Winners of the Touchstone Award 2025 for hallmarking enforcement and education announced.
The British Hallmarking Council (BHC) has awarded the Touchstone Award 2025 to London Trading Standards (LTS) for its role in ‘Operation Stamping it Out’, at the recent Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) annual conference in Blackpool.
The Touchstone Award, launched by the BHC in 2012, sponsored by the National Association of Jewellers and supported by the CTSI, recognises the most effective initiative relating to hallmarking enforcement or education delivered by a local authority.
Launched in 2023, ‘Operation Stamping It Out’ is a pioneering hallmarking education and enforcement project, established and funded by the London Assay Office and delivered in conjunction with the WRi Group. It aims to ensure retailers of silver, gold, platinum and palladium jewellery and artworks in London and the Southeast are compliant with the Hallmarking Act (1973), and is delivered through a programme of education, awareness and enforcement.
Across the 8 LTS teams involved in the operation:
132 intelligence reports were generated
311 retailers were visited
more than 200 verbal or written warnings were issued for hallmarking non-compliance
over £250,000 worth of silver and gold jewellery without hallmarks has been seized
4 active criminal prosecutions are underway
The Chair of the BHC, Noel Hunter, said:
The British Hallmarking Council congratulates London Trading Standards on winning the Touchstone Award. It was an incredible team effort which has produced, and continues to produce, unprecedented results. It will undoubtedly provide an enforcement model that can be used elsewhere across the UK. The BHC looks forward to supporting that development.
The Chief Executive of the National Association of Jewellers, Ben Massey, said:
Operation Stamping It Out has laid bare the serious threat that the illicit trade in un-hallmarked precious metals poses to consumers and to the UK jewellery industry – an industry worth £10 billion annually and supporting over 60,000 jobs.
The outstanding results achieved by London Trading Standards are a testament to what can be accomplished with focused enforcement, and the 2025 Touchstone Award is richly deserved. However, this must not remain a localised effort. It is imperative that Trading Standards teams and related agencies come together to adopt and implement a similar programme nationally, ensuring a consistent and robust response across traditional retail and digital marketplaces.
The Director of the London Assay Office, Will Evans, said:
For more than 700 years, the London Assay Office has protected consumers and the trade by ensuring the quality of precious metals. We are incredibly proud to support Operation Stamping It Out, and thrilled that the collaboration between WRi Group and London Trading Standards – which has seen more than £250,000 of illegal items removed from the streets so far – has been recognised with the 2025 Touchstone Award.
The dedication and professionalism shown by the teams from the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Camden, Westminster, Hackney, Ealing, Waltham Forest, and Newham, and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, to protecting consumers and businesses, shows how much can be achieved when we work together towards a common goal.
Schaefer Systems International Ltd. (SSI) has agreed to pay $876,000 to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations relating to the payment of a prohibited finder’s fee in connection with the award of an Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) contract to supply a pallet racking system for a warehouse at a U.S. military base in South Korea. SSI markets and sells warehouse logistics systems and provides related services throughout Asia. SSI disclosed the prohibited payment to the government following an internal compliance review and internal investigation.
The settlement resolves allegations that prior to the award of the AAFES contract in 2018, SSI falsely certified its compliance with a procurement integrity provision limiting the payment of commissions to certain bona fide employees and agencies. Unbeknownst to AAFES, SSI intended to pay a finder’s fee to a South Korean national who had informed SSI of the potential contracting opportunity and helped secure the contract.
“Those who do business with the government must do so fairly and honestly,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will hold accountable contractors that fail to follow procurement rules, but we will also give credit to those who disclose their wrongdoing, take appropriate remedial actions, and meaningfully cooperate with the government’s investigation.”
“Department of Defense contractors have a duty to uphold their contractual obligations and deliver honest value to the American taxpayer,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Stanley A. Newell of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Transnational Operations Field Office.“This civil settlement demonstrates that illicit payment schemes and kickbacks will not be tolerated. The dedicated professionals of DCIS will work tirelessly to hold those who violate the public trust accountable.”
In connection with the settlement, the United States acknowledged that SSI took a number of significant steps entitling them to credit for cooperating with the government. Following an internal compliance review and independent investigation, SSI promptly disclosed to the government the prohibited payment. SSI also provided the government with a detailed and thorough written disclosure and cooperated with the government throughout its investigation.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and DCIS.
Fraud Section Senior Trial Counsel Andrew A. Steinberg handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the United States in the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Schaefer Systems International Ltd. (SSI) has agreed to pay $876,000 to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations relating to the payment of a prohibited finder’s fee in connection with the award of an Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) contract to supply a pallet racking system for a warehouse at a U.S. military base in South Korea. SSI markets and sells warehouse logistics systems and provides related services throughout Asia. SSI disclosed the prohibited payment to the government following an internal compliance review and internal investigation.
The settlement resolves allegations that prior to the award of the AAFES contract in 2018, SSI falsely certified its compliance with a procurement integrity provision limiting the payment of commissions to certain bona fide employees and agencies. Unbeknownst to AAFES, SSI intended to pay a finder’s fee to a South Korean national who had informed SSI of the potential contracting opportunity and helped secure the contract.
“Those who do business with the government must do so fairly and honestly,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will hold accountable contractors that fail to follow procurement rules, but we will also give credit to those who disclose their wrongdoing, take appropriate remedial actions, and meaningfully cooperate with the government’s investigation.”
“Department of Defense contractors have a duty to uphold their contractual obligations and deliver honest value to the American taxpayer,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Stanley A. Newell of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Transnational Operations Field Office.“This civil settlement demonstrates that illicit payment schemes and kickbacks will not be tolerated. The dedicated professionals of DCIS will work tirelessly to hold those who violate the public trust accountable.”
In connection with the settlement, the United States acknowledged that SSI took a number of significant steps entitling them to credit for cooperating with the government. Following an internal compliance review and independent investigation, SSI promptly disclosed to the government the prohibited payment. SSI also provided the government with a detailed and thorough written disclosure and cooperated with the government throughout its investigation.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and DCIS.
Fraud Section Senior Trial Counsel Andrew A. Steinberg handled the matter.
The claims resolved by the United States in the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
Senator Marshall Delivers Remarks at Unveiling of USDA’s National Farm Security Action Plan
Washington – On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, along with Governors from across the country, and other members of Congress, at the USDA, where they unveiled their National Farm Security Action Plan to protect American agriculture from foreign threats like China.
Click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full remarks.
Full remarks as delivered:
“Well, good morning, everybody. America’s abundant food supply is not guaranteed. It’s a strategic asset we must fiercely protect. Farm and ranch security is national security, and I’m proud today to share how Kansas is at the heart of this mission. Today, we tell China to get the hell out of American agriculture. Today, China, here’s your ticket, do not pass go. Get the hell out of American agriculture, and the Trump administration is going to lead the way.
“Now, I want to start by just thanking Secretary Rollins, and maybe we can help you get some Angus cattle someday for your farm. But I do want to say thank Secretary Rollins, and President Trump, and his administration, for his unwavering commitment to our farmers, our ranchers, and rural America. The big reconciliation bill we just passed exemplifies this support. It strengthened the farm safety net, including increased reference prices, it makes key business tax deductions permanent, and doubles the estate tax exemption up to $30 million for couples, and streamlines the 45Z tax credit. Folks, 45Z is going to do more for agriculture than all the soybeans and sorghum we sold to China in the past five years.
“This bill empowers our agriculture communities and secures our family farms for generations to come. Now, as a fifth-generation farm kid, I learned how agriculture underpins our economic stability, our public health, our national defense, our geopolitical autonomy, and our rural way of life.
“It contributes $1.5 trillion to GDP and supports over 22 million jobs, yet we often take it for granted. Our farmers, ranchers, and our food supply chains face grave threats… specifically bioterrorism, procurement disruptions, and foreign ownership. A virus like COVID, which was made in a lab, could target our beef and dairy cattle industry next, or a fungus could devastate our wheat and our corn. Whether it’s from nature or made in a laboratory by a foreign adversary, these risks demand vigilance.
“Let me share how Kansas is leading the fight. We’re proud to host the Animal Health Corridor that stretches from Columbia, Missouri, to Manhattan, Kansas – the little apple – to Lincoln, Nebraska, where cutting-edge research thrives. And why in the world would we let scientists from foreign adversaries in those experiments and in those laboratories? I’ll never know. And why we’re doing research with American dollars in those foreign countries, or threats, I’ll never know either.
“I want to thank President Trump – in his first term, he welcomed the USDA Economic Research Service, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, to Kansas City, which complements the national bio-agro defense facility in Manhattan. This synergy makes Kansas a global hub for agricultural innovation.
“Our strength lies in our collaboration by uniting public and private sectors with land grant universities like my alma mater, the fighting, ever-fighting mighty Wildcats of Kansas State University, we’re building a resilient food supply. There you go. Coach Tuberville, ‘Let’s Go Wildcats.’
“I want to just commend the Department of Defense and all the agencies up here today for your joint efforts to combat diseases like avian influenza, screw worm, and foot and mouth, protecting our farmers and communities. And finally, this, let me just concur with Coach Tuberville that I’m going to champion for the Secretary of Agriculture to be part of CFIUS. President Trump could appoint her, and Congress can make that legal for years to come as well. That’s the best way to counter these emerging threats. Think about it – China, right now, owns land next to Whiteman Air Force Base where our B2s were launched, who did just a spectacular job of, yes, obliterating Iran’s nuclear armament.
“They own land next to Fort Riley, Kansas, home of the Big Red One Infantry Division as well. We need someone who thinks of agriculture when they wake up in the morning, and they go to bed, and they think of agriculture as national security. Again, we can’t take our food supply for granted. Kansas is leading the way, but it takes a national resolve to protect our farms, to fortify our biosecurity, and keep America’s food in American hands. Thank you so much. God bless.”
WALTHAM, Mass. and RESTON, Va., July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PaymentWorks, the only digital supplier onboarding platform that indemnifies vendor payments and optimizes for preferred payment types, today announced it will co-present a live virtual event with Nacha, the governing body of the ACH Network, to guide organizations through upcoming ACH rule changes, which for most non-consumer originators, take effect in June 2026.
Nacha created the new rules to combat the growing wave of ACH credit push fraud, such as business email compromise and vendor impersonation — schemes that exploit weak supplier onboarding and manual vendor management processes.
During the event, Nacha will review the reasons behind the Rule changes, their impact on non-consumer ACH originators, and the timeline for establishing compliance. With unmatched experience securing vendor data and ACH credit push payments, PaymentWorks will share proven, practical insight into why these rules are needed and what actions organizations should take now.
