, consacrés dans la Charte des Nations Unies, ainsi que les principes de respect de la souveraineté, de l’intégrité territoriale et de l’indépendance politique des États.
Il réaffirme leur volonté inébranlable à respecter le droit international et à privilégier le règlement pacifique des différends par le dialogue.
Il reconnaît le de l’Organisation des Nations Unies dans la diplomatie préventive.
Il réaffirme la nécessité de respecter tous les droits humains – civils, politiques, économiques, sociaux et culturels.
Il appelle à une véritable inclusion des femmes et des jeunes dans tous les processus de paix.
Il demande en particulier au Conseil de sécurité de veiller à ce que les opérations de paix soient guidées par des mandats clairs et séquencés, réalistes et réalisables, ainsi que des stratégies de sortie et des plans de transition viables.
Mais le Pacte va encore plus loin pour la paix.
Il prend acte du fait que nous devons nous attaquer aux causes profondes des conflits et des tensions.
Le développement durable passe par l’instauration d’une paix durable.
Le Pacte dispose qu’il faut soutenir la mise en place d’un plan de relance des objectifs de développement durable afin d’aider les pays en développement à investir dans leur population et à relever des défis majeurs, notamment à s’orienter vers un avenir ancré dans les énergies renouvelables.
Il comprend un engagement renouvelé de réformer l’architecture financière mondiale afin de représenter de manière plus exacte et plus équitable les besoins des pays en développement.
Il comprend également un Pacte numérique mondial qui appelle à la création d’un organe de gouvernance de l’intelligence artificielle associant pour la première fois les pays en développement à la prise de décisions.
Excellences, Le Pacte reconnaît également que le Conseil de sécurité doit refléter le monde d’aujourd’hui, et non celui d’il y a 80 ans, et énonce des principes importants pour guider cette réforme tant attendue.
Ce Conseil devrait être élargi et devenir plus représentatif des réalités géopolitiques d’aujourd’hui.
Nous devons aussi continuer à améliorer les méthodes de travail du Conseil afin de le rendre plus inclusif, plus transparent, plus efficace, plus démocratique et plus responsable.
Cela fait plus de dix ans que l’Assemblée générale examine ces questions. Le moment est venu de tirer parti de l’élan donné par le Pacte pour l’avenir et d’œuvrer en faveur d’un consensus plus large entre les groupes régionaux et les États Membres – y compris les membres permanents de ce Conseil – afin de faire avancer les négociations intergouvernementales.
À tous les niveaux, j’appelle les membres de ce Conseil à surmonter les divisions qui bloquent une action efficace en faveur de la paix.
Le monde compte sur vous pour contribuer véritablement à mettre fin aux conflits et à alléger les souffrances que ces guerres infligent à des innocents.
Les membres du Conseil ont montré qu’il était possible de trouver un terrain d’entente.
Qu’il s’agisse du déploiement d’opérations de maintien de la paix… de l’adoption de résolutions vitales sur l’aide humanitaire… de la reconnaissance historique des problèmes de sécurité rencontrés par les femmes et les jeunes… ou encore de la résolution 2719, qui appuie les opérations de soutien à la paix menées par l’Union africaine à travers des contributions obligatoires.
Même aux heures les plus sombres de la guerre froide, la prise de décisions collégiales et le dialogue vif entretenu au Conseil de sécurité ont permis de préserver un système de sécurité collective, certes imparfait, mais fonctionnel.
Je vous exhorte à retrouver cet esprit, à poursuivre vos efforts pour surmonter les divergences et bâtir les consensus nécessaires pour instaurer la paix dont tous les peuples ont tant besoin et qu’ils méritent.
Excellences,
La coopération multilatérale est le cœur battant de l’Organisation des Nations Unies.
Guidé par les solutions offertes dans le Pacte pour l’avenir, le multilatéralisme peut devenir un instrument de paix encore plus puissant.
Mais la puissance du multilatéralisme dépend directement du niveau d’engagement de chaque pays.
Face aux enjeux du monde qui nous entoure, j’invite tous les États Membres à continuer de renforcer et d’actualiser nos mécanismes mondiaux de résolution des problèmes.
Faisons en sorte qu’ils soient à la hauteur de la mission… à la hauteur des besoins des populations… à la hauteur de la paix.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo, February 18, 2025/APO Group/ —
Working in close collaboration with oil and gas companies operating in the Republic of Congo’s hydrocarbons industry, pan-African legal and business advisory group CLG served as a key provider of commercial services for the acquisition of a number of operating fields by Trident Energy in January 2025. As part of the acquisition, Trident Energy acquired a 15.75% interest in the Lianzi Field, an 85% interest in the Nkosa and Nsoko 2 fields and a 21.5% interest in the Moho-Bilondo field from energy supermajors Chevron and TotalEnergies.
Having recently opened an office in Pointe-Noire, CLG is well-equipped to offer direct support for energy professionals operating in the country. As such, CLG will participate as the official Legal Partner to this year’s inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2025, which takes place in Brazzaville from March 24-26. CEIF 2025 will feature the participation of CLG Congo Managing Director Yves Ollivier and Director of Tax and Legal Daodou Mohammad as speakers.
The inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum, set for March 24-26, 2025, in Brazzaville, under the patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Société nationales des pétroles du Congo, will bring together international investors and local stakeholders to explore national and regional energy and infrastructure opportunities. The event will explore the latest gas-to-power projects and provide updates on ongoing expansions across the country.
Congo’s upcoming Gas Master Plan is expected to be a major focus at CEIF 2025, providing a robust framework for gas exploration, production and commercialization. This regulatory reform is set to boost investor confidence and unlock the country’s full natural gas potential. As such, CLG Congo is expected to lead discussions on the country’s transforming regulatory structure while offering expertise on new commercial opportunities in the sector.
Meanwhile, with over 28 years’ experience in Africa’s energy and workforce development space, pan-African career management firm iCUBEFARM CEO Yolanda Asumu will also participate as a speaker at CEIF 2025. Under Asumu’s leadership, iCUBEFARM has become one of Africa’s most transformative professional networks, bridging talent with opportunity and driving economic growth. With a reach that spans over 10,000 professionals across Central Africa, the company is a strategic partner for businesses, delivering workforce development solutions to startups, small- and medium-sized enterprises and major companies alike.
In line with its economic goals, the Congolese government has established policies to ensure that Congo’s energy sector benefits local businesses and workers. The Minister of Hydrocarbons Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua recently launched a registration campaign for subcontracting and service companies in the oil and gas industry. The initiative is designed to enhance transparency and improve the integration of local companies into the industry.
As such, Asumu’s participation at CEIF 2025 is expected to support Congo’s strategy to encourage partnerships between foreign oil companies and local enterprises, with a focus on capacity building and knowledge sharing. Her participation as a speaker showcases the company’s dedication to supporting Congo’s approach to maximize domestic benefits from its vast energy resources, with a focus on job creation, technology transfer and building local expertise.
“The combined expertise of these speakers in legal, commercial and workforce development in Congo’s energy sector will be instrumental in driving discussions on the country’s energy future. Their insights at CEIF 2025 will foster important dialogue on how to align local and international efforts, build capacity and maximize the benefits of Congo’s vast energy resources, ensuring sustainable growth and economic development for the country,” stated Energy Capital & Power Events & Project Director Sandra Jeque.
I thank Minister Wang Yi and China for convening this important discussion.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.
Born out of the ashes of the Second World War, our organization was the result of a global commitment to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.”
It also signaled a commitment to an entirely new level of international cooperation grounded in international law and our founding Charter.
To help countries move past the horrors of conflict to forge sustainable peace.
To tackle poverty, hunger and disease.
To assist countries in climbing the development ladder.
To provide humanitarian support in times of conflict and disaster.
To embed justice and fairness through international law and respect for human rights.
And to work through this Council to push for peace through dialogue, debate, diplomacy and consensus-building.
Eight decades later, one can draw a direct line between the creation of the United Nations and the prevention of a third world war.
Eight decades later, the United Nations remains the essential, one-of-a-kind meeting ground to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights.
But eight decades is a long time.
And because we believe in the singular value and purpose of the United Nations, we must always strive to improve the institution and the way we work.
We have the hardware for international cooperation — but the software needs an update.
An update in representation to reflect the realities of today.
An update in support for developing countries to redress historical injustices.
An update to ensure countries adhere to the purposes, principles and norms that ground multilateralism in justice and fairness.
And an update to our peace operations.
Excellencies,
Global solidarity and solutions are needed more than ever.
The climate crisis is raging, inequalities are growing, and poverty is on the rise.
As this Council knows well, peace is getting pushed further out of reach — from the Occupied Palestinian Territory to Ukraine to Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond.
Terrorism and violent extremism remain persistent scourges.
We see a dark spirit of impunity spreading.
The prospect of nuclear war remains — outrageously — a clear and present danger.
And the limitless promise of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence is matched by limitless peril to undermine and even replace human thought, human identity and human control.
These global challenges cry out for multilateral solutions.
The Pact for the Future you adopted in September is aimed at strengthening global governance for the 21st century and rebuilding trust — trust in multilateralism, trust in the United Nations, and trust in this Council.
At its heart, the Pact for the Future is a pact for peace — peace in all its dimensions.
It puts forward concrete solutions to strengthen the machinery of peace, drawing from proposals to the New Agenda for Peace that prioritize prevention, mediation and peacebuilding.
The Pact seeks to advance coordination with regional organizations, and ensure the full participation of women, youth and marginalized groups in peace processes.
And it calls for strengthening the Peacebuilding Commission to mobilize political and financial support for nationally owned peacebuilding and prevention strategies.