Attendees will learn:
Nacha’s role in governing the ACH network
Why Nacha amended the Rules to include Fraud monitoring for ACH Credit Push payments — and the timeline for compliance
How to adapt supplier onboarding, change management, and ACH payment workflows to stay compliant by June 2026
WHAT: Nacha 2026 ACH Rule Changes — Are You Ready? WHEN: Wednesday, July 16, 2025, 2:00 – 3:00 PM EST CREDITS: 1 CPE Credit, 1 AAP & APRP Credit REGISTER: Here
About PaymentWorks PaymentWorks is the only digital supplier onboarding platform with a $2 million indemnification for vendor payments against fraud and optimizes for preferred payment types. Trusted by universities, healthcare systems, governments, and large enterprises, PaymentWorks transforms vendor onboarding from a manual risk point into a secure, compliant, and revenue-generating advantage.
About Nacha
Nacha governs the thriving ACH Network, the payment system that drives safe, smart, and fast Direct Deposits and Direct Payments with the capability to reach all U.S. bank and credit union accounts. There were 33.6 billion ACH Network payments made in 2024, valued at $86.2 trillion. Through problem-solving and consensus-building among diverse payment industry stakeholders, Nacha advances innovation and interoperability in the payments system. Nacha develops rules and standards, provides industry solutions, and delivers education, accreditation, and advisory services.
Jakarta (Agenzia Fides) – “I hear mostly positive things about the nutrition and free meals program for children, launched by the Indonesian government last January, in various parts of Indonesia. It is having an impact on children’s nutrition, and even Catholic schools and our seminaries have benefited,” says Father Alfonsus Widhiwiryawan Sx, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Indonesia and local Xaverian missionary, in an interview with Fides, during a public debate in the country on the program launched by President Propbowo Subianto. “Of course,” the priest continues, “one must always differentiate and consider the local situation in the various regions, given the vastness and diversity of the regions that make up Indonesia. But in general, one can say that we can observe a positive impact, especially in the poorest regions such as Papua and Borneo, where the problem of food security for children in indigenous communities is particularly serious,” emphasizes Father Widhiwiryawan, who, in his role as National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, has the opportunity to travel to dioceses of the archipelago and assess the situation firsthand. “The implementation of the program,” he notes, “is carried out by the provincial governments and the organization of the kitchens. This is another aspect to consider, and one that is multifaceted. In addition, in the implementation of the program, certain schools are selected and given priority according to established criteria. I can say that I have also observed positive comments and reactions in Catholic parishes and schools because it is a tool in the educational process,” he notes. “Some teachers and people working in the education sector,” he says, “report that the program is more than just a gesture of charity, as it contributes to educational results: Improving children’s nutrition leads to increased performance and learning results, which clearly correlate with better overall human development,” he emphasizes. Locally, the government program is supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which leads a coalition of international partners. These partners, who also share the goal of improving nutrition across the country, provide technical assistance for the program and help monitor results, contact beneficiary families, set standards, and control the quality of the food provided. According to the National Agency for Nutrition, the government’s free school meals program reached nearly 7 million beneficiaries by July 2025. The program, announced by President Prabowo Subianto during his election campaign and with which he won support, was launched on January 6th and is intended to reach 82 million children nationwide with a gradual expansion. 1,873 food service units, officially called “Food Service Units,” are already in operation to implement the program. The program plans to open another 473 units nationwide in the coming weeks and establish partnerships with approximately 10,000 small and medium-sized enterprises or local cooperatives that will supply the food service units with raw materials and local products. According to the government’s goals, the program is expected to reach 24 million beneficiaries by the end of August. However, the program has also caused confusion and sparked a political debate. According to some observers, investing public funds in such a welfare program means diverting necessary resources from measures to stimulate the economy and employment. To finance the program, the government has cut funding to the Ministries of Public Works, Health, and Education. Meanwhile, unemployment is rising across the country, and the International Monetary Fund has predicted that it will rise in Indonesia from 4.9% in 2024 to 5% in 2025. But Prabowo’s feeding program has also been the subject of further controversy: hundreds of children who benefited from it suffered food poisoning, and authorities have raised concerns about accountability and corruption. The media points out that President Prabowo is focusing on low-income social groups and raises doubts about the sustainability of the program, which, when fully implemented, will cost USD 44 billion a year, or about 8% of the national budget. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 8/7/2025)
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Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
New phonics-inspired framework to boost standards for children
New writing framework published to build a nation of confident writers as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
A focus on handwriting, encouraging children to speak out loud and a renewed focus on reception are part of a first-of-its-kind writing framework, as the Education Secretary says the next generation should be as good at putting pen to paper as they are posting on TikTok.
The new framework, published today (8 July), will give teachers practical tools and guidance to plan high quality lessons and teach writing from reception and throughout primary school, so that thousands more pupils can build strong foundations in language, spelling and handwriting.
This includes integrating writing tasks across all subjects, as well as encouraging children to speak out loud words and sentences before writing them down, and similarly using dictation where children write down words, phrases and sentences a teacher has said out loud.
Even in a digital age, strong writing skills are a vital tool for everyday life and work, helping children explore their thoughts, share their ideas, and make sense of the world around them. Evidence also shows good writing skills can unlock future success and are directly linked to progress in education as well as future earnings.
Building on the success of the government’s reading framework and its focus on phonics teaching, which has seen 100,000 more children every year build strong foundations in reading, the new writing framework is a first step towards transforming how writing is taught, with those with lower attainment set to benefit most, so no child is left behind.
The launch comes as Key Stage 2 assessment (SATs) results were published this morning (Tuesday) showing the percentage of children meeting the expected standard in writing remains below pre-pandemic levels.
In 2024, just over half (55%) of white working-class children left primary school meeting the expected standard in writing, compared to 78% among non-disadvantaged children.
Similarly, only 30% of children with special educational needs met the expected standard in writing, compared to 83% of children without.
The scale of these divides is why, alongside support like the writing framework, the government will in the autumn publish an ambitious schools white paper to reform the SEND system and raise outcomes for disadvantaged children – supporting the Plan for Change to give every child the best start in life.
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson said:
Far too many children are leaving school unable to write well, holding them back from future success.
Writing remains a crucial skill for young people to achieve and thrive in school and later in life. We want them to be as confident putting pen to paper as they are posting on TikTok.
Our new writing framework is a first step towards transforming how writing is taught in primary schools, as we work to boost outcomes for disadvantaged children and those with SEND, and deliver on our Plan for Change.
This forms part of the government’s mission to break the link between a child’s background and success, building on plans to ensure every child gets the best possible start in life including by boosting early literacy skills through the expansion of the government’s network of English Hubs.
The framework has been drafted with expert guidance from a range of sector experts including academics, leading practitioners and organisations.
STEP Academy Trust, Executive Director of Primary Education, Dr Tim Mills MBE said:
Writing is notoriously difficult: the cognitive equivalent of ‘digging ditches’ according to psychologist Ronald Kellogg. Learning to write is one of the most challenging undertakings facing children, and so one of the most difficult to teach.
However, it is extremely susceptible to teaching. As with the reading framework, we have sought to distil the growing research and evidence around learning to write into useful knowledge, guidance and practical advice. The aim is to support primary schools teach this vital academic, social and creative life skill by providing them with a coherent understanding of the demanding, sometimes messy progression to becoming a competent and motivated writer.
Deputy Headteacher, Stanley Road Primary School, Andrew Percival, said:
As writing is one of the most cognitively demanding tasks that we expect children to master, it is essential that teachers have the support they need to ensure all pupils can flourish as writers.
The writing framework provides schools with evidence-informed guidance that will help them set pupils on the path to becoming confident and proficient writers.
Headteacher and Director St Matthew’s Research School, Sonia Thompson, said:
The Writing Framework is designed to provide teachers and leaders with evidence informed tools and reflection points. It is not a checklist but a guide for improving confidence and practice, which will lead to improved pupil writing outcomes.
The announcement today builds on the action already underway to drive high and rising standards in literacy including a National Year of Reading, investing £27.7 million to support the teaching of reading and writing in primary school as well as the ongoing Curriculum and Assessment Review.
The English Hubs programme provides expert advice and support to schools to improve the teaching of reading driving high and rising standards in English across the country.
The National Year of Reading, set to start in January 2026, will unite parents, schools, libraries and businesses to get people reading and help reverse the decline in reading for pleasure and boost children’s literacy skills.
IRVINE, CA., July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Clean Energy Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: CETY) (the “Company” or “CETY”), a clean energy technology company offering power generation, waste to energy, battery storage, and heat to power solutions to deliver affordable, scalable, and eco-friendly energy, clean fuels, and alternative electricity for a sustainable future, is pleased to announce that its technologies should remain fully eligible for federal clean energy tax incentives following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025.
Under the new legislation, projects utilizing CETY’s waste heat-to-power, biomass combined heat and power (CHP), and battery storage technologies should continue to qualify for the most Investment Tax Credits (ITC) and Production Tax Credits (PTC) established by the Inflation Reduction Act—up to 30% ITC or 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour PTC—provided they meet updated requirements for zero greenhouse gas emissions, prevailing wage and apprenticeship standards.
“This legislation reinforces our competitive edge, said Kam Mahdi, CEO of CETY. “Unlike solar, wind, EV, or hydrogen projects, many of which face new limitations, our technologies remain fully supported. This positions CETY as a premier opportunity for shareholders seeking exposure to resilient, profitable clean energy solutions.”
The OBBBA retains incentives for technologies like CETY’s when:
Projects began construction by December 31, 2024, qualifying them under existing IRA-era credits.
New projects meet stricter requirements under Section 45Y (Clean Electricity Production Credit) and Section 48E (Clean Electricity Investment Credit), including:
Demonstrated zero or net-negative lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions
Compliance with prevailing wage and apprenticeship guidelines
Use of U.S.-sourced components to satisfy domestic content rules
No participation by prohibited foreign entities of concern
The updated tax credits will gradually phase down starting in 2033 and sunset by the end of 2035, creating a limited window for investors and developers to capitalize on these incentives.
“As the energy landscape shifts, our waste heat recovery, biomass CHP, power generation, and battery storage solutions are essential for industrial and commercial facilities aiming to cut emissions and operating costs,” Kam Mahdi added. “Whether it’s converting agricultural or forestry waste into clean energy through biomass systems, capturing waste heat from industrial processes to generate power, tapping geothermal resources for sustainable electricity, or providing reliable power and storage for high-demand applications like data centers and crypto mining operations, CETY stands ready to deliver cutting-edge technologies that meet—and exceed—the federal government’s latest standards. CETY also anticipates curing Nasadq price deficiency by Novenmber 3rd , 2025.”
About Clean Energy Technologies, Inc. (CETY)
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Clean Energy Technologies, Inc. (CETY) is a rising leader in the zero-emission revolution by offering eco-friendly green energy solutions, clean energy fuels and alternative electric power for small and mid-sized projects in North America, Europe, and Asia. We deliver power from heat and biomass with zero emission and low cost. Our principal products are Waste Heat Recovery Solutions using our patented Clean CycleTM generator to create electricity. Waste to Energy Solutions convert waste products created in manufacturing, agriculture, wastewater treatment plants and other industries to electricity and BioChar. Engineering, Consulting and Project Management Solutions provide expertise and experience in developing clean energy projects for municipal and industrial customers and Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) companies.
CETY’s common stock is currently traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CETY.” For more information, visit www.cetyinc.com.
This summary should be read in conjunction with our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2024, and our other periodic filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which contain, among other matters, risk factors and financial footnotes as well as a discussions of our business, operations and financial matters, which filings can be located on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.
Safe Harbor Statement
This news release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with respect to achieving corporate objectives, developing additional project interests, the Company’s analysis of opportunities in the acquisition and development of various project interests and certain other matters. These statements are made under the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements contained herein. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on the Company’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of CETY’s business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the Company’s control. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “anticipate,” “plan,” “expect,” “estimate,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar references to future periods. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company 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. The Company undertakes 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.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) — China’s passenger car sector posted double-digit growth in retail sales in June as government policies to boost consumption continued to have an effect, the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) said Tuesday.
China’s passenger car retail sales rose 18.1 percent year-on-year last month to more than 2.08 million units, the association said.
The association attributed the significant increase to the impact of a nationwide trade-in program for consumer goods.
Last month, the country’s government reaffirmed its support for the program, guaranteeing continued funding to maintain government subsidy payments through 2025. The program, a key part of the country’s broader strategy to boost domestic consumption, encourages consumers to replace older products such as appliances and vehicles with newer, more efficient models.
In June, China produced 1.2 million new energy passenger vehicles, with retail sales exceeding 1.11 million units, up 28.3 percent and 29.7 percent year-on-year, respectively.
According to the association, in the first six months of this year, retail sales of passenger cars exceeded 10.9 million units, an increase of 10.8 percent year-on-year. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
NSF announces the list of teams that will advance to the next stage of its major initiative aiming to advance critical technologies and grow regional economies nationwide
The U.S. National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program announced the 29 semifinalists advancing to the next stage of the second competition – spanning critical technologies and applications ranging from energy grid security to maximizing the yield of critical minerals mining to advanced optical sensors. The semifinalist teams, many of whom have been building their regional coalitions for a year or longer, are led by universities, nonprofits, private industry and other organizations from across the United States. View a map of the NSF Engines semifinalists.
Credit: U.S. National Science Foundation
A map showing the locations of the U.S. National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program’s 29 finalists for 2025. Explore the map semifinalists in more detail.
“This outstanding cohort of semifinalists clearly demonstrates that America’s technology competitiveness will depend as much on expanding our ability to unlock innovation capacity in every part of our country — from the rural plains and western ranges to cities with rich industrial and manufacturing legacies — as it will on advancing the technologies themselves,” said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP). “Each team was selected because it brought strong public and private partners to the table and outlined a promising vision for research, innovation and workforce development in their respective regions of service, thereby advancing U.S competitiveness, national security and economic growth.”
The NSF Engines program is beginning to see the fruits of the nation’s investment in the inaugural NSF Engines over the last two years. To date, the program has seen a tenfold return on taxpayers’ dollars — an initial investment of $135 million across nine NSF Engines has garnered more than $1 billion in matching commitments from private industry, philanthropy and state and local governments.
Now this second wave of NSF Engines will soon follow the initial investments, shoring up innovation ecosystems in new regions across the U.S. The NSF Engines are transformational for the nation, helping ensure the U.S. remains globally competitive in key technology areas for decades to come. Of note, this cohort of semifinalists includes 17 NSF Engines Development Awards teams who received two-year planning grants in 2023 and early 2024 that they leveraged to help build coalitions and refine visions for dynamic innovation ecosystems within their regions.
In early summer 2024, NSF received nearly 300 letters of intent (LOI) in response to the second NSF Engines funding opportunity, an initial step required to demonstrate interest in applying for the program. NSF published data from the LOIs to encourage proposers to create regional teams and potentially collaborate before the preliminary proposal deadline in August 2024. From the teams that submitted a preliminary proposal, NSF selected 71 to advance to the next round of competition and submit a full proposal by the spring 2025 deadline. From those, NSF selected 29 teams to advance to the next round of competition through a merit review process that engaged panels of external experts.
During the next stage, NSF will conduct live, virtual assessments of the semifinalist teams to gain further understanding of their regional coalitions, the alignment of their proposed leadership teams and core partners, and their visions for research and development (R&D) as well as translation. NSF will select the finalists for the NSF Engines program following these assessments. NSF anticipates announcing the final list of NSF Engines awards in early 2026.
AboutNSF Regional Innovation Engines
Launched by NSF TIP, the NSF Engines program is building and scaling regional innovation ecosystems nationwide. Each NSF Engine is powered by a broad coalition of private sector, regional and scientific leaders and organizations to accelerate breakthrough emerging technology R&D that drives growth and ultimately bolsters U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.
NSF announces the list of teams that will advance to the next stage of its major initiative aiming to advance critical technologies and grow regional economies nationwide
The U.S. National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program announced the 29 semifinalists advancing to the next stage of the second competition – spanning critical technologies and applications ranging from energy grid security to maximizing the yield of critical minerals mining to advanced optical sensors. The semifinalist teams, many of whom have been building their regional coalitions for a year or longer, are led by universities, nonprofits, private industry and other organizations from across the United States. View a map of the NSF Engines semifinalists.
Credit: U.S. National Science Foundation
A map showing the locations of the U.S. National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program’s 29 finalists for 2025. Explore the map semifinalists in more detail.
“This outstanding cohort of semifinalists clearly demonstrates that America’s technology competitiveness will depend as much on expanding our ability to unlock innovation capacity in every part of our country — from the rural plains and western ranges to cities with rich industrial and manufacturing legacies — as it will on advancing the technologies themselves,” said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP). “Each team was selected because it brought strong public and private partners to the table and outlined a promising vision for research, innovation and workforce development in their respective regions of service, thereby advancing U.S competitiveness, national security and economic growth.”
The NSF Engines program is beginning to see the fruits of the nation’s investment in the inaugural NSF Engines over the last two years. To date, the program has seen a tenfold return on taxpayers’ dollars — an initial investment of $135 million across nine NSF Engines has garnered more than $1 billion in matching commitments from private industry, philanthropy and state and local governments.
Now this second wave of NSF Engines will soon follow the initial investments, shoring up innovation ecosystems in new regions across the U.S. The NSF Engines are transformational for the nation, helping ensure the U.S. remains globally competitive in key technology areas for decades to come. Of note, this cohort of semifinalists includes 17 NSF Engines Development Awards teams who received two-year planning grants in 2023 and early 2024 that they leveraged to help build coalitions and refine visions for dynamic innovation ecosystems within their regions.
In early summer 2024, NSF received nearly 300 letters of intent (LOI) in response to the second NSF Engines funding opportunity, an initial step required to demonstrate interest in applying for the program. NSF published data from the LOIs to encourage proposers to create regional teams and potentially collaborate before the preliminary proposal deadline in August 2024. From the teams that submitted a preliminary proposal, NSF selected 71 to advance to the next round of competition and submit a full proposal by the spring 2025 deadline. From those, NSF selected 29 teams to advance to the next round of competition through a merit review process that engaged panels of external experts.
During the next stage, NSF will conduct live, virtual assessments of the semifinalist teams to gain further understanding of their regional coalitions, the alignment of their proposed leadership teams and core partners, and their visions for research and development (R&D) as well as translation. NSF will select the finalists for the NSF Engines program following these assessments. NSF anticipates announcing the final list of NSF Engines awards in early 2026.
AboutNSF Regional Innovation Engines
Launched by NSF TIP, the NSF Engines program is building and scaling regional innovation ecosystems nationwide. Each NSF Engine is powered by a broad coalition of private sector, regional and scientific leaders and organizations to accelerate breakthrough emerging technology R&D that drives growth and ultimately bolsters U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.
Post Office Minister responds to Horizon IT Inquiry report
Gareth Thomas spoke to Parliament after report outlined scandal’s human impact and looking at the redress schemes which have been put in place in response.
Madam Deputy Speaker, Sir Wyn Williams has today released the first volume of his report into the Horizon scandal, which caused so much harm to so many innocent people.
The fearless and diligent work of his Inquiry has, I believe, won the trust and admiration of postmasters. The Inquiry has asked penetrating questions of a large number of witnesses and has scrutinised more than two million pages of evidence.
The whole House I know recognises the bravery of the postmasters who fought against enormous odds to see their cause recognised. Sir Wyn’s report reminds us that blameless people were impoverished. Bankrupted. Stressed beyond belief. Lost their jobs, their marriages, their reputations, their mental health. In some cases, lost their lives.
I am sure that the whole House will share my gratitude to Sir Wyn and his team for their work so far. This is only the first volume of their final report, spelling out the scandal’s human impact and looking at the redress schemes which have been put in place in response.
A second volume will in due course deal with the causes of the scandal, and how repetition can be avoided.
To be clear, I am very sympathetic to Sir Wyn’s 19 recommendations today. Clearly, a number of them require careful consideration. We will respond to them promptly as some concern the ongoing delivery of Horizon redress schemes. Sir Wyn has set us a deadline of 10 October, and we will meet it.
The House will see that Sir Wyn has accepted that “the Post Office, the Department and Ministers continue to adhere to the aims of providing financial redress, which is full, fair and prompt”. He also concludes that the majority of people who have accepted offers under the GLO scheme “will have done so because, for them, the offer was full and fair”. That said, Sir Wyn makes some understandable criticisms – especially of the Horizon Shortfall Scheme – which we will need to study closely and address.
We inherited a compensation process which was widely seen as too slow, adversarial and legalistic. Well over four years after the first High Court case exposed the scandal, only 2,500 postmasters had had final settlements.
There were clearly significant gaps in the compensation process and many victims had not come forward. Indeed, there was no compensation scheme in place for those postmasters whose convictions had been overturned by Parliament.