The Pact also includes the first multilateral agreement on nuclear disarmament in more than a decade…
New strategies to end the use of chemical and biological weapons…
And revitalized efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space and advance discussions on lethal autonomous weapons.
It also calls on Member States to live up to their commitments enshrined in the UN Charter, and the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the political independence of states.
It reaffirms unwavering commitment to abide by international law and prioritize the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue.
It recognizes the role of the United Nations in preventive diplomacy.
It reinforces the need to uphold all human rights — civil, political, economic, social and cultural.
It calls for the meaningful inclusion of women and youth in all peace processes.
And it specifically calls on this Council to ensure that peace operations are guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable — with viable exit strategies and transition plans.
But the Pact does even more for peace.
It recognizes that we must address the root causes of conflict and tensions.
The Pact includes support for an SDG Stimulus to help developing countries invest in their people and tackle key challenges, like moving towards a future anchored in renewable energy.
It includes a revitalized commitment to reform the global financial architecture to better and more fairly represent the needs of developing countries.
And it includes a Global Digital Compact that calls for an AI governance body that brings developing countries to the decision-making table for the first time.
Excellences,
Le Pacte reconnaît également que le Conseil de sécurité doit refléter le monde d’aujourd’hui, et non celui d’il y a 80 ans, et énonce des principes importants pour guider cette réforme tant attendue.
Ce Conseil devrait être élargi et devenir plus représentatif des réalités géopolitiques d’aujourd’hui.
Nous devons aussi continuer à améliorer les méthodes de travail du Conseil afin de le rendre plus inclusif, plus transparent, plus efficace, plus démocratique et plus responsable.
Cela fait plus de dix ans que l’Assemblée générale examine ces questions.
Le moment est venu de tirer parti de l’élan donné par le Pacte pour l’avenir et d’œuvrer en faveur d’un consensus plus large entre les groupes régionaux et les États Membres – y compris les membres permanents de ce Conseil – afin de faire avancer les négociations intergouvernementales.
À tous les niveaux, j’appelle les membres de ce Conseil à surmonter les divisions qui bloquent une action efficace en faveur de la paix.
Le monde compte sur vous pour contribuer véritablement à mettre fin aux conflits et à alléger les souffrances que ces guerres infligent à des innocents.
Les membres du Conseil ont montré qu’il était possible de trouver un terrain d’entente.
Qu’il s’agisse du déploiement d’opérations de maintien de la paix… de l’adoption de résolutions vitales sur l’aide humanitaire… de la reconnaissance historique des problèmes de sécurité rencontrés par les femmes et les jeunes… ou encore de la résolution 2719, qui appuie les opérations de soutien à la paix menées par l’Union africaine à travers des contributions obligatoires.
Même aux heures les plus sombres de la guerre froide, la prise de décisions collégiales et le dialogue vif entretenu au Conseil de sécurité ont permis de préserver un système de sécurité collective, certes imparfait, mais fonctionnel.
Je vous exhorte à retrouver cet esprit, à poursuivre vos efforts pour surmonter les divergences et bâtir les consensus nécessaires pour instaurer la paix dont tous les peuples ont tant besoin et qu’ils méritent.
Excellences,
La coopération multilatérale est le cœur battant de l’Organisation des Nations Unies.
Guidé par les solutions offertes dans le Pacte pour l’avenir, le multilatéralisme peut devenir un instrument de paix encore plus puissant.
Mais la puissance du multilatéralisme dépend directement du niveau d’engagement de chaque pays.
Face aux enjeux du monde qui nous entoure, j’invite tous les États Membres à continuer de renforcer et d’actualiser nos mécanismes mondiaux de résolution des problèmes.
Faisons en sorte qu’ils soient à la hauteur de la mission… à la hauteur des besoins des populations… à la hauteur de la paix.
Je vous remercie.
**** [all-English]
Excellencies,
I thank Minister Wang Yi and China for convening this important discussion.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.
Born out of the ashes of the Second World War, our organization was the result of a global commitment to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.”
It also signaled a commitment to an entirely new level of international cooperation grounded in international law and our founding Charter.
To help countries move past the horrors of conflict to forge sustainable peace.
To tackle poverty, hunger and disease.
To assist countries in climbing the development ladder.
To provide humanitarian support in times of conflict and disaster.
To embed justice and fairness through international law and respect for human rights.
And to work through this Council to push for peace through dialogue, debate, diplomacy and consensus-building.
Eight decades later, one can draw a direct line between the creation of the United Nations and the prevention of a third world war.
Eight decades later, the United Nations remains the essential, one-of-a-kind meeting ground to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights.
But eight decades is a long time.
And because we believe in the singular value and purpose of the United Nations, we must always strive to improve the institution and the way we work.
We have the hardware for international cooperation — but the software needs an update.
An update in representation to reflect the realities of today.
An update in support for developing countries to redress historical injustices.
An update to ensure countries adhere to the purposes, principles and norms that ground multilateralism in justice and fairness.
And an update to our peace operations.
Excellencies,
Global solidarity and solutions are needed more than ever.
The climate crisis is raging, inequalities are growing, and poverty is on the rise.
As this Council knows well, peace is getting pushed further out of reach — from the Occupied Palestinian Territory to Ukraine to Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond.
Terrorism and violent extremism remain persistent scourges.
We see a dark spirit of impunity spreading.
The prospect of nuclear war remains — outrageously — a clear and present danger.
And the limitless promise of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence is matched by limitless peril to undermine and even replace human thought, human identity and human control. These global challenges cry out for multilateral solutions.
The Pact for the Future you adopted in September is aimed at strengthening global governance for the 21st century and rebuilding trust — trust in multilateralism, trust in the United Nations, and trust in this Council.
At its heart, the Pact for the Future is a pact for peace — peace in all its dimensions.
It puts forward concrete solutions to strengthen the machinery of peace, drawing from proposals to the New Agenda for Peace that prioritize prevention, mediation and peacebuilding.
The Pact seeks to advance coordination with regional organizations, and ensure the full participation of women, youth and marginalized groups in peace processes.
And it calls for strengthening the Peacebuilding Commission to mobilize political and financial support for nationally owned peacebuilding and prevention strategies.
The Pact also includes the first multilateral agreement on nuclear disarmament in more than a decade…
New strategies to end the use of chemical and biological weapons…
And revitalized efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space and advance discussions on lethal autonomous weapons.
It also calls on Member States to live up to their commitments enshrined in the UN Charter, and the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the political independence of states.
It reaffirms unwavering commitment to abide by international law and prioritize the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue.
It recognizes the role of the United Nations in preventive diplomacy.
It reinforces the need to uphold all human rights — civil, political, economic, social and cultural.
It calls for the meaningful inclusion of women and youth in all peace processes. And it specifically calls on this Council to ensure that peace operations are guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable — with viable exit strategies and transition plans.
But the Pact does even more for peace.
It recognizes that we must address the root causes of conflict and tensions.
The Pact includes support for an SDG Stimulus to help developing countries invest in their people and tackle key challenges, like moving towards a future anchored in renewable energy.
It includes a revitalized commitment to reform the global financial architecture to better and more fairly represent the needs of developing countries.
And it includes a Global Digital Compact that calls for an AI governance body that brings developing countries to the decision-making table for the first time.
Excellencies,
The Pact also recognizes that the Security Council must reflect the world of today, not the world of 80 years ago, and sets out important principles to guide this long-awaited reform.
This Council should be enlarged and made more representative of today’s geopolitical realities.
And we must continue improving the working methods of this Council to make it more inclusive, transparent, efficient, democratic and accountable.
These issues have been under consideration by the General Assembly for more than a decade.
Now is the time to build on the momentum provided by the Pact for the Future, and work towards a greater consensus among regional groups and Member States — including the permanent members of this Council — to move the intergovernmental negotiations forward.
Throughout, I call on Members of this Council to overcome the divisions that are blocking effective action for peace.
The world looks to you to act in meaningful ways to end conflicts, and ease the suffering these wars inflict on innocent people.
Council Members have shown that finding common ground is possible.
From deploying peacekeeping operations…to forging lifesaving resolutions on humanitarian aid…to historic recognitions of the security challenges faced by women and young people…to the landmark Resolution 2719 supporting African Union-led peace support operations through assessed contributions.
Even in the darkest days of the Cold War, the collective decision-making and vigorous dialogue in this Council maintained a functioning, if imperfect, system of collective security.
I urge you to summon this same spirit, continue working to overcome differences and focus on building the consensus required to deliver the peace all people need and deserve.
Excellencies,
Multilateral cooperation is the beating heart of the United Nations.
Guided by the solutions in the Pact for the Future, multilateralism can also become an even more powerful instrument of peace.
But multilateralism is only as strong as each and every country’s commitment to it.
As we look to the challenges around us, I urge all Member States to continue strengthening and updating our global problem-solving mechanisms.
Let’s make them fit for purpose — fit for people — and fit for peace.
Thank you.
**** [all-French]
Excellences,
Je remercie le Ministre Wang Yi et la Chine d’avoir organisé cet important débat.
Cette année marque le quatre-vingtième anniversaire de l’Organisation des Nations Unies.
Née des cendres de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, notre Organisation est le fruit de l’engagement pris à l’échelle mondiale de « préserver les générations futures du fléau de la guerre ».
Sa création a également marqué un engagement en faveur d’un niveau de coopération internationale entièrement nouveau, ancré dans le droit international et dans notre Charte fondatrice.
L’engagement d’aider les pays à dépasser les horreurs du conflit pour instaurer une paix durable.
De lutter contre la pauvreté, la faim et la maladie.
D’aider les pays à progresser sur l’échelle du développement.
De fournir une aide humanitaire en cas de conflit ou de catastrophe.