A year ago, Government had paid £236 million in redress. We have now quadrupled that to nearly £1.1 billion. We have launched a compensation scheme for postmasters who have had their convictions overturned; the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme and have merged Post Office’s compensation arrangements for overturned convictions into it. And through the Post Office, we have delivered a £75,000 fixed sum offer to over 4,200 postmasters who opted for it.
We have also launched an independent process to allow people to appeal their HSS settlements or offers. This should provide – as Sir Wyn says in his report – an “opportunity to put right any failures to deliver redress which is full and fair” for HSS victims; and begun discussions with Fujitsu on their contribution to the costs of the scandal.
As the House knows and as Sir Wyn’s report underlines further today, there is still a lot more to do. I know that those postmasters who have yet to agree final compensation are frustrated with the delay: so am I.
We have been consulting regularly with the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board and others on what more we can do to improve redress. Sir Wyn’s recommendations are very helpful in that regard. Two of his recommendations address issues which we have been already working on across government and with the Advisory Board.
And I can confirm that we accept Sir Wyn’s recommendation that claimants should be able to bank the best offer they get from the GLO process and should not put it at risk if they choose to go to the independent panel.
Secondly, we will provide redress for family members of postmasters who suffered because of the scandal. I have met the group Lost Chances for Postmaster Children who have campaigned with considerable courage on this issue.
Sir Wyn rightly recognises that designing a suitable compensation scheme for family members raises some very difficult issues. Nonetheless, we want to look after those family members who suffered most – meeting Sir Wyn’s recommendation that we should give – and I quote – “redress to close family members of those most adversely affected by Horizon”.
Given these challenges, we will now discuss the details of how a scheme should be run with claimants’ lawyers, the independent Advisory Board and the Lost Chances group. It will be open to close family members of existing Horizon claimants who themselves suffered personal injury – including psychological distress – because of their relative’s suffering. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will need contemporaneous written evidence of that personal injury.
There are some fundamental lessons to be learned which Sir Wyn points to, about how compensation following wrongdoing on this scale should be delivered in future.
In particular, the Post Office should never have been allowed to run it. Decisions on funding should have been made much more quickly. And it should not have needed the ITV drama to stimulate action to overturn hundreds of unjust convictions.
We cannot now turn back the clock to fix those fundamental mistakes. We must instead address two challenges. The first is to make sure that if there is ever another terrible scandal like this one, and all of us will sincerely hope that there isn’t, that the victims do not need to bring a traumatic court case to expose it.
The second challenge if such another scandal happens, Government is set up to offer trusted redress from the very start. Sir Wyn argues that there should be a standing public body to deliver redress in any further scandal. I have a considerable amount of sympathy with that argument, but clearly we shall need to analyse the options fully before we commit to it.
We will reflect on how to address those twin challenges and will bring our conclusions back to the House.
Madam Deputy Speaker, we can never recompense a person properly for their freedom wrongly bring denied them. The humiliation of being wrongly accused. Of seeing your loved ones in profound distress or worse. Or recompense someone for their good reputation being taken from them.
I cannot assuage the anger of the victims. Nor will the anger I feel on their behalf ever be assuaged.
But we are determined to do more on redress and beyond and to do it quickly to give more of the victims of this appalling scandal at least a measure of the peace they so rightly deserve.
Today, the Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, released the fifth biannual status report of the External Monitor, Madame Jocelyne Therrien.
The report provides an external, independent assessment of the progress made by the Department of Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in implementing the recommendations made by former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour in the Independent External Comprehensive Review (IECR), released in May 2022. Madame Therrien’s observations are based on her direct discussions with Defence Team officials and review of relevant documents, policies and processes.
In this report, Madame Therrien notes that “the CAF is on track to meeting the intent of all IECR recommendations by the end of this year.” She provides a status assessment for each outstanding or recently addressed recommendation, including successes, challenges and next steps to be taken, and cites examples of progress:
IECR recommendations related to terminology and definitions, specifically the abolishment of the definition of “sexual misconduct” from policies and the inclusion of “sexual assault” as a standalone definition have been addressed;
The CAF adopted the Canada Labour Code definition of harassment and violence, aligning its harassment program with the public service employee Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention (WHVP) program. This resulted in one unified approach for dealing with harassment and violence in the workplace;
Expansion of Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre (SMSRC) services to include a full-time legal resource dedicated to dispensing information and assistance to individuals who have experienced sexual misconduct within a DND/CAF context;
A probational period leading to more efficient onboarding of new recruits and easier removal of new members who fall short of the ethical standards of the CAF: and
A more systematic approach to promotions including a new selection process based on past conduct and character traits, and once promoted, strong supports for leaders including modernized, culture-related training materials, coaching sessions and leadership advice.
Of the 48 IERC recommendations, 36 have now been deemed addressed by the Defence Team. While the External Monitor notes that some changes may take years to fully implement, she acknowledges the sincere willingness to make things better on the part of those involved in implementing culture change.
In a statement, Minister McGuinty welcomed this report and thanked the External Monitor for her independent and external perspective. Minister McGuinty also outlined the progress made to date and measures the Government is taking to implement the remainder of Madame Arbour’s recommendations and reaffirmed the commitment to introducing legislation that would amend the National Defence Act to further modernize the military justice system.
July 8, 2025 – Ottawa, ON – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
The Minister of National Defence, the Honourable David McGuinty, issued the following statement today in response to Madame Jocelyne Therrien’s fifth External Monitor status report. The report provides an update on the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) implementation of the recommendations of the Independent External Comprehensive Review (IECR).
“CAF members serve with dedication and pride, upholding Canadian values at home and around the world. Their service commands deep respect, and supporting their well-being is a responsibility we all share. That’s why the Defence Team continues to advance meaningful culture change by building a safer, more inclusive workplace for all. By implementing the recommendations of the Independent External Comprehensive Review under the oversight of Madame Therrien, the Defence Team is becoming more open, transparent, and accountable. I welcome this fifth report and thank the External Monitor for her continued leadership and insight.”
“We are continuing to make progress and as Madame Therrien points out, we “are on track to meeting the intent of all 48 recommendations by the end of 2025”. To date, 36 recommendations of the IECR have been addressed.
“We have made tremendous progress on clarifying definitions and terminology in implementing recommendations 1 and 2. In June 2024, the Defence Team announced that policies using the term ‘sexual misconduct’ would be updated to remove the term and instead use harassment of a sexual nature, conduct deficiencies of a sexual nature, and crimes of a sexual nature. Additionally, ‘sexual assault’ will be included as a distinct definition in relevant policies.
“In March 2025, the CAF adopted the Canada Labour Code definition of harassment and violence, aligning its harassment program with the public service Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention program. This resulted in one unified policy for dealing with harassment and violence in the workplace, applicable to both DND public service employees and CAF members. It also responded to recommendation 3 of the IECR. CAF members who experience or witness harassment and violence in the workplace now have a simpler way to report occurrences, informal means of resolving them, and a streamlined investigation process.
“We have also made progress in offering a meaningful range of victim services and assistance. To address recommendation 14 of the IECR, the Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre expanded its services to include a full-time legal resource dedicated to dispensing information and assistance to individuals who have experienced sexual misconduct within a Defence Team context. As a next step, they plan to offer access to civilian lawyers who can assist at various locations across the country, at no cost to individuals.
“The Government remains committed to reintroducing legislation that would amend the National Defence Act to further modernize the military justice system and address recommendation 5 to definitively remove the CAF’s jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute Criminal Code sexual offences committed in Canada, giving exclusive jurisdiction to civilian authorities.
“Regarding recommendation 6, on engaging a quality assurance assessment of past administrative reviews, we have accepted the recommendations of the Externally-led Review Committee (ERC) , and direction has been given on priority items, including: establishing an advisory board to assess individual cases, delegating release authority to the Command level; and rethinking the criteria for release decisions, taking into account the severity of the case.
“As Madame Therrien notes, we took constructive action to modernize recruitment and retention, in line with recommendations 20, 22 and 25. In December 2024, the CAF introduced a probationary period allowing applicants in both the Regular Force and the Primary Reserve to begin training while waiting for their security clearance and other administrative requirements to be finalized. During this probationary period, if a recruit does not meet the necessary requirements, they will be released from the CAF. In October 2024, the CAF updated its evaluation of candidates to include questions on education, experience, leadership, and other life achievements, enabling a broader and more considerate assessment of applicants. The CAF is also digitizing application processes and modernizing its medical enrolment standard, leading to greater efficiency. These improvements, along with others to come, will help enable the CAF to respond when called upon to serve Canada’s interests, both at home and abroad.
“Also noted in her report, on the theme of leadership, we’ve introduced a more systematic approach to promotions including a new selection process based on past conduct and character traits, and once promoted, we offer stronger supports for leaders including modernized, culture-related training materials, coaching sessions and leadership advice.
“In this report, Madame Therrien speaks to the challenge the Defence Team faces in consolidating its many data holdings related to misconduct data and associated outcomes. I agree, and we must continue to evaluate options to create an integrated approach to collect the right data to gain a clearer picture of misconduct across the Defence Team. An effective system can lead to more timely support to affected persons while providing access to recourse options that best address their needs, while also holding people accountable for their actions within a process that is transparent and fair.
“I want to thank Madame Therrien for her thoughtful and honest assessment of the work done so far and the challenges ahead. We’ve made meaningful progress in addressing deep-rooted issues within the military, and we remain fully committed to continuing this work. We remain steadfast as we continue to improve the overall Defence Team culture.”
CHICAGO — A California businessman has pleaded guilty to a federal fraud charge for fraudulently obtaining more than $14 million in small business loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act.
DARREN CARLYLE SADLER participated in a scheme to fraudulently apply for loans pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), which was created by the CARES Act to provide financial relief for small businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic. A PPP loan allowed for the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spent a certain amount of the proceeds on essential expenses, such as payroll. Sadler admitted in a plea agreement that in 2020 he submitted and caused the submission of at least 63 PPP loan applications for himself and his clients. The applications falsely represented the number of employees, if any, and the average monthly payroll of the purported businesses. The false applications resulted in the issuance of more than $14 million in loan funds to Sadler and his clients. Sadler also received more than $1.9 million in fees from clients for fraudulently obtaining the loans on their behalf.
Sadler used the fraud proceeds to rent a villa for several months during the pandemic and to travel across the country on private jets to meet clients at bank branches to secure fund transfers. He also purchased luxury vehicles, including a Rolls Royce, multiple Mercedes-Benzes, and a Land Rover, and purchased designer clothing, a luxury watch, and numerous meals at expensive restaurants.
Sadler, 38, of Costa Mesa, Calif., pleaded guilty on Monday to a federal wire fraud charge, which is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin has not yet set a sentencing date.
The guilty plea was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The investigation was worked jointlywith the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kartik K. Raman.
CHICAGO — A federal investigation into fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine sales in Chicago has resulted in a grand jury returning multiple drug and/or firearm charges against six individuals.
A superseding indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago accuses the six defendants of conspiring to distribute the drugs in Chicago in 2024. Two of the defendants are charged with firearm offenses for illegally possessing semiautomatic handguns as previously convicted felons.
Charged with drug conspiracy are ANDRE DEBRUCE, 40, of Schiller Park, Ill., TERRANCE PATTON, 40, of Chicago, CRAIG CALDWELL, 43, of Chicago, TIMOTHY BELIN, 48, of Chicago, JENNIFER WORD, 39, of Chicago, and DENOMOIUS WELLS, 41, of Chicago. Patton and Caldwell are the previously convicted felons charged with illegal firearm possession. Caldwell also faces an additional gun charge for allegedly possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The charges against Caldwell carry a maximum sentence of life in federal prison, with a mandatory minimum of five years. Patton and Debruce face maximum sentences of 40 years, with a mandatory minimum of five years. Belin, Word, and Wells each face up to 20 years, with no mandatory minimum.
Wells pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment on Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge M. David Weisman. The five other defendants have also been arraigned and also pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The superseding indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Substantial assistance was provided by IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago, the Chicago Police Department, and the Evanston, Ill. Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hayley Altabef and Adam Rosenbloom.
The superseding indictment in this case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, among other areas of focus. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
NEW YORK and LONDON and STOCKHOLM and DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — KingsRock Advisors, LLC (“KingsRock”), an independent global advisory firm, announced today the formation of a new Advisory Board, a series of new Senior Hires, additional Senior Advisors joining us, and an inaugural Capital Raise. This expansion aims to accelerate the growth of KingsRock’s capital solutions and corporate finance business, across industries, geographies, and capital structures.
We are pleased to welcome the following Senior Banking Executives who have agreed to serve as Members of our new KingsRock Advisory Board:
Dr. Josef Ackermann
Zurich, former Chairman of the Management Board, Deutsche Bank
Fred Brettschneider
New York, former Head of Deutsche Bank Global Markets Americas
Yassine Bouhara
Dubai, CEO Tell Group, former Global Head of Deutsche Bank Global Equities
Kevin Parker
New York, CEO SICM, former CEO of Deutsche Asset Management
Bernardo Parnes
Sao Paolo, CEO of One Partners, former CEO of Deutsche Bank Latin America
Jon Vaccaro
Darien, Founder V20 Group, former Global Head of Deutsche Bank CRE
Seth Waugh
Palm Beach, former CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas, former Chairman of PGA
We are pleased to welcome the following Senior Investment Bankers who have joined KingsRock recently inthe US and EMEA as Managing Directors, with further expansion planned:
David Barcus
New York, former BNP and Raymond James
John Doyamis
New York, former EBG, and Bear Stearns
Leo-Hendrik Greve
Amsterdam, former ING, Citi and MS
Rony Jawhar
Dubai, former Arqaam and Deutsche Bank
Bray Kelly
New York, former JBK Capital and UBS
Joe Lovrics
Madrid, former Societe General, Citi, and BNP
Bill Miller
New York, Commerce Street, TPG Sixth Street, Citi
Hans Narberhaus
Madrid, former Deutsche Bank
Laurent Quelin
London, former Chenavari, and CS
Francois-Louise Ricard
Paris, former Groupe Caisse des Depots, MS and SG
Jorge de los Rios
Madrid, former Santander, S&P and Lehman
Mike Turnbull
London, former StormHarbour, BAML and MS
Andrew Whittaker
New York, Lazard, GSAM and Lehman
In Q2 we were also joined by Gregor Bates, Associate, London, and Analysts Matt Farrell, Nikita Spivakov, and Tim O’Callaghan in New York.
We also welcome George Parker, New York, as Senior Advisor for Operations.
This team’s decades of investment banking experience across Origination, Advisory, Capital Markets, Structuring, and Leveraged Finance should help propel our growth and strategy to originate, structure, and distribute private capital markets transactions and provide strategic advisory services. Our goal is to further strengthen KingsRock’s ability to serve issuer clients and the private credit, special situations and private equity investor universe with ever more tailor-made capital solutions and investment opportunities.
Expansion of our Global Network of Senior Advisors
We are also pleased to announce that we now have 120 (one hundred and twenty) Senior Advisors from approximately 50 countries around the world. Each is a truly Independent Advisor with his or her own interest and focus, some with companies that we have partnered with, etc. Many of these advisors comprised the most senior leadership of Deutsche Bank and oversaw a wide range of functions, from CEO and six other former Management Board Members, to Country Heads and Divisional Heads of M&A, Capital Markets, and Heads of Sales, Coverage, Industry Groups, Economists, Operations, etc.
This unique Global Network of former colleagues and friends as our Senior Advisors allows KingsRock access to key decision makers nearly anywhere in the world, spanning companies, institutional investors, financial institutions, and the public sector. It also offers mutual benefits in deal making through origination, execution, and distribution, be it a cross-border M&A transaction or bespoke institutional capital raising deal.
We are also pleased to Announce a successful close of our inaugural third-party capital raise for KingsRock Advisors LLC, to support our expansion and elevate our investment banking boutique, with further strategic growth planned. We thank all of our investors for their strong support.
“We are excited to welcome our new Senior Advisory Board Members, our new Managing Directors, Associate and Analyst colleagues, and our Senior Advisors network to KingsRock as we continue to expand the global reach of our capital solutions business. Together with our inaugural capital raise to boost and increase the visibility of our platform, successfully concluded in Q2, we are truly thrilled with the progress our young firm is making to serve our clients and support our ambitious growth. In the near term, we will share more details about our expansion across our financial services offering,” said Håkan Wohlin, Founder & Managing Partner, and Louis Jaffe, Co-Founder & Managing Partner.
KingsRock Advisors, LLC headquartered at 900 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022, is an independent global advisory firm, with securities offered by KingsRock Securities LLC, a FINRA member firm and SIPC, as well as KingsRock Advisors UK Ltd and KingsRock Advisors Europe AB, both wholly owned subsidiaries of KingsRock Advisors LLC.
Founded in 2020, KingsRock comprises a team of approximately 40 full time professionals who advise on a wide range of private capital markets transactions including debt, hybrid, equity and M&A covering structures from vanilla to highly structured. The team collectively has worked on thousands of transactions across various industry sectors worldwide. Clients include private equity and private credit firms, corporations, financial institutions, government-related entities, and institutional investors.
KingsRock Advisors offers the experience and global reach of a large firm, combined with the structural agility and creativity of a boutique. An independent advisory firm with a global network that provides unconflicted strategic and financial advisory services, along with innovative capital solutions and special situations. The firms’ bankers excel in complex transactions and deliver swift results often where large banks and traditional sources of financing do not have the ability to engage. KingsRock advisors operates across all major industry sectors and is supported by a global network of 120 independent Senior Advisors across 50 countries, who bring decades of deal making experience.
Disclaimer:
Securities offered by KingsRock Securities LLC, a FINRA member firm and a member of SIPC., a wholly owned subsidiary of KingsRock Advisors LLC. • 900 Third Avenue, 10th Floor • New York, NY 10022.
KingsRock Advisors UK Ltd is a private limited company registered in England and Wales with registration number 15240371. KingsRock Advisors UK Ltd (FRN 1006329) is an Appointed Representative under Bluegrove Capital Management Ltd (FRN: 960363), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
KingsRock Advisors Europe AB is incorporated in Sweden (EU), with registered office at Grev Turegatan 14, 114 46 Stockholm, Sweden, and is a tied agent of Svensk Värdepappersservice i Stockholm AB, a Swedish investment firm authorized and regulated by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Sw. Finansinspektionen) under the Swedish Securities Market Act (Sw. lag (2007:528) om värdepappersmarknaden).
This message is provided for information purposes and does not constitute an invitation, solicitation or offer to buy or sell any securities or investment. Neither KingsRock Securities, LLC nor its affiliates provide accounting, tax or legal advice; such matters should be discussed with your advisors and/or counsel.
NEW YORK and LONDON and STOCKHOLM and DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — KingsRock Advisors, LLC (“KingsRock”), an independent global advisory firm, announced today the formation of a new Advisory Board, a series of new Senior Hires, additional Senior Advisors joining us, and an inaugural Capital Raise. This expansion aims to accelerate the growth of KingsRock’s capital solutions and corporate finance business, across industries, geographies, and capital structures.
We are pleased to welcome the following Senior Banking Executives who have agreed to serve as Members of our new KingsRock Advisory Board:
Dr. Josef Ackermann
Zurich, former Chairman of the Management Board, Deutsche Bank
Fred Brettschneider
New York, former Head of Deutsche Bank Global Markets Americas
Yassine Bouhara
Dubai, CEO Tell Group, former Global Head of Deutsche Bank Global Equities
Kevin Parker
New York, CEO SICM, former CEO of Deutsche Asset Management
Bernardo Parnes
Sao Paolo, CEO of One Partners, former CEO of Deutsche Bank Latin America
Jon Vaccaro
Darien, Founder V20 Group, former Global Head of Deutsche Bank CRE
Seth Waugh
Palm Beach, former CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas, former Chairman of PGA
We are pleased to welcome the following Senior Investment Bankers who have joined KingsRock recently inthe US and EMEA as Managing Directors, with further expansion planned:
David Barcus
New York, former BNP and Raymond James
John Doyamis
New York, former EBG, and Bear Stearns
Leo-Hendrik Greve
Amsterdam, former ING, Citi and MS
Rony Jawhar
Dubai, former Arqaam and Deutsche Bank
Bray Kelly
New York, former JBK Capital and UBS
Joe Lovrics
Madrid, former Societe General, Citi, and BNP
Bill Miller
New York, Commerce Street, TPG Sixth Street, Citi
Hans Narberhaus
Madrid, former Deutsche Bank
Laurent Quelin
London, former Chenavari, and CS
Francois-Louise Ricard
Paris, former Groupe Caisse des Depots, MS and SG
Jorge de los Rios
Madrid, former Santander, S&P and Lehman
Mike Turnbull
London, former StormHarbour, BAML and MS
Andrew Whittaker
New York, Lazard, GSAM and Lehman
In Q2 we were also joined by Gregor Bates, Associate, London, and Analysts Matt Farrell, Nikita Spivakov, and Tim O’Callaghan in New York.
We also welcome George Parker, New York, as Senior Advisor for Operations.