D’ancrer la justice et l’équité grâce au droit international et au respect des droits humains.
D’œuvrer, dans le cadre de ce Conseil, pour faire avancer la paix par le dialogue, le débat, la diplomatie et la recherche d’un consensus.
Huit décennies plus tard, on peut établir un lien direct entre la création de l’Organisation des Nations Unies et la prévention d’une troisième guerre mondiale.
Huit décennies plus tard, l’ONU reste un lieu de rencontre unique en son genre et indispensable à la promotion de la paix, du développement durable et des droits humains.
Mais huit décennies, c’est long.
Et parce que nous croyons à la valeur et à l’objectif de l’ONU, qui lui sont propres, nous devons en permanence nous efforcer d’améliorer l’institution et notre façon de travailler.
Le dispositif de coopération internationale est opérationnel, mais une refonte du système d’exploitation s’impose.
Une refonte de la représentation, pour rendre compte des réalités d’aujourd’hui.
Une refonte de l’aide apportée aux pays en développement, afin de réparer les injustices historiques.
Une refonte visant à s’assurer que les pays adhèrent aux objectifs, principes et normes qui fondent le multilatéralisme sur la justice et l’équité.
Et une refonte de nos opérations de paix.
Excellences,
La solidarité mondiale et des solutions globales sont plus que jamais nécessaires.
La crise climatique fait rage, les inégalités se creusent et la pauvreté augmente.
Comme ce Conseil le sait bien, la paix est de plus en plus hors de portée – du Territoire palestinien occupé à l’Ukraine, en passant par le Soudan, la République démocratique du Congo, etc.
Les fléaux que sont le terrorisme et l’extrémisme violent persistent.
Nous voyons se répandre une sombre culture de l’impunité.
La menace d’une guerre nucléaire demeure un danger clair et présent, ce qui est révoltant.
Les possibilités illimitées offertes par les technologies émergentes telles que l’intelligence artificielle s’accompagnent d’un risque également illimité d’affaiblissement, voire de remplacement de la pensée humaine, de l’identité humaine et du contrôle humain.
Ces problèmes mondiaux demandent des solutions multilatérales.
Le Pacte pour l’avenir que vous avez adopté en septembre vise à renforcer la gouvernance mondiale pour le vingt et unième siècle et à rétablir la confiance – confiance dans le multilatéralisme, confiance dans les Nations unies et confiance dans ce Conseil.
Au fond, le Pacte pour l’avenir est un pacte pour la paix – la paix dans toutes ses dimensions.
Il propose des solutions concrètes pour renforcer les mécanismes de paix, s’inspirant des propositions du Nouvel Agenda pour la paix qui donnent la priorité à la prévention, à la médiation et à la consolidation de la paix.
Le Pacte vise à renforcer la coordination avec les organisations régionales et à garantir la pleine participation des femmes, des jeunes et des groupes marginalisés aux processus de paix.
Il appelle au renforcement de la Commission de consolidation de la paix afin de mobiliser le soutien politique et financier nécessaire à la mise en œuvre des stratégies de prévention et de consolidation de la paix pilotées par les pays.
Il contient également le premier accord multilatéral sur le désarmement nucléaire conclu depuis plus de dix ans…
Présente de nouvelles stratégies visant à mettre fin à l’emploi d’armes chimiques et biologiques…
Ainsi que des mesures revitalisées visant à prévenir une course aux armements dans l’espace et à faire avancer les débats sur les armes létales autonomes.
Il exhorte les États Membres à respecter les engagements qu’ils ont pris, consacrés dans la Charte des Nations Unies, ainsi que les principes de respect de la souveraineté, de l’intégrité territoriale et de l’indépendance politique des États.
Il réaffirme leur volonté inébranlable à respecter le droit international et à privilégier le règlement pacifique des différends par le dialogue.
Il reconnaît le de l’Organisation des Nations Unies dans la diplomatie préventive.
Il réaffirme la nécessité de respecter tous les droits humains – civils, politiques, économiques, sociaux et culturels.
Il appelle à une véritable inclusion des femmes et des jeunes dans tous les processus de paix.
Il demande en particulier au Conseil de sécurité de veiller à ce que les opérations de paix soient guidées par des mandats clairs et séquencés, réalistes et réalisables, ainsi que des stratégies de sortie et des plans de transition viables.
Mais le Pacte va encore plus loin pour la paix.
Il prend acte du fait que nous devons nous attaquer aux causes profondes des conflits et des tensions.
Le développement durable passe par l’instauration d’une paix durable.
Le Pacte dispose qu’il faut soutenir la mise en place d’un plan de relance des objectifs de développement durable afin d’aider les pays en développement à investir dans leur population et à relever des défis majeurs, notamment à s’orienter vers un avenir ancré dans les énergies renouvelables.
Il comprend un engagement renouvelé de réformer l’architecture financière mondiale afin de représenter de manière plus exacte et plus équitable les besoins des pays en développement.
Il comprend également un Pacte numérique mondial qui appelle à la création d’un organe de gouvernance de l’intelligence artificielle associant pour la première fois les pays en développement à la prise de décisions.
Excellences, Le Pacte reconnaît également que le Conseil de sécurité doit refléter le monde d’aujourd’hui, et non celui d’il y a 80 ans, et énonce des principes importants pour guider cette réforme tant attendue.
Ce Conseil devrait être élargi et devenir plus représentatif des réalités géopolitiques d’aujourd’hui.
Nous devons aussi continuer à améliorer les méthodes de travail du Conseil afin de le rendre plus inclusif, plus transparent, plus efficace, plus démocratique et plus responsable.
Cela fait plus de dix ans que l’Assemblée générale examine ces questions. Le moment est venu de tirer parti de l’élan donné par le Pacte pour l’avenir et d’œuvrer en faveur d’un consensus plus large entre les groupes régionaux et les États Membres – y compris les membres permanents de ce Conseil – afin de faire avancer les négociations intergouvernementales.
À tous les niveaux, j’appelle les membres de ce Conseil à surmonter les divisions qui bloquent une action efficace en faveur de la paix.
Le monde compte sur vous pour contribuer véritablement à mettre fin aux conflits et à alléger les souffrances que ces guerres infligent à des innocents.
Les membres du Conseil ont montré qu’il était possible de trouver un terrain d’entente.
Qu’il s’agisse du déploiement d’opérations de maintien de la paix… de l’adoption de résolutions vitales sur l’aide humanitaire… de la reconnaissance historique des problèmes de sécurité rencontrés par les femmes et les jeunes… ou encore de la résolution 2719, qui appuie les opérations de soutien à la paix menées par l’Union africaine à travers des contributions obligatoires.
Même aux heures les plus sombres de la guerre froide, la prise de décisions collégiales et le dialogue vif entretenu au Conseil de sécurité ont permis de préserver un système de sécurité collective, certes imparfait, mais fonctionnel.
Je vous exhorte à retrouver cet esprit, à poursuivre vos efforts pour surmonter les divergences et bâtir les consensus nécessaires pour instaurer la paix dont tous les peuples ont tant besoin et qu’ils méritent.
Excellences,
La coopération multilatérale est le cœur battant de l’Organisation des Nations Unies.
Guidé par les solutions offertes dans le Pacte pour l’avenir, le multilatéralisme peut devenir un instrument de paix encore plus puissant.
Mais la puissance du multilatéralisme dépend directement du niveau d’engagement de chaque pays.
Face aux enjeux du monde qui nous entoure, j’invite tous les États Membres à continuer de renforcer et d’actualiser nos mécanismes mondiaux de résolution des problèmes.
Faisons en sorte qu’ils soient à la hauteur de la mission… à la hauteur des besoins des populations… à la hauteur de la paix.
CHANTILLY, Va., Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — UltiSat, a leading provider of global communications solutions, announces a strategic partnership with Glacier Security, an innovator in secure communications technology, to offer robust, all-in-one secure communications solutions. This partnership ensures that sensitive voice and video calls, texts and data remain secure through end-to-end encryption and obfuscation across multiple devices and operating systems.
“Our collaboration with Glacier brings unparalleled security to our communications solutions,” said Jim Scott, President and CEO at UltiSat. “By combining our strengths, we are able to provide a comprehensive, encrypted communication platform that meets the highest standards of security for our customers.”
UltiSat’s tailored connectivity platforms support voice, SMS, and data over commercial or private cellular, satellite, and terrestrial networks. The solution also integrates seamlessly with partner company applications and device operating systems, leveraging a multi-technology core network and expansive roaming relationships. This ensures that customers have reliable connectivity wherever their mission may take them.
For more information about this partnership and the secure communication solutions offered by UltiSat and Glacier, please visit https://ultisat.com/what-we-offer/#wireless.
About Glacier Glacier specializes in developing secure communications technology that protects data integrity and confidentiality. Their solutions are designed to meet the stringent security requirements of commercial, government and military customers, ensuring that sensitive information remains protected.
About UltiSat UltiSat provides global end-to-end connectivity solutions and managed network services for land mobile, maritime, and airborne operations. Customers in government, humanitarian-aid, and critical infrastructure markets have unique communications requirements and greater demand for resiliency. UltiSat has made substantial investments in the global logistics, security provisions, systems, and processes necessary to provide 24 x 7 support for customers with high consequence missions. Our portfolio includes a range of solutions leveraging satellite, terrestrial, wireless and cloud technologies, combined with in-house systems engineering and global field service. UltiSat leverages a 25+ year heritage deploying solutions in over 120 countries. UltiSat is a wholly owned subsidiary and separate operating company of Speedcast. For more information visit www.ultisat.com.
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
February 18, 2025
Senator Warren’s Statement on Passing of Brady Williamson
Washington, D.C. – In response to the passing of Brady Williamson, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren released the following statement:
“My dear friend Brady Williamson died Sunday. He was a superb lawyer, a go-to advance guy, and a quietly remarkable person. I experienced a lot of life with Brady, from fighting to preserve bankruptcy protection for struggling families to shopping for my first apartment in Washington. For three decades – my entire time in advocacy and government – Brady was there with his always-calm counsel. He was a generous mentor to my staff. He always did his homework, and he was clear-eyed in our goal of rescuing families that were hanging onto the middle class by their fingernails. Brady understood that even if we changed only one person’s life, the fight would be worth it. I will miss his gentle reminders.”
Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – “Sometimes you have the feeling that the poor are hopelessly lost,” reports a Church source from Bukavu, the capital of the Congolese province of South Kivu, which was taken by the M23 troops supported by the Rwandan army (see Fides, 17/2/2025). “City after city, village after village, the province of South Kivu is also falling. And they still talk about dialogue, offer themselves as mediators, without having the courage to call things by their name,” the source continues. It is not an internal conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but an external aggression. “The country has been under attack for years, and since November 2021, when the M23 took up arms again, the situation has worsened. The M23 is the new name of the Rwandan intervention: Over time, it has operated under different names: AFDL (Alliance des Forces Démocratiques pour la Libération du Congo), RCD (Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie), CNDP (Congrès National pour la Défense du Peuple)… Always with the same aim: to give a Congolese appearance to an invasion project that does not dare to admit its true nature”, said the source. “The testimony also describes the recurring pattern of this offensive: “The occupation is always preceded by riots, looting and murder. Then, the invaders arrive, presenting themselves as saviours. They do not impose respect for the law that they themselves have broken, but govern with a stick and a gun. And the inhabitants of Bukavu have already begun to experience this. Today, at a big meeting, they will present the new leaders and the new rules,” continued the source.As a sign of the new “normality”, the M23 has today, February 18, reopened the water links between Goma and Bukavu. “In the Ruzizi plain, Rwandan soldiers and M23 forces continue to advance and already have Luvungi in their hands,” the source said. According to our source, the population seems to have come to terms with the new situation: “And we will be surprised to see people applaud. Mothers who have seen the tomatoes they sold rot and have heard the cries of their hungry children will applaud. Men and young people who must be careful not to be confused with civilian soldiers or pro-government militiamen will applaud. Perhaps young people without a future will also applaud, who for decades have not been offered any opportunity for work or a decent life.” “And perhaps some will say that the people agree. What should an oppressed people do when they have no help, neither from within nor from outside? Must they die for the ideal of a fatherland? No, it will cling to its simple life and that of its children to move forward in a world that has become totally hostile,” concludes the source. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 18/2/2025)
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Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – The religious services in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), both in the Catholic parishes and in the Protestant communities of the Church of Christ in Congo (Église du Christ au Congo, ECC), took place last Sunday, February 16, generally without disturbances. Only in the Catholic parish of “St. Theresa” in Nd’jili, a municipality in the Kinshasa district, some demonstrators tried to disrupt the mass, but were prevented from entering the church by the intervention of the police. The Kinshasa police had previously taken measures to ensure the peaceful conduct of the religious services. The measure was taken after activists from the ruling Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party threatened to attack and vandalize Catholic parishes and Protestant gatherings during religious services on Sunday 16 February. This was in protest against the meetings that the leaders of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Congo (CENCO) and the ECC had with Corneille Nangaa in Goma, in North Kivu province, and with Paul Kagame in Kigali, Rwanda.Corneille Nangaa is the coordinator of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), the political wing of the rebel movement M23, which has taken control of Goma (capital of North Kivu province) and Bukavu (capital of South Kivu province) and is threatening to march on Kinshasa to overthrow President Félix Tshisekedi. Paul Kagame is the President of Rwanda, who is considered the sponsor of the M23. The joint delegation of the Catholic and Protestant Churches presented the “Social Pact for Coexistence in the Democratic Republic of Congo” (see Fides, 13/2/2025), which aims to help resolve the crisis that has been going on for over 30 years in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 18/2/2025)
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South Africa is one of only 52 countries that guarantee access to water as a human right. “Access” from a human rights perspective means that water is physically accessible, clean and safe for consumption, and affordable. Section 27 of the country’s constitution stipulates that everyone has the right to access sufficient water.
But South Africa is not doing well on meeting the standards of a full human rights approach to water access. In a recent paper, I and my colleagues at the Public Affairs Research Institute’s Just Transition Programme set out the extent of this failure, and mapped out what needs to be done to rectify the situation.
The Just Transition Programme aims to contribute to a successful climate transition that prioritises social justice, equity and poverty reduction.
Part of our research method is ethnography – spending time in communities struggling to access water. We do this to learn what concrete changes are required to improve people’s lives, from their own perspective.
Physical access to water for households has increased significantly since the country’s first democratic elections in 1994. Nevertheless, water quality and safety has declined over the past ten years. Almost half the country’s drinking water is considered unsafe
for human consumption. Water service interruptions – sometimes lasting days – are becoming more common.
South Africa’s household poverty rate (the number of households who live below the upper bound poverty line) is now at 55%. We found that water is becoming more and more unaffordable for impoverished households. The result is that these families have to limit the amount of water they use. This worsens poverty and inequality.
To solve this problem, the South African government needs to embrace a human rights approach to access to water, where people are given enough water to live a full life.
What went wrong?
The first problem is affordability. People cannot access water if they don’t have the money to pay for it, but most clean and safe water in South Africa must be paid for. Poverty is a key barrier to access.
The United Nations special rapporteur on the human rights to water and sanitation has emphasised that it is the responsibility of the state to assess whether households can afford to pay for water, without sacrificing other basic essential items such as food. It is up to governments to take steps to make water affordable.
The country’s Free Basic Water policy was originally intended to address this issue. It guaranteed impoverished households access to a free 6,000 litres of water per month. This is roughly 200 litres per household of eight people per day. However, in practice this policy is not a meaningful solution, for two reasons:
the amount provided is an average of 25 litres of water per person per day. This is way below the World Health Organization recommendation of a minimum water allowance of between 50 and 100 litres of water per person per day.
many millions of poor households are excluded from the benefit because of poor implementation of the policy by municipalities.
This situation reflects the failure to create, implement and oversee a regulatory environment that is necessary to realise affordable access to sufficient, clean water for all South Africans.
The policy failures
Firstly, water policy – at both national and municipal levels – has failed to take a human rights approach. A human rights approach requires that access to sufficient, quality and affordable water is the starting point for all policy making and resource allocation decisions. This has not been the case.
Secondly, access to water has been narrowly defined as making water physically available without considering affordability. Most water access policy in South Africa includes statements declaring that water must be affordable for everyone. Unfortunately, all of these policy promises have remained exactly that – just promises.
Meeting the goal of affordability requires more from the government than stating that water should be affordable. The state must develop affordability standards – in other words, calculate a water tariff that everyone can afford – and monitor it. At the moment, there is no national government oversight of water tariffs and so the affordability policy is effectively meaningless.
The actual state practices of tariff setting and approval, particularly in local municipalities, have not translated any of these promises into reality.
Fourthly, the state has failed to acknowledge the contradiction between providing universal access to services, and requiring municipalities to generate enough money to cover 90% of their running costs. Tariffs for water have increased at rates well above inflation over the past 20 years. But in a very impoverished environment where many people cannot afford to pay for water, up to two thirds of South Africa’s municipalities have been classified as being in financial distress.
There is a fundamental – and currently insoluble – conflict between the tariffs that municipalities must charge in order to maintain fully funded budgets, and the tariffs that could be defined as affordable.
What needs to be done?
These actions should be taken in the short term:
the free basic water allowance must be increased
the household indigent policy, which determines how households can access free municipal services like water, must be restructured.
affordability standards must be developed in close consultation with affected communities. This is the only way to set water tariffs that are based on what households are actually able to pay.
there must be oversight of the provision of sufficient, affordable water for everyone.
In the longer term, these two additional problems must be solved:
the local government fiscal framework requires that municipalities earn a surplus on trading services such as water. This must be changed so that municipal finances prioritise affordability of water instead.
The ethnographic research team for this work was led by Mahlatse Rampedi, who holds a master’s degree and has ten years of experience, together with Ntokozo Ndhlovu, who holds an honours degree.
Tracy Ledger does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has summoned the Rwandan High Commissioner today (18 February) following advances made by the Rwandan Defence Force and M23 in eastern DRC.
An FCDO spokesperson said:
“The UK strongly condemns the advances of the Rwandan Defence Force and M23 in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“These advances constitute an unacceptable violation of DRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Government of Rwanda must immediately withdraw all Rwanda Defence Force troops from Congolese territory.
“We urge Rwanda to immediately cease all hostilities and return to dialogue through African-led peace processes.”
The global food import bill is projected to exceed $2 trillion in 2024 – fuelled by the rising cost of everyone’s favourite hot drinks – according to the latest Food Outlook released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Thursday.
The biannual report, which focuses on developments affecting global food and animal feed markets, highlights that higher costs for cocoa, coffee, and tea are driving the increase, while disparities in import bills persist across income levels.
Cocoa prices have soared nearly four times their ten-year average earlier this year, coffee prices have almost doubled, and tea prices are 15 per cent above long-term levels.
Together, these commodities are responsible for over half of the projected increase in global food import expenditures, which FAO economists anticipate will rise by nearly 23 per cent in 2024.
National disparities
While high-income countries, which make up two-thirds of the global food import bill, will see a 4.4 per cent increase, import expenditures for middle and low-income countries are expected to decline.