This team’s decades of investment banking experience across Origination, Advisory, Capital Markets, Structuring, and Leveraged Finance should help propel our growth and strategy to originate, structure, and distribute private capital markets transactions and provide strategic advisory services. Our goal is to further strengthen KingsRock’s ability to serve issuer clients and the private credit, special situations and private equity investor universe with ever more tailor-made capital solutions and investment opportunities.
Expansion of our Global Network of Senior Advisors
We are also pleased to announce that we now have 120 (one hundred and twenty) Senior Advisors from approximately 50 countries around the world. Each is a truly Independent Advisor with his or her own interest and focus, some with companies that we have partnered with, etc. Many of these advisors comprised the most senior leadership of Deutsche Bank and oversaw a wide range of functions, from CEO and six other former Management Board Members, to Country Heads and Divisional Heads of M&A, Capital Markets, and Heads of Sales, Coverage, Industry Groups, Economists, Operations, etc.
This unique Global Network of former colleagues and friends as our Senior Advisors allows KingsRock access to key decision makers nearly anywhere in the world, spanning companies, institutional investors, financial institutions, and the public sector. It also offers mutual benefits in deal making through origination, execution, and distribution, be it a cross-border M&A transaction or bespoke institutional capital raising deal.
We are also pleased to Announce a successful close of our inaugural third-party capital raise for KingsRock Advisors LLC, to support our expansion and elevate our investment banking boutique, with further strategic growth planned. We thank all of our investors for their strong support.
“We are excited to welcome our new Senior Advisory Board Members, our new Managing Directors, Associate and Analyst colleagues, and our Senior Advisors network to KingsRock as we continue to expand the global reach of our capital solutions business. Together with our inaugural capital raise to boost and increase the visibility of our platform, successfully concluded in Q2, we are truly thrilled with the progress our young firm is making to serve our clients and support our ambitious growth. In the near term, we will share more details about our expansion across our financial services offering,” said Håkan Wohlin, Founder & Managing Partner, and Louis Jaffe, Co-Founder & Managing Partner.
KingsRock Advisors, LLC headquartered at 900 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022, is an independent global advisory firm, with securities offered by KingsRock Securities LLC, a FINRA member firm and SIPC, as well as KingsRock Advisors UK Ltd and KingsRock Advisors Europe AB, both wholly owned subsidiaries of KingsRock Advisors LLC.
Founded in 2020, KingsRock comprises a team of approximately 40 full time professionals who advise on a wide range of private capital markets transactions including debt, hybrid, equity and M&A covering structures from vanilla to highly structured. The team collectively has worked on thousands of transactions across various industry sectors worldwide. Clients include private equity and private credit firms, corporations, financial institutions, government-related entities, and institutional investors.
KingsRock Advisors offers the experience and global reach of a large firm, combined with the structural agility and creativity of a boutique. An independent advisory firm with a global network that provides unconflicted strategic and financial advisory services, along with innovative capital solutions and special situations. The firms’ bankers excel in complex transactions and deliver swift results often where large banks and traditional sources of financing do not have the ability to engage. KingsRock advisors operates across all major industry sectors and is supported by a global network of 120 independent Senior Advisors across 50 countries, who bring decades of deal making experience.
Disclaimer:
Securities offered by KingsRock Securities LLC, a FINRA member firm and a member of SIPC., a wholly owned subsidiary of KingsRock Advisors LLC. • 900 Third Avenue, 10th Floor • New York, NY 10022.
KingsRock Advisors UK Ltd is a private limited company registered in England and Wales with registration number 15240371. KingsRock Advisors UK Ltd (FRN 1006329) is an Appointed Representative under Bluegrove Capital Management Ltd (FRN: 960363), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
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The East African Community (EAC) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have taken a significant step towards regional financial integration, with the convening of a five-day workshop on payment systems interoperability. The IGAD-EAC-World Bank Joint Workshop, convened from 30th June to 4th July, 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, brought together Central Banks, digital finance experts, and senior policymakers from nine countries with a focus on advancing harmonised legal, regulatory, and supervisory frameworks that will enable faster, safer, and more inclusive cross-border payments across the Eastern Africa region
The workshop was organised under the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP), a flagship initiative jointly implemented by IGAD and EAC, with support from the World Bank. The EARDIP’s mission is to boost regional digital market integration by expanding broadband infrastructure and strengthening the environment for cross-border digital services, including digital payments, a critical enabler of trade, remittances, and financial inclusion.
At the heart the Addis Ababa discussions was a shared regional challenge of fragmented and non-interoperable payment systems that undermine economic potential. While countries like Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia have made strides in domestic interoperability, regional integration remains stifled by gaps in regulations, technical disparities, and cybersecurity concerns. Against this backdrop, the workshop provided a platform for technical learning, peer-to-peer exchange, and collective visioning.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Mohyeldeen Eltohami, Director of Economic Cooperation and Regional Integration, IGAD, emphasised that the workshop was not merely a technical convening but a launchpad for transformation. “The collaboration between EAC and IGAD exemplifies the spirit of regional solidarity and shared ambition that Africa needs to build the future it envisions, a future of seamless digital integration, inclusive prosperity, and economic transformation,” he said.
The Director urged participants to seize the opportunity to build a harmonised regional framework and to let cooperation, not fragmentation, define the region’s digital future.
“Digital transformation is no longer a choice but a necessity. Together, IGAD and EAC can build a digitally integrated Eastern Africa, where borders no longer limit opportunity, and where innovation drives inclusion, and prosperity is shared,” said Dr. Eltohami.
Echoing these sentiments, Eng. Daniel Murenzi, Principal Information Technology Officer, EAC Secretariat stressed that digital payments are the backbone of a functioning digital market and that interoperability was no longer a luxury, but a necessity for regional prosperity.
“EAC and IGAD are implementing the EARDIP Project with the objective to advance digital regional integration by strengthening cross-border digital infrastructure, services, policies, and frameworks that promote economic growth, inclusion, and regional collaboration among EAC and IGAD Member/Partner States,” noted Eng. Murenzi.
“Payment systems are an enabler in this digital ecosystem for the region, with their interoperability a critical factor. We therefore need to review national payment processes, harmonise legal and regulatory instruments and facilitate interoperability of the regions payment system,” he noted.
On his part, Mr. Gynedi Srinivas, Senior Financial Sector Specialist, Payment Systems Development Group, World Bank outlined the global relevance of the workshop, noting that its objectives align with the Group of Twenty (G20) roadmap for faster, cheaper, and safer cross-border payments. He applauded the region’s readiness to harness the benefits of fast payment system (FPS) interoperability.
“The benefits of cross-border interoperability of fast payment systems will especially enable safer, faster and low-cost retail payments across borders helping end-users, individuals and Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs) to make and receive payments seamlessly,” he noted.
Participants of the workshop engaged in discussions on three strategic areas: digital infrastructure, legal and regulatory frameworks, and regional payment integration. Recommendations from these sessions included the need to invest in shared digital infrastructure, adopt consumer-centric design for FPS, develop regulatory sandboxes to support innovation, and the need to harmonise legal instruments to unlock true cross-border operability.
During the workshop, experts from some Member/Partner States Central/National Banks shared experiences and lessons from their national contexts, thereby providing practical blueprints for other countries aiming to leapfrog barriers and accelerate digital finance inclusion.
Participants also explored emerging technologies, including AI, blockchain, and cross-border Central bank digital currencies, alongside discussions on cyber threats and the role of cybersecurity incident response teams (CIRSTs) in protecting payment ecosystems. The need for a unified cybersecurity legal framework and real-time threat intelligence sharing across borders emerged as a top priority.
The workshop further recommended facilitating peer-to-peer attachments among central banks; anchoring FPS design in user needs; collectively addressing social engineering risks, particularly in mobile payments; and convening annual joint workshops on cross-border payments.
The workshop brought together experts from nine IGAD-EAC Member/Partner States’ National Payment System directorates or departments from the Bank of the Republic of Burundi, the Central Bank of Djibouti, the National Bank of Ethiopia, the Central Bank of Kenya, the National Bank of Rwanda, the Central Bank of Somalia, the Bank of South Sudan, the Bank of Tanzania and the Bank of Uganda. The Central Bank of the Democratic Republic of Congo was represented by the Ministry of Regional Integration of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Also in attendance were IGAD and EAC EARDIP Coordinators and key staff as well as World Bank Consultants and a representative from Banco d ’Italia (Bank of Italy).
Egyptian authorities must unconditionally and immediately release anyone detained solely for expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amidst Israel’s ongoing genocide, including at least seven Egyptian nationals detained for expressing support for the Gaza March, Amnesty International said today. The organization is also calling on the authorities to investigate allegations of torture and other ill-treatment related to the arrests and deportations of international activists in connection with the planned solidarity march.
Hundreds of international activists travelled to Egypt in June to take part in a global march to the city of Rafah in a bid to break Israel’s illegal blockade on the occupied Gaza Strip, but Egyptian authorities responded by arresting scores of Egyptian and foreign nationals and deporting non-Egyptians.
Amnesty International documented the arbitrary detention, incommunicado detention, and ill-treatment of three Egyptians and five foreign nationals in connection with the Gaza March between 10 and 16 June. Amnesty International obtained a testimony that at least one Egyptian national was subjected to torture during their detention. The organization is calling for all those still being held solely for expressing solidarity with Palestinians to be unconditionally and immediately released, including those detained for expressing solidarity with Palestinians since October 2023.
“The world has seen a glimpse of the brutality that Egyptian authorities continue to inflict on dissidents. The arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment that these activists have been subjected to represents just a fraction of the ongoing repression faced by virtually anyone who expresses views not condoned by the government,” said Mahmoud Shalaby, Egypt and Libya Researcher at Amnesty International.
“It is unthinkable that Egyptian authorities are arresting and punishing activists for showing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza while Israel is committing genocide against them. Egypt’s authorities should instead be facilitating the right to peaceful assembly and expression, starting by releasing anyone arbitrarily detained for demonstrating in solidarity with Palestinians and investigating all allegations of torture and other ill-treatment.”
On 11 June, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an official statement that foreign nationals must receive prior authorization to visit areas bordering Gaza through, among other means, submitting a request to Egyptian embassies. Organizers of the Gaza March told Amnesty International that they had submitted authorization requests to over 30 Egyptian embassies abroad, approximately two and a half months ahead of the march’s scheduled date. Embassy officials informed them that the requests had been forwarded to authorities in Cairo, but the organizers never received a response.
Egyptian security forces later shut down the march by arresting Egyptian and foreign activists upon their arrival at the airport, from hotels or at checkpoints on the way to Rafah, before deporting hundreds of non-Egyptians.