Lower-income countries may find some relief in reduced cereal and oilseed costs, although their per capita food intake for wheat and coarse grains is projected to decline, contrasting with an anticipated 1.5 per cent increase in rice consumption.
FAO emphasises the crucial role food exports play in supporting many economies.
For instance, coffee export earnings cover nearly 40 per cent of food import costs in Burundi and Ethiopia, while Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa exports entirely offset its food import bill. Similarly, tea exports account for more than half of Sri Lanka’s import costs.
Mixed forecast
FAO’s forecasts reveal a mixed picture for global food production and trade.
Wheat and coarse grain output is expected to decrease but remain above consumption levels, while rice production is set for a record-breaking harvest in 2024/25 which could enable an increase in global rice consumption, reserves and international trade.
Production of meat and dairy is forecast to grow modestly while global fisheries output is expected to expand by 2.2 per cent, fuelled by aquaculture.
Meanwhile, vegetable oils’ consumption may outpace production for the second consecutive season, leading to stock drawdowns.
The report cautions that extreme weather, geopolitical tensions, and policy changes could destabilise production systems, further straining global food security.
Olive oil prices spike alongside climate stress
A special focus on olive oil details price spikes due to climate-related production declines.
IFAD
Compost made from a mixture of pine trees empty cones and cow dung helps olive trees grow in a sustainable way.
In Spain, wholesale prices for cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil reached nearly $10,000 per tonne in January 2024, almost triple their 2022 levels.
High temperatures, which force olive trees to conserve water for core functions instead of producing fruit, led to a nearly 50 per cent production cut for two years in a row.
Although Spain’s next harvest is expected to surpass the 10-year average, high prices may constrain global consumption.
Producers ought to consider more sustainable water and soil management practices, the report notes.
Given the great potential for expansion in olive oil exports, governments might offer support to olive growers, such as insurance schemes and measures to control the spread of diseases, said FAO Economist Di Yang.
Cheaper fertiliser…mostly
The report also highlights a 50 per cent drop in fertiliser prices since their 2022 peak, thanks to falling natural gas prices and reduced trade barriers.
FAO Economist Maria Antip noted however that phosphate fertilisers have resisted this trend, with ongoing trade barriers and geopolitical tensions posing risks to future supplies, particularly in Latin America and Asia.
Additionally, the report underscores the potential of low-carbon ammonia, a key component of nitrogen-based fertilisers, as a sustainable alternative.
However, while using renewable energy instead of natural gas is viable and investments to do so are underway, scaling up production will require targeted incentives to offset higher manufacturing costs and encourage adoption among farmers.
United States President Donald Trump has temporarily put his trade war against Canada and Mexico on hold after vowing to slap 25 per cent tariffs on most Canadian and Mexican imports, although he’s imposed tariffs on all steel and aluminum, including from Canada.
He has also upped the ante by threatening to increase tariffs should Canada carry through on its own threat of retaliatory tariffs, with the possibility of further sanctions in the spring following a U.S. government study investigating ways to address the country’s trade deficits.
This is nothing less than an attempt at the economic subordination of Canada by its giant and — until very recently — friendly neighbour and ally. But what makes Trump’s impending trade war even more absurd is that it is based on a series of lies.
Trade, drugs, migrants, banks
Trump has claimed that the U.S. has a “US$200 or $250 billion” trade deficit with Canada. The American government’s own data show that the trade in goods deficit with Canada in 2024 was US$55 billion.
But when you factor in services (in technology or finance), an area in which the U.S. currently enjoys a trade surplus, the annual U.S.-Canada annual trade deficit falls to US$45 billion. And if you exclude energy exports, sold to the U.S. at a discount, the trade scales tip decidedly in favour of the U.S.
Then we also have Trump’s claim that tariffs are needed to penalize Canada for allowing an “invasion” of drugs (mainly fentanyl) and undocumented migrants into the U.S.
But once again, figures from his own government agencies show that only 1.5 per cent of migrants apprehended in 2024, and a mere 0.2 per cent of all fentanyl impounded at U.S. borders in 2024, originated in Canada.
Finally, just hours before the American reprieve on tariffs, Trump raised a new red herring: that Canada does not allow American banks into the country. But many U.S. banks do operate in Canada, making up half of the country’s foreign banking assets.
Just as was the case in his 2016 election campaign, Trump’s 2024 campaign successfully tapped into people’s frustrations and anxieties over everything from high food prices to the housing crisis and rising precarious employment as he promised once more to “make America great again.”
Tariffs featured prominently, with Trump bidding to put “America First” by punishing the country’s three largest trading partners — Mexico, Canada and China — for their alleged “unfair” trade practices.
These types of seductive populist slogans unite people under a common banner, soothing their anxieties. But the accompanying peril is their dependence on the construction of national enemies to unify the nation. In 2016, Trump singled out Muslims and Mexicans. Today it is migrants, trans people and America’s supposed three main trading villains.
Dangerous sentiments
Trump’s populism is therefore built on irrational, if not dangerous, sentiments: blind fear, pridefulness, xenophobia, transphobia, racism and aggression.
No wonder he engages in both blatant falsehoods and unabashed bullying. His lies are integral to his continuing attempts to paint the U.S. as a victim, despite its global supremacy in many areas, thereby justifying attempts at subordinating America’s putative “enemies” and even its friends. Populist sentiment, precisely because it is rooted in the irrational exuberance of pride and unity, cares little about facts, logic or veracity.
A case in point is Trump’s affirmation that the U.S. is “subsidizing” Canada as a result of the trade deficit. The allegation contravenes any economic sense — trade deficits are the result of market-driven imports exceeding exports — yet its deployment here evokes the anxiety-producing prospect that Canada is ripping off American taxpayers.
Populist passion trumps rational argument. Bluster whips up national fervour.
In the days leading up to Trump’s tariff executive order, Canadian federal ministers and provincial premiers also frantically engaged in a public relations offensive (interviews on American TV, meetings with congressional lawmakers and Trump’s cabinet nominees) aimed at changing minds. All to no avail.
Trump finally blinked only a few hours before the Feb. 4 tariff deadline. All it took was the offer by Trudeau of measures that, for the most part, had already been included in the previously announced border security/fentanyl measures. It seems the repackaged deal was enough to allow the president to declare a victory, while granting Canada a mere temporary reprieve.
So all in all, much ado about not too much. Lots of theatrics and brinkmanship, but little advancement, especially on the supposed main problem to be addressed — trade deficits.
The Trump administration has basically stuck to its populist platform, providing more evidence that rational decision-making does not play a role.
Quite the opposite, in fact: attempts to appease Trump appear to have been taken as proof that his threats work, and more demands are undoubtedly in store. That’s evident by the continuing prospect of tariffs in March and the possibility of more to come afterwards (including on steel and aluminum).
Self-defeating irrationality
Trump’s tariff war is senseless. If the measures go ahead, they could plunge Canada into a painful recession requiring state stimulus to support the economy and jobs, and retaliatory and counter-retaliatory trade measures.
This may well be Trump’s intention — he has declared he wants to annex Canada by “economic force” — but it is likely to backfire. Any future trade war will harm not just Canada, Mexico and China, but also the U.S.
Canada’s counter-tariffs target Red States, where Trump derives most of his electoral support.
And given the American dependence on Canada for some 50 per cent of its crude oil imports, Canada’s nuclear option is to impose export tariffs on oil to the U.S. That would cause American prices at the pump to increase dramatically overnight and prove highly unpopular.
In the longer term, then, no one stands to win as a consequence of Trump’s irrational populist policy-making. In the meantime, expect not much else from Trump’s administration than more unpredictability, brinkmanship, intimidation … and, yes, lies.
Ilan Kapoor does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
MIAMI, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NextNRG Inc. (“NextNRG” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: NXXT), a pioneer in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning applications for energy solutions, today announced its fueling-division EzFill, has entered into a fleet fueling agreement with Florida Beauty, a division of Mogul Energy International, Inc. (OTCMARKETS: MGUY), a publicly traded company specializing in refrigerated logistics and the transportation of time- and temperature-sensitive cargo.
This strategic collaboration highlights NextNRG’s focus on rapidly expanding its commercial fleet fueling services while providing additional shareholder value for both companies through operational synergies and innovative solutions. Under the agreement, NextNRG will deliver mobile fueling solutions to Florida Beauty’s fleet of over 200 semi-trucks and 300 refrigerated trailers.
Florida Beauty is one of the nation’s largest floral logistics companies and plays a key role in the transportation of fresh-cut flowers and other perishable goods across the country. During peak season times, Florida Beauty anticipates more than 1,000 loads leaving its facilities in Miami, FL and Ventura CA to support flower distribution.
As a high-volume carrier, Florida Beauty relies on efficient fueling logistics to maintain supply efficiency during high demand periods like Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, when supply chain reliability is critical.
With floral imports exceeding 1.1 billion stems annually, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a consistent fuel supply is essential for minimizing downtime and ensuring timely deliveries. Miami International Airport handles nearly 90% of the nation’s fresh-cut flower imports during peak seasons, making it a critical hub for floral logistics. NextNRG’s fleet fueling services help companies like Florida Beauty operate efficiently, reducing disruptions and optimizing delivery operations.
“As one of the nation’s largest transporters of fresh-cut flowers arriving from South America to Miami, and with over 40 years of experience in nationwide floral logistics, we take great pride in streamlining our operations,” said Ronen Koubi, CEO of Mogul Energy International, Inc. “Florida Beauty spends approximately $12 million annually refueling its massive fleet. With NextNRG, we can significantly improve efficiency by having fuel delivered directly to us, saving time and labor costs while reducing operational disruptions. Additionally, we look forward to continuing discussions with NextNRG about the electrification of our fleet and the deployment of a smart microgrid and wireless charging solutions at our headquarters.”