Arbitrary detention and torture or other ill-treatment of Egyptian nationals
According to a lawyer at the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF), between 10 and 12 June 2025, security forces arrested three Egyptian nationals (two men and one woman) from their homes in Cairo and al-Sharkia governorates. The three were part of a Telegram group that supported the Gaza March.
Upon their arrest, they were reportedly held in incommunicado detention at undisclosed National Security Agency (NSA) facilities for periods ranging from nine to ten days. NSA agents then brought the three to the Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) in Cairo on 21, 22, and 23 June.
SSSP prosecutors accused them of charges including “joining a terrorist group [the Muslim Brotherhood],” “publishing false news,” and “funding a terrorist group,” according to the ECRF lawyer. Prosecutors then ordered their pretrial detention for 15 days pending investigations.
During the SSSP questioning, one of the men said that NSA agents had subjected him to electric shocks on his hands and a sensitive part of his body, and beat him with kicks and slaps to the face. The other man told the prosecutor that NSA agents beat him and forced him to strip naked. These acts constitute ill-treatment and may amount to torture.
In June, SSSP prosecutors questioned four other Egyptian nationals (three men and one woman) and ordered their detention for 15 days in connection with the same charges pending the same case, according to ECRF’s lawyer.
Arbitrary arrest and ill-treatment of foreign nationals
Amnesty International spoke to five foreign nationals who had travelled to attend the Gaza March including Stefanie Crisostomo, a Croatian-Peruvian activist, and Saif Abukeshek, a Spanish national and the Gaza March spokesperson. They told Amnesty that Egyptian police subjected them to severe beatings and other acts of violence when they arrested them. They also said that they had been held in incommunicado detention in police stations, NSA facilities, and Cairo Airport.
Crisostomo told Amnesty International that on 14 June, plain-clothed NSA agents arrested her and her husband at a hotel in Cairo without providing any reason or allowing them to contact their embassies or anyone else after confiscating their phones. They were then transferred to an undisclosed security facility, where police detained her French husband for 30 hours, while transferring Stefanie to Cairo Airport. At the airport, she refused to be deported until the police released her husband. The police then handcuffed her and grabbed her arms tightly, causing bruising. Amnesty International reviewed photographs of her arms in which the bruises are clearly visible and is concerned that this may amount to ill-treatment.
One of the other foreign nationals, who chose not to disclose his nationality, said that on 13 June police arrested him, along with approximately 15 others, at a checkpoint in Ismailia Governorate on their way to Rafah. During the arrest, police beat him with batons, striking him on his face and neck. He said that during the arrest, one of the police officers attempted to put their finger in his anus. Police took the group to an Ismailia police station and detained them until the following morning, before transferring him to Cairo Airport for deportation.
The two other men, both Norwegians, as well as Saif said that on 16 June, plain-clothed police arrested them at a coffee shop in Cairo without showing a warrant. The police then blindfolded them and drove them to an undisclosed security facility in an unmarked van. NSA officers questioned the two Norwegian men, while still blindfolded and handcuffed, about the number of participants in the Gaza March, their identities, and their accommodation. One of the men told Amnesty International that when he refused to answer, an NSA agent slapped him twice on the face and kneed him in the chest. According to the man, the blow caused a minor rib fracture.
The second man said that when he refused to answer certain questions an NSA agent slapped him on the face and kicked him in the chest.
Saif Abukeshek said that police deliberately slammed his body into walls and doors while moving him between different rooms at the facility, blindfolded and handcuffed with his hands behind his back. “I could clearly hear them laughing at me crashing into the walls,” he said.
The three were later transferred to Cairo Airport to be deported after spending between two to 25 hours at the facility. None of the four men were allowed at any point to contact their embassy or anyone else to inform them about their arrest, until their deportation.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
World news story
Cameroon celebrates forest hero and Chevening scholars
The British High Commission in Yaoundé honoured Dr Cécile Ndjebet, the first-ever Kew International Medalist and a trailblazing forest and climate activist.
Dr Ndjebet receiving her Award from the High Commissioner, Matt Woods.
The British High Commission in Yaoundé hosted a special ceremony to honour Dr Cécile Ndjebet, the first-ever recipient of the Kew International Medal. A renowned forest and environmental activist, Dr Ndjebet was celebrated for her groundbreaking work in forest conservation and women’s empowerment across 20 African countries.
Her recognition marks a historic moment, highlighting Cameroon’s leadership in global environmental advocacy.
As the 17th recipient of this globally respected award, Dr. Ndjebet was commended by UK Minister for Africa, Lord Collins, and High Commissioner Matt Woods for her tireless efforts in promoting inclusive forest governance.
A co-founder of the African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests and a member of the African Forest Forum, Dr Ndjebet has been instrumental in advancing sustainable environmental practices while ensuring that women have a voice in managing Africa’s natural resources.
A royal recognition
Just days after the ceremony in Cameroon, Dr Ndjebet was received by His Majesty King Charles III in the United Kingdom. During her visit, she delivered a powerful keynote address on “Nature Action: Mobilising Frameworks and Finance” highlighting the urgent need for global collaboration in financing nature-based solutions and empowering local communities, especially women, to lead in environmental stewardship.
Her address underscored the importance of integrating traditional knowledge, gender equity, and sustainable finance into global climate strategies.
Celebrating academic excellence
The event also celebrated the return of eight Chevening Scholars who recently completed their master’s degrees at top UK universities. These scholars specialized in critical fields such as climate policy, engineering, disaster management, and artificial intelligence, bringing back valuable knowledge and skills to contribute to national development.
Strengthening UK-Cameroon ties through education
Since its inception in 1983, the Chevening Scholarship programme has played a vital role in fostering educational and diplomatic ties between the UK and Cameroon. By investing in future leaders, the programme continues to build bridges of collaboration, innovation, and mutual growth.
Sweeper Hire and Hoses boss Philip Liley gets suspended sentence
Exeter man tried to hide tons of illegal waste kept on leased land by pushing it into the trees and spreading it across the ground.
Liley and his firm Sweeper Hire and Hoses admitted running a waste site without a permit
Philip Liley attempted to disguise the 15,000 tonnes of waste stored illegally at the site
Environment Agency investigations began when the nearby River Bovey was polluted
Liley, then trading as Sweeper Hire and Hoses Limited, had no environmental permits and ignored all attempts to make his business operate legally.
Philip Liley, of Sidmouth Road, Exeter, was director of the then Sweeper Hire and Hoses Limited business based at Higher Brocks Plantation, Heathfield, Newton Abbot, Devon. He pleaded guilty at Exeter Crown Court on Thursday 3 July.
Liley was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 2 years – and 300 hours of unpaid work.
Chris Lawson of the Environment Agency, said:
Environmental permits are in place to protect the public and the environment.
Illegal waste activity such as this undermines legitimate businesses that work hard to operate within the regulations, as well as putting the local environment at risk and impacting on the local community.
I hope today’s verdict sends a clear message to illegal waste operators that we are committed to tackling the blight of waste crime and will use all powers available to us to catch offenders.
Leaking pipe leads to Liley’s site
In March 2023, following a report of a pollution into a tributary of the River Bovey, Environment Agency officers found a pipe discharging a grey/brown liquid into the watercourse.
The source of the discharge was found to be Liley’s site that he leased at Newton Abbot. The ground at the site was churned up and with heavy plant machinery operating on it, causing the runoff to enter the river.
The Environment Agency was informed by a sub-contractor working on the site that approximately 15,000 tonnes of inert waste had been imported onto the premises. Groundworks at the site were stopped immediately to limit harm to the local environment.
Trees used to hide waste
Investigations revealed the site was being leased by a company called Sweeper Hire and Hoses Limited. There were no environmental permits or exemptions covering the waste activities ongoing at the site. Neither were there any outstanding planning permission applications.
During an Environment Agency site inspection, a substantial amount of waste material was present onsite. It appeared that it was being hidden by being pushed and deposited into the trees both at the sides of the premises and in the middle. Work also appeared to be ongoing to level the waste across the site.
The same day, the Environment Agency served a notice requiring the company to produce waste transfer notes for waste imported to the site over the previous 2 years. Liley had originally leased the land for 5 years from September 2021, trading as Sweepers and Hoses Limited.
Liley refuses to explain himself
However, due to issues with the various waste issues at the premises, Liley had been given notice to leave the site by the landowner he leased it from.
From the waste transfer notes provided, a minimum of 2,960 tonnes in total had been imported to the site between 18 May 2022 and 3 February 2023.
Liley resigned as director of the business on 1 March 2023 and refused all attempts by the Environment Agency to be interviewed to explain his actions and the legitimacy of his waste business.
Illegal waste activity can be reported in confidence to the Environment Agency on its 24-hour incident line on 0800 807060 or to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Background
Sweeper Hire and Hoses and Philip Liley were charged with the following offences:
Between 29 September 2021 and 1 March 2023 you, Sweeper Hire and Hoses Limited, on land at Higher Brocks Plantation, Heathfield, Newton Abbot, Devon, did operate a regulated facility, except under and to the extent authorised by an environmental permit, namely a waste depositing operation for which no environmental permit was in force. Contrary to Regulations 12(1)(a) and 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.
Between 29 September 2021 and 1 March 2023 you, Phillip Liley on land at Higher Brocks Plantation, Heathfield, Newton Abbot, Devon as Director of Sweeper Higher and Hoses Limited, did by consent or connivance, operate a regulated facility, except under and to the extent authorised by an environmental permit, namely a waste depositing operation for which no environmental permit was in force. Contrary to Regulations 12(1)(a), 38(1)(a) and 41(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016
Between 2 March 2023 and 15 September 2023 you, Phillip Liley on land at Higher Brocks Plantation, Heathfield, Newton Abbot, Devon, did operate a regulated facility, except under and to the extent authorised by an environmental permit, namely a waste depositing operation for which no environmental permit was in force. Contrary to Regulations 12(1)(a) and 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.
New study provides major boost for mine water heat revolution
New study shows 87% of coalfield boreholes succeed, busting myths around drilling risks and boosting confidence in mine water heat for green energy.
Borehole drilling in County Durham.
A new study from the Mining Remediation Authority busts myths around the risks of drilling into abandoned coal mines for mine water heat schemes. The research provides the strongest evidence yet that this low-carbon technology is technically achievable, cost-effective and ready to scale, offering a major boost to the UK’s ambitions for clean, secure, and locally sourced energy.
The open-access research, “Drilling into Coal Mine Workings: Overview and Experience from Britain’s Coalfields”, analysed 564 boreholes drilled across Great Britain. It found that 87% of boreholes successfully delivered on their intended purpose, including monitoring, gas venting and water abstraction. More than 75% of those targeting mine voids successfully reached their target, confirming the predictability and feasibility of accessing mine water heat.