“This Agreement with Florida Beauty reflects the value of combining innovative fueling solutions with the needs of high-volume logistics providers,” said, Michael D. Farkas CEO and Executive Chairman of NextNRG. “By working together, we will help Florida Beauty maximize operational efficiency while reinforcing our commitment to delivering tailored solutions for industries where uptime and reliability are essential. This agreement brings significant value to both organizations, strengthening shareholder confidence and positioning NextNRG as the go-to fueling solution for fleet operators in perishable goods logistics.”
About NextNRG, Inc. (f/k/a EzFill Holdings, Inc.)
NextNRG Holding Corp. (NextNRG) and EzFill have merged to form a combined entity focused on renewable energy, mobile fueling, and next-generation energy infrastructure. By leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies, NextNRG is developing an integrated ecosystem that combines solar energy generation, battery storage, wireless electric vehicle (EV) charging, and on-demand fuel delivery.
At the core of NextNRG’s strategy is the deployment of NextNRG Smart Microgrids, which utilize AI-driven energy management alongside solar power and battery storage to enhance energy efficiency, reduce costs, and improve grid resiliency. These microgrids are designed to serve commercial properties, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, parking garages, rural and tribal lands, recreational facilities, and government properties, expanding energy accessibility while supporting decarbonization initiatives.
Following the merger with EzFill, NextNRG is integrating sustainable energy solutions into mobile fueling operations. The company will provide renewable energy to its fueling partners, supporting more efficient fuel delivery while advancing clean energy adoption. It continues to expand its growing fleet of fuel delivery trucks and national footprint, including the acquisition of Yoshi Mobility’s fuel division, further solidifying its position as a leader in the on-demand fueling industry.
By combining renewable energy innovation with mobile fueling expertise, NextNRG is building a sustainable energy ecosystem that bridges traditional fuel needs with AI-powered clean energy solutions.
The combined entity, NextNRG, trades under the symbol NXXT on the Nasdaq Capital Market. To find out more visit NextNRG.com.
About Mogul Energy International, Inc.
Mogul Energy International, Inc. (OTCMARKETS: MGUY), operating under the Florida Beauty brand, provides transportation, logistics, and warehouse consolidation and distribution services for perishable and other time- and temperature-sensitive cargo. With over 40 years of experience, Mogul Energy specializes in refrigerated long-haul, regional, and dedicated deliveries for industries such as floral, produce, plants, dairy, poultry, and meats, as well as dry, high-value commodities. Operating one of the largest floral transportation fleets in the U.S., Mogul Energy plays a vital role in the timely and efficient delivery of perishable goods.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time, we or our representatives may make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. We base these forward-looking statements on our expectations and projections about future events, which we derive from the information currently available to us. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future performance, including: our financial performance and projections; our growth in revenue and earnings; and our business prospects and opportunities. You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “hopes,” “believes,” “plans,” “projected,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “hopes” or the negative of these or similar terms. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those related to trade disputes, regulatory changes, or disruptions in the supply chain that could impact the floral logistics sector.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said that Britain is “ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary”.
While reports suggest these would be “peacekeeping” forces, the reality is that true peacekeepers must be impartial. British troops placed to support Ukraine could certainly be seen as “partial”. And the positioning of British forces in Ukraine would fit the Russian narrative that casts Nato as the aggressor.
Ukraine is not a member of Nato, but the goal of Nato membership is enshrined in its constitution. British forces involved in any sort of fighting in Ukraine would not enable article 5, which states that each member will regard an attack on any other member as an attack on themselves and assist it, to be invoked. Additionally, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said last week that European troops deployed to Ukraine should not be covered under article 5.
The weakness with Starmer’s idea is that Britain does not have the wherewithal to provide enough troops, supplies and weapons to act as a real deterrent. This isn’t too dissimilar from the state of British forces when faced with war in Europe more than a century ago.
In 1914 Lord Kitchener, then secretary of state for war, speaking of the cabinet’s decision to go to war in Europe, thundered, “Did they remember, when they went headlong into a war like this, that they were without an army, and without any preparation to equip one?”
Small numbers would be nothing more than a “speed-bump” against a large attack, as the British Expeditionary Force was in 1914 and again in 1940. Poor preparation, small numbers and limited equipment meant their deployment was more an indication of Britain’s support, rather than real capability to fight a long war against a peer enemy.
Britain is again in this position. Years of spending cuts have removed the ability of British forces to prosecute a war against a peer adversary for an extended time. The number of troops has fallen from 100,000 full-time trained personnel in 2000, to approximately 70,000 today.
Britain also does not have the capacity to manufacture at the levels required for a modern war. Much will be needed for immediate capital investment, such as manufacturing capacity for arms and ammunition. Longer-term investment will be required for arms production, as will the reinstatement of supporting infrastructure, such as airfields and storage facilities abandoned after the end of the cold war, both within Britain and across Europe.
There is no solution to the immediate problem except increasing the money available for defence. But Britain, and many other Nato members, have been unwilling to increase spending on defence, even though the current capabilities have been run down to such an extent that European nations cannot field a capable force.
Defence spending
US president Donald Trump has called for Nato countries to up their defence spending to 5% of GDP from the current Nato target of 2%. This would be very difficult to achieve in Britain’s current financial situation without spending cuts elsewhere.
While it has been reported that defence chiefs are pushing for a rise to 2.65% of GDP, Starmer indicated he would resist pressure to increase spending above 2.5%.
The last time the UK spent more than 5% of its GDP on defence was in the height of the cold war. The current international situation has already begun to shift into two distinct blocs similar to the east-west split between 1945 and 1991. However, the bipolar balance of the cold war has been replaced with an increasing instability, as displayed by Russian aggression in Georgia and Ukraine.
Replacing lost capacity is almost always more expensive than maintaining it. Had the governments of past decades maintained the capabilities of the armed forces, the overall cost would most likely have been lower than the amount the nation will now have to invest to obtain the same level of defence.
Each defence review since 1957 has led to cuts to the defence budget in real terms. Reductions in the military budget continue because, previously, nothing presented a sufficient sub-nuclear threat to the nation deemed significant enough to reverse them. Those cuts are now so deep that the nation is on the edge of being unable to defend itself, let alone project military power abroad in any significant capacity.
The prime minister wrote: “We have got to show we are truly serious about our own defence and bearing our own burden.” This assertion is quickly undermined by the indication that he won’t increase spending anytime soon.
None of the western members of Nato have shown any willingness to significantly increase their defence spending. Great Britain expects to spend £56.4 billion for 2024-25, amounting to approximately 2.3% of GDP. But this includes £0.65 billion in pensions and benefits, and £0.22 billion in “arms-length bodies” that do not contribute to the defence establishment in any practical terms.
Britain and Nato have had clear warning since 2014 to correct the deficiencies of their defences. All have chosen to ignore the developing threat from Russia. The impression is that not only are we hoping for the best, but we are planning for the best too.
Lord Tedder, chief of the air staff after the second world war, wrote, “It is at the outset of war that time is the supreme factor.” Three years into the war in Ukraine, and it is clear that Nato missed the opportunity to strengthen its defences in the early stages. It now faces a significant increase in defence spending simply to make up the shortfall from previous decades.
Kenton White does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Interim report published by the CMA in the latest step in its Phase 2 investigation into the merger of two corporate travel businesses.
iStock
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published a supplementary interim report in its investigation of the merger of corporate travel management companies Global Business Travel Group, Inc (GBT) and CWT Holdings LLC (CWT). Both companies supply travel agency services to global businesses with high travel spend and employees who travel internationally.
This is the first in-depth merger investigation that the CMA has conducted under its revised Phase 2 process. Those process changes included issuing a more provisional ‘interim report’, earlier in the process, to facilitate engagement by merging parties in relation to the independent CMA inquiry group’s initial assessment.
In November, the CMA’s interim report provisionally found the proposed merger between GBT and CWT was likely to substantially lessen competition. Following the interim report, the CMA has continued to gather evidence and has carried out further analysis that suggests CWT would not have performed as strongly absent the merger as the group had initially assessed. As a result, and having considered all the evidence in the round, the group has provisionally concluded that CWT is a significantly weaker competitor than in the past and is likely to continue to weaken in the future. There are other suppliers who will offer customers an alternative to the merged business.
Based on that further analysis, and in line with its usual procedures, the CMA inquiry group is today publishing a supplementary interim report ahead of its final decision. That interim report sets out why the group provisionally considers that the deal should be allowed to proceed.
Martin Coleman, chair of the independent panel of experts conducting this investigation, said:
In this case, having considered all of the evidence in the round, particularly the further analysis of CWT’s financial position, we have now provisionally concluded that the merger will not result in a substantial lessening of competition in corporate travel management services.
This is our first investigation under the revised Phase 2 process, with several benefits including the publication of an interim report at an earlier stage and a higher level of business and third-party engagement with the inquiry group. Today’s supplementary report reflects the flexibility this new process provides.
We will now consider feedback on our supplementary interim report before making a final decision in March.
The inquiry group will now seek feedback on its supplementary interim report before making a final decision by 9 March 2025. The deadline for comments is Tuesday 25 February 2025.
On 10 January 2025 the United States Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit seeking to block the merger. The case is currently before the US courts.
New Phase 1 cases opened by the CMA after 25 April 2024 which are referred for an in-depth Phase 2 investigation are run under the new Phase 2 process.
All media enquiries should be directed to the CMA press office by email on press@cma.gov.uk, or by phone on 020 3738 6460.
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
Maxim Rybachuk, a leading specialist at the Center for Strategic and Innovative Research at the Research Institute of Public Policy and Management of Industrial Economics at the State University of Management, has become a laureate of the Moscow Government Prize for Young Scientists for 2024.
The Moscow Government Prize Competition for Young Scientists has been held since 2013. Awards are given annually for achieving outstanding results in fundamental and applied scientific research in the field of natural, technical and humanitarian sciences, as well as for the development and implementation of new technologies, equipment, devices, equipment, materials and substances that contribute to improving the efficiency of activities in the real sector of the economy and the social sphere of the capital.
In total, over 8,000 applications were submitted for the awards during the competition, 1,332 of which were submitted this year. Awards were given to 758 young scientists, 78 of which were submitted this year.
The award was presented to the laureates by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
“We have never had so many competition applications – more than 1,300 works were submitted. And choosing you was not an easy task for us either. So these are truly well-deserved awards that you have earned with your talent, skill, and commitment to science. And of course, I hope that these awards are not the last in your life, but only the beginning of your great scientific career,” Sergei Semenovich addressed the young scientists.
The mayor also announced a decision to double the bonus, which has not been indexed since 2019. The 2024 bonuses are also planned to be recalculated taking into account the increase. At the moment, it is 2 million rubles.
A young scientist from the State University of Management, Maxim Rybachuk, received the award in the Social Sciences category for a series of nine previously published works on the topic of “Socioeconomic Ecosystems as a Core Component of the Systemic Transformation of the Russian Economy”. In his research, Maxim Aleksandrovich analyzed the landscape of the Russian ecosystem market, defined the criteria for ecosystems, key market players and their industry specifics. He assessed the impact of the development of the ecosystem structure of the economy on Russia’s GDP and put forward a number of recommendations in the field of economic policy to protect market participants from the unconstructive influence of ecosystems. In particular, it was proposed to create a national regulator that would combine functions similar to those of the FAS Russia and the Central Bank of the Russian Federation in relation to the activities of ecosystems, because ecosystems are not subject to antimonopoly legislation.
We congratulate Maxim Rybachuk on receiving the prestigious award and wish him further success in his scientific work for the benefit of the Russian economy.
Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 02/18/2025
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Protections Surrounding Key Enabling ALIP Technology Adds to NANO Nuclear’s Stable of Granted or Acquired Patents and Patent Applications
New York, N.Y., Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or “the Company”), a leading advanced nuclear energy and technology company focused on developing clean energy solutions, today announced that it has filed four new separate utility patent applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) related to NANO Nuclear’s Annular Linear Induction Pump (ALIP) technology.
The ALIP technology, a thermal management and distribution system which is based on electromagnetic (rather than mechanical) pumps, is a core technology in the development of advanced molten-salt and liquid-metal nuclear reactors. By utilizing a time-varying magnetic field, ALIPs enable the movement of conductive fluids without mechanical components, reducing wear and maintenance requirements while increasing efficiency.
The ALIP technology, acquired by NANO Nuclear last year and part of its suite of energy systems, is considered a key-enabling technology for the development of advanced nuclear reactors, not only for NANO Nuclear’s microreactors in development but as a third-party commercial opportunity for other advanced nuclear reactor systems.
In addition to enhancing energy conversion cycles, optimizing thermal management, and ensuring operational longevity in high-temperature applications across the energy, propulsion, and industrial sectors, applications of the ALIP technology extend beyond nuclear energy to space power and propulsion systems, industrial cooling systems, and defense applications, positioning NANO Nuclear at the forefront of emerging high-performance fluid control markets.
A U.S. Department of Energy’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III project is ongoing to refine the ALIP technology, led by inventor and NANO Nuclear’s Head of Thermal Hydraulics and Space Program Dr. Carlos O. Maidana, with a view to separately commercialize the technology as a component for liquid metal and all molten salt-based nuclear reactors.
“The development and eventual commercialization of the ALIP technology is essential for advancing next-generation nuclear reactor solutions,” said Carlos O. Maidana, Ph.D., Head of Thermal Hydraulics and Space Program of NANO Nuclear Energy. “Filing these utility patents highlights our commitment to leading the charge in next-generation technologies that are critical to the ongoing evolution of advanced energy systems. I’m pleased to have housed these inventions within NANO Nuclear and to lead the team to progress and refine this technology.”
The newly filed patent applications include:
Patent Application # 19/030,148, titled “Integrated platform and method for optimizing an electromagnetic pump,” relates to the development of software for the design of annular linear induction pumps.
Patent Application # 19/030,130, titled “Electromagnetic pump system and method for moving conducting fluid,” relates to the design of the next generation of annular linear induction pumps.
Patent Application # 19/030,098, titled “Electromagnetic pump and method for manufacturing the same,” relates to the advanced manufacturing of annular linear induction pumps.
Patent Application # 19/030,068, titled “Cooling system for electromagnetic pump system,” relates to the design of a micro-channel cooling system, using advanced manufacturing methods, for annular linear induction pumps operating at very high temperature.
These intellectual properties are expected to provide enhanced component life span and operation metrics in all advanced molten-salt and liquid-metal reactors, including NANO Nuclear’s KRONOS MMR™, LOKI MMR™, and ODIN portable microreactor, all of which are currently in development.
“The filing of these additional utility patents further bolsters our intellectual property portfolio and helps to ensure the protection of our progress in developing this key enabling technology,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Reactor Development of NANO Nuclear Energy. “We believe that the ALIP technology will be instrumental in the development and optimization of the next generation of advanced nuclear reactors, and I’m pleased with the progress Dr. Maidana has overseen through the SBIR Phase III program. We look forward to continuing our progress with ALIP with a view towards including in it our own microreactors in development as well as seeking to separately commercialize it as soon as possible.”
About NANO Nuclear Energy, Inc.
NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) is an advanced technology-driven nuclear energy company seeking to become a commercially focused, diversified, and vertically integrated company across five business lines: (i) cutting edge portable and other microreactor technologies, (ii) nuclear fuel fabrication, (iii) nuclear fuel transportation, (iv) nuclear applications for space and (v) nuclear industry consulting services. NANO Nuclear believes it is the first portable nuclear microreactor company to be listed publicly in the U.S.
Led by a world-class nuclear engineering team, NANO Nuclear’s reactor products in development include “ZEUS”, a solid core battery reactor, and “ODIN”, a low-pressure coolant reactor, each representing advanced developments in clean energy solutions that are portable, on-demand capable, advanced nuclear microreactors. NANO Nuclear is also developing patented stationary KRONOS MMR™ Energy System and space focused, portable LOKI MMR™.
Advanced Fuel Transportation Inc. (AFT), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is led by former executives from the largest transportation company in the world aiming to build a North American transportation company that will provide commercial quantities of HALEU fuel to small modular reactors, microreactor companies, national laboratories, military, and DOE programs. Through NANO Nuclear, AFT is the exclusive licensee of a patented high-capacity HALEU fuel transportation basket developed by three major U.S. national nuclear laboratories and funded by the Department of Energy. Assuming development and commercialization, AFT is expected to form part of the only vertically integrated nuclear fuel business of its kind in North America.
HALEU Energy Fuel Inc. (HEF), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is focusing on the future development of a domestic source for a High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel fabrication pipeline for NANO Nuclear’s own microreactors as well as the broader advanced nuclear reactor industry.
NANO Nuclear Space Inc. (NNS), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is exploring the potential commercial applications of NANO Nuclear’s developing micronuclear reactor technology in space. NNS is focusing on applications such as the LOKI MMR™ system and other power systems for extraterrestrial projects and human sustaining environments, and potentially propulsion technology for long haul space missions. NNS’ initial focus will be on cis-lunar applications, referring to uses in the space region extending from Earth to the area surrounding the Moon’s surface.
This news release and statements of NANO Nuclear’s management in connection with this news release contain or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “potential”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. In this press release, forward-looking statements include those related to (i) the anticipated benefits to NANO Nuclear of the patent applications described herein and (ii) the future prospects for the ALIP technology generally as part of NANO Nuclear’s reactors in development or via separate commercialization. These and other forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For NANO Nuclear, particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following: (i) risks related to our U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) or related state or non-U.S. nuclear fuel licensing submissions, (ii) risks related the development of new or advanced technology and the acquisition of complimentary technology or businesses, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, regulatory delays, integration issues, securing intellectual property protection, and the development of competitive technology, (iii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations, (iv) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to technologically develop and commercially deploy a competitive advanced nuclear reactor or other technology in the timelines we anticipate, if ever, (v) risks related to the impact of U.S. and non-U.S. government regulation, policies and licensing requirements, including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including those associated with the recently enacted ADVANCE Act, and (vi) similar risks and uncertainties associated with the operating an early stage business a highly regulated and rapidly evolving industry. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement, and NANO Nuclear therefore encourages investors to review other factors that may affect future results in its filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov and at https://ir.nanonuclearenergy.com/financial-information/sec-filings. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.
EDISON, N.J., Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: EOSE) (“Eos” or the “Company”), America’s leading innovator in designing, manufacturing, and providing zinc-based long duration energy storage systems sourced and manufactured in the United States, today announced it will release its fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results after the U.S. market closes on March 4, 2025. A conference call to discuss its results will take place the following morning on March 5 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
Eos is now partnering with Say Technologies to allow retail and institutional shareholders to submit and vote on questions ahead of the earnings call. A selection of key questions applicable to the broad investor base will be addressed live during the call, offering shareholders an opportunity to engage with Eos management.
Starting on February 25, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. ET, registered shareholders will be able to submit questions via the Say Technologies Q&A Platform, which will remain open until 8:00 a.m. ET on March 3, 2025. For any support inquiries shareholders may email support@saytechnologies.com.
Registration Information
The live webcast of the earnings call will be available on the “Investor Relations” page of the Company’s website at Eos Investors or may be accessed using this link (registration link). To avoid delays, we encourage participants to join the conference call fifteen minutes ahead of the scheduled start time.
The conference call replay will be available via webcast through Eos’ investor relations website for twelve months following the live presentation. The webcast replay will be available from approximately 11:30 a.m. ET on March 5, 2025, and can be accessed by visiting Eos Investors
About Eos Energy Enterprises
Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. is accelerating the shift to American energy independence with positively ingenious solutions that transform how the world stores power. Our breakthrough Znyth™ aqueous zinc battery was designed to overcome the limitations of conventional lithium-ion technology. It is safe, scalable, efficient, sustainable, manufactured in the U.S., and the core of our innovative systems that today provides utility, industrial, and commercial customers with a proven, reliable energy storage alternative for 3 to 12-hour applications. Eos was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Edison, New Jersey. For more information about Eos (NASDAQ: EOSE), visit eose.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our path to profitability and strategic outlook, statements regarding our capital needs to support project AMAZE, statements regarding the anticipated use of proceeds from the delayed draw term loan with Cerberus, and statements that refer to outlook, projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, them. Because such statements are based on expectations as to future financial and operating results and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ materially from those projected.
Factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: changes adversely affecting the business in which we are engaged; our ability to forecast trends accurately; our ability to generate cash, service indebtedness and incur additional indebtedness; our ability to achieve the operational milestones on the delayed draw term loan; our ability to raise financing in the future, including the discretionary revolving facility from Cerberus; risks associated with the credit agreement with Cerberus, including risks of default, dilution of outstanding Common Stock, consequences for failure to meet milestones and contractual lockup of shares; our customers’ ability to secure project financing; the amount of final tax credits available to our customers or to Eos pursuant to the Inflation Reduction Act; uncertainties around our ability to meet the applicable conditions precedent to funding under the DOE loan; our ability to continue to develop efficient manufacturing processes to scale and to forecast related costs and efficiencies accurately; fluctuations in our revenue and operating results; competition from existing or new competitors; our ability to convert firm order backlog and pipeline to revenue; risks associated with security breaches in our information technology systems; risks related to legal proceedings or claims; risks associated with evolving energy policies in the United States and other countries and the potential costs of regulatory compliance; risks associated with changes to the U.S. trade environment; risks resulting from the impact of global pandemics, including the novel coronavirus, Covid-19; our ability to maintain the listing of our shares of common stock on NASDAQ; our ability to grow our business and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain our management and key employees; risks related to the adverse changes in general economic conditions, including inflationary pressures and increased interest rates; risk from supply chain disruptions and other impacts of geopolitical conflict; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the possibility that Eos may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; other factors beyond our control; risks related to adverse changes in general economic conditions; and other risks and uncertainties.
The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to additional risks, uncertainties, and factors, including those more fully described in the Company’s most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Further information on potential risks that could affect actual results will be included in the subsequent periodic and current reports and other filings that the Company makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Moreover, the Company operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment, and new risks and uncertainties may emerge that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Franklin Wireless Corp. (NASDAQ: FKWL) announces the appointment of Ira Greenstein to the Company’s Board of Directors, effective February 17, 2025.
“We are pleased to welcome Ira Greenstein to the Company’s Board of Directors,” said OC Kim, President and CEO of Franklin Wireless. “Ira’s extensive legal, corporate, and government experience brings a new depth of knowledge, critical skills in strategic decision-making and governance to the board.”
Mr. Greenstein is a Founding Partner of the Pierson Ferdinand LLP law firm. He previously served as Deputy Assistant and Strategist to the President during the first Trump Administration. Before his government service, he was President of IDT Corporation and Genie Energy Ltd.
Mr. Greenstein holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations and a Juris Doctor (JD) from Columbia University School of Law. He is currently a member of the board of Forafric Global plc. (NASDAQ: AFRI), where he serves on the Audit and Remuneration Committees.
Mr. Greenstein will be replacing Gary Nelson on the Board as Mr. Nelson has decided to resign from the Board to enjoy more time with his family.
About Franklin Access Franklin Access (NASDAQ: FKWL) specializes in integrated connectivity solutions powered by 4G LTE and 5G technologies. The company offers mobile device management (MDM), network management solutions (NMS), and innovative wireless products for the digital age. For more information, visit FranklinAccess.com.
Safe Harbor Statement Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied due to various factors.
WILMINGTON, Del., Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Onfolio Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: ONFO, ONFOW) (OTC: ONFOP) (the “Company” or “Onfolio”), a company that acquires and manages a diversified portfolio of online businesses, today announced that its chairman and chief executive officer released the following letter to Onfolio shareholders.
A longer version as part of a “2024 In Review” piece has been posted on the Company’s corporate website at https://onfolio.com/2024-in-review.
Dear Shareholders,
What a difference a year makes.
Looking back on 2024, I’d like to reflect on our journey and progress in light of our original thesis. We started with four key beliefs:
There are hundreds or thousands of profitable online businesses undervalued due to idiosyncratic risks or suboptimal operations.
Aggregating these businesses reduces individual risk, strengthening the portfolio.
Our operational expertise enables us to run and grow these businesses more effectively than their previous management.
Our public company status allows us to access capital at costs lower than the returns generated by our acquisitions.
In 2024, we made significant strides in all these areas.
We acquired three new businesses, adding eight revenue streams and $6M in revenue:
RevenueZen (RZ) (January 2024): A content marketing agency with $1.4M revenue and $227K net profit. RZ retained its entire team post-acquisition, enhancing operational expertise across our portfolio. This acquisition demonstrated our ability to structure deals with minimal upfront cash, utilizing promissory notes, preferred shares, and seller financing.
DDSRank (July 2024): A niche SEO agency for dentists ($500K revenue, $200K net profit). Funded via one of our our SPV funds, preferred shares, and seller notes, requiring minimal Onfolio cash.
Eastern Standard (ES) (October 2024): A digital marketing agency well known in the health and education industries, with $4MM revenue and $630K net profit. This was structured similarly to DDSRank, with SPV fund participation enabling us to secure a majority stake while preserving capital.
Each acquisition reinforced our ability to execute capital-efficient deals while improving operational efficiency.
2. Evolving Our Operating Model
Effective post-acquisition management is key to our success. While we initially operated as a centralized entity and later decentralized entirely, in 2024, we adopted a hybrid model;“centralized strategy, decentralized execution.” This allows portfolio company leaders to focus on their strengths while benefiting from Onfolio’s shared expertise, strategic oversight, and best practices.
This approach enhances operational efficiency, accelerates growth, and enables acquired businesses to maintain and expand profitability. It also allows us to actively participate in strategic hiring, key decision-making, and resource allocation, maximizing value creation across our holdings.
3. Expanding Our Capital Strategy with SPVs
In March 2024, we launched SPVs (Special Purpose Vehicles), allowing accredited investors to co-invest in acquisitions. This proved instrumental in funding DDSRank and ES, enabling us to secure valuable businesses while preserving Onfolio’s cash. While SPVs involve higher capital costs due to equity sharing, they provide an effective solution for funding accretive deals without reliance on traditional debt markets.
For SPV investors, this offers exposure to specific online businesses with a clear return profile, albeit with higher risk and less diversification than Onfolio itself. While not a long-term strategy, SPVs will remain part of our acquisition playbook in 2025, alongside preferred shares.
4. Quoting Our Preferred Shares on OTCQB
A major milestone was quoting our preferred shares on OTCQB, providing liquidity for early investors and expanding access for new ones. Each share pays a $3 annual dividend, appealing to income-focused investors. Since 2022, we’ve raised $1.5M in preferred share financing and issued $3M of preferred shares as part of acquisition financing.
This liquidity should drive demand, potentially allowing us to raise capital more efficiently in 2025 at a lower cost (12%) than SPVs. We anticipate growing this funding channel, unlocking further acquisition opportunities with minimal dilution.
On the Verge of Profitability
Throughout 2024, we have significantly reduced our losses and we now appear to be essentially at profitability. We’ve reached a position where we can continue operations without requiring additional fundraising or acquisitions to achieve profitability, yet we will continue to pursue both because they accelerate our growth and long-term value creation. With this foundation, we expect to move firmly into sustained profitability in the near term.
Looking Ahead to 2025
With our acquisition model validated, capital access expanded, and operational efficiencies improving, 2025 promises even greater momentum. Our roadmap is clear:
Continue acquiring high-quality businesses, where synergies create exponential value.
Expand capital raising efforts, leveraging preferred shares and SPVs.
Further optimize operations, scaling our playbook for sustained growth.
If we execute well, we anticipate achieving significant profitability in the near term, reinforcing our ability to deliver compounded returns for our shareholders.
Onward to an even stronger 2025.
About Onfolio Holdings
Onfolio acquires and manages a diversified portfolio of online businesses. Onfolio acquires business that meet its investment criteria, being that such businesses operate in sectors with long-term growth opportunities, have positive and stable cash flows, face minimal threats of technological or competitive obsolescence and can be managed by our existing team or have strong management teams largely in place. The Company excels at finding acquisition opportunities where the seller has not fully optimized their business, and Onfolio’s experience and skillset allows it to add increased value to these existing businesses. Visit www.onfolio.com for more information.
Safe Harbor Statement
The information posted in this release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by use of the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “plans,” “explores,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “continues,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, effects of continued geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, delays in completing new customer offerings, changes in customer order patterns, changes in customer offering mix, continued success in technological advances and delivering technological innovations, delays due to issues with outsourced service providers, those events and factors described by us in Item 1.A “Risk Factors” in our most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q; other risks to which our Company is subject; other factors beyond the Company’s control. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