This work directly addresses any concerns about the technical and financial risks of drilling into former coal mines for low-carbon heating, cooling, and thermal storage. It provides a robust evidence base to support the rollout of mine water heat networks, a reliable source of green energy beneath many former coalfield communities, which is currently underused.
Lee Wyatt, lead author and Senior Hydrogeologist at the Mining Remediation Authority, said:
This study shows that drilling into coal mine workings is not the high-risk activity it’s often perceived to be. With the right planning, design, and expertise, success rates are high, and this opens the door for more confident investment in mine water heat networks. This has the ability to decarbonise heat, reduce energy bills, and regenerate former coalfield communities.
Key findings:
87% of boreholes were suitable for their original purpose.
More than 75% success rate for hitting targeted mine voids.
97% success rate for deeper boreholes (over 300m), where mine plans are more accurate.
Boreholes targeting roadways had a 77% success rate in hitting voids and 85% suitability for their intended use.
The study supports our mission to unlock the potential of Britain’s coalfields for sustainable development and energy transition. It gives developers, local authorities and infrastructure planners greater confidence in mine water heat as a dependable, scalable energy source.
It also complements research from initiatives like the UK Geoenergy Observatories, which continue to improve geological understanding of mine heat systems and their role in the energy transition.
For the first quarter of 2025, South Africa’s agricultural exports reached US$3,36 billion, which translates to a 10% increase year-on-year, says Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen.
This is due to the work that government has been doing in expanding market access and defending trade over the past year.
“We facilitated new access for avocados to China, maize to Japan and India, beef to Iran, and table grapes to the Philippines and Vietnam. We managed a quick resolution to Botswana’s temporary ban on South African maize and wheat, reopening the border within two weeks.
“We were part of the Presidential delegation to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in China, secured protocols for wool, dairy and meat exports, and participated in high-level delegations to Davos, Japan, and Berlin,” the Minister said on Tuesday in Cape Town.
Furthermore, South Africa had formal bilateral engagements with counterparts from the G7, African Union (AU), and G20, to advance the country’s market access and biosecurity agenda.
Addressing the Department of Agriculture’s Post-Budget Vote Media Briefing, the Minister outlined the significant strides the department has made in expanding market access, restoring biosecurity, delivering targeted farmer support, fighting food insecurity and empowering young people in the sector.
Restoring biosecurity and disaster preparedness
Over the past year, government has prioritised biosecurity as the world witnessed an increase in animal and plant disease risks. The Minister said biosecurity is no longer a technical matter, but an economic and national imperative.
“Over the past year, we have established the National Biosecurity Compact and a Biosecurity Council, which bring together scientists, industry experts and officials to coordinate outbreak responses.
“[We have] deployed animal health technicians to vaccinate against Foot and Mouth Disease in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as adopted a new proactive, strategic approach,” Steenhuisen.
Moreover, government relaunched the National Biosecurity Hub in partnership with the University of Pretoria and commenced the country’s first avian influenza vaccination campaign that was supported by upgraded digital disease surveillance.
“Our efforts are restoring confidence in our export systems and protecting farmers from catastrophic losses,” the Minister said.
Delivering targeted farmer support
According Steenhuisen, this year, over 6 000 farmers received direct support through a R1.7 billion allocation, creating 3 000 jobs.
“Through Ilima/Letsema, we supported 67.492 vulnerable households, generating nearly 9 500 work opportunities. We launched new smallholder farmer programmes in Jozini and beyond, focused on shifting the paradigm from “grow and sell” to “grow to sell”.
Ilima/Letsema is a government programme aimed at reducing poverty through increased food production initiatives.
In addition, government fast tracked the global Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) accreditation for emerging producers and expanded access to finance through a restructured Blended Finance Scheme.
“We have made it clear; the future of agriculture lies with the youth. Over 3 000 agricultural graduates have entered internship programmes. We have begun integrating all 11 agricultural colleges into the higher education system, starting with Elsenburg.
“We are investing in climate-smart agriculture, pollinator protection, agroecology, and digital agri-tech tools to make agriculture attractive to the next generation,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
Eby’s request raises broader legal questions. What does it mean to label a group a terrorist organization in Canada and what happens once that label is applied?
Under Section 83.05 of the Criminal Code, the federal government can designate an entity a terrorist organization if there are “reasonable grounds to believe” it has engaged in, supported or facilitated terrorist activity. The term “entity” is defined broadly, covering individuals, groups, partnerships and unincorporated associations.
The process begins with intelligence and law enforcement reports submitted to the public safety minister, who may then recommend listing the group to cabinet if it’s believed the legal threshold is met. If cabinet agrees, the group is officially designated a terrorist organization.
A designation carries serious consequences: assets can be frozen and financial dealings become criminalized. Banks and other institutions are protected from liability if they refuse to engage with the group. Essentially, the designation cuts the group off from economic and civic life, often without prior notice or public hearing.
This marked a turning point: for the first time, Canada extended terrorism designations beyond ideological or political movements to include transnational criminal networks.
This has determined not only who is targeted, but also what forms of violence are taken seriously as national security concerns.
That is why the recent expansion of terrorism designations — first with the listing of Mexican cartels in early 2025, and now potentially with the Bishnoi gang — feels so significant.
It signals a shift away from targeting ideology alone and toward labelling profit-driven organized crime as terrorism. While transnational gangs may pose serious public safety risks, designating them terrorist organizations could erode the legal and political boundaries that once separated counterterrorism initiatives from criminal law.
Canada’s terrorism listing process only adds to these concerns. The decision is made by cabinet, based on secret intelligence, with no obligation to inform the group or offer a chance to respond. Most of the evidence remains hidden, even from the courts.
In effect, the label becomes final. It brings serious legal consequences like asset freezes, criminal charges and immigration bans. But the informal fallout can be just as harsh: banks shut down accounts, landlords back out of leases, employers cut ties. Even without a trial or conviction, the stigma of being associated with a listed group can dramatically change someone’s life.
What’s at stake
Using terrorism laws to go after violent criminal networks like the Bishnoi gang may seem justified. But it quietly expands powers that were originally designed for specific types of threats. It also stretches a national security framework already tainted by racial and political bias.
Canadians should be asking: what happens when tools built for exceptional threats become the default response to complex criminal violence?
As the federal government considers whether to label the Bishnoi gang a terrorist organization, the real question goes beyond whether the group meets the legal test. It’s about what kind of legal logic Canada is endorsing.
Terrorism designations carry sweeping powers, with little oversight and lasting consequences. Extending those powers to organized crime might appear pragmatic, but it risks normalizing a process that has long operated in the shadows, shaped by secrecy and executive discretion.
As national security law expands, Canadians should ask not just who gets listed, but how those decisions are made and what broader political agendas they might serve.
Basema Al-Alami 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.
In a study that I conducted with environmental health researcher Barbara Oke in northern British Columbia, we found that major resource projects can strain local health-care services in rural and remote regions. In particular, the influx of workers connected with development projects puts significant pressures on health-care providers. This is especially concerning as local health-care services are already experiencing funding, infrastructure and staff shortages.
Therefore, it’s critical that government and industry actively consider these pressures when planning new projects.
Health-care services under pressure
In recent years, northern British Columbia has been home to some of the biggest capital investment projects in Canada, including a major hydroelectric dam, liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, pipelines and mines.
Pressures on the local health-care system mainly stem from the influx of a non-local workforce when compared to the size of the nearest community, and local contexts. The smaller the community, the more vulnerable its health-care system is to additional pressures, especially if capacity challenges already exist.
How well a project manages its health service impacts clearly matters. When project workers resided in well-managed camps supported by competent onsite medical service providers, the pressures on the local system were less than when workforces did not have adequate accommodation and health supports.
An older workforce
Contrary to some popular assumptions that itinerant project workforces consist mainly of young, risk-taking individuals, most workers seeking health-care services were older and managing multiple chronic illnesses or disease risk factors.
Therefore, most of the pressure on health-care services did not come from what one would consider typical “workplace injuries” but, rather, from workers experiencing injuries and illnesses common within any population.
One health-care interviewee said: “It’s not that [project workers] are asking for special services, but just having more people needing health care adds to [the] pressure.”
Emergency departments
Impacts to the health-care system were felt primarily in the emergency departments of local hospitals and health-care centres.
Many communities in northern B.C. do not have walk-in clinics and most doctor’s offices are already at patient capacity.
So if a project does not provide its own on-site medical supports, the only option for workers is to seek care at a local emergency department, which are supposed to respond to urgent issues.
When staff have to deal with non-urgent needs, such as prescription renewals, sick notes or to manage regular ailments, it compounds the challenges and congestion faced by emergency departments.
Cumulative impacts on health services
Beyond emergency departments, industry pressures have cascaded throughout the system, affecting services such as primary care, infectious disease, diagnostic and lab services, and administrative and ambulance transfer services.
Rising workloads, combined with higher private-sector wages and an industry-driven increase in the cost of living, have made it harder to retain and recruit staff — especially in housekeeping, food services, laundry, administration, ambulance services and care aide roles.
Several people interviewed noted the consistent and cumulative pressures of projects on the health-care system.
While the pressures from a single project may seem inconsequential, the impacts from multiple projects in the same area pose a significant challenge to health-care services.
Balancing resource development and health care
The strategic and economic value of resource development is difficult to ignore.
Major infrastructure projects contribute to both local and provincial economies. When managed well, the economic benefits of such projects can positively contribute to community health.
But when not managed properly, the pressures that major infrastructure projects place on local health-care services can be significant. Therefore, we strongly urge governments and businesses to consider their impacts on overburdened and hard-working health-care providers in rural and remote communities.
Barbara Oke contributed to this article. She recently completed her Master’s of Arts in Political Science at UNBC.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
During his recent public spat with Donald Trump, Elon Musk tweeted a poll asking if a new political party would better represent the 80% of voters in the middle. Hundreds of thousands of people responded and more than 80% answered “yes”.
Many think that polarisation is fuelled by echo chambers created on social media platforms. These only expose people to beliefs similar to their own.
However, I study how narratives emerge on social media, and ways to investigate them. My work has two aims: first, to identify political issues that are likely to cross party lines, and a wider goal of exploring the role of social media in mitigating, rather than exacerbating, levels of polarisation.
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Earlier this year, for example, I sorted through 12,000 posts from Republican and Democrat voters on subreddits (online forums discussing specific topics). Using a technique I developed in my PhD research, I analysed attitudes to contested political issues around the time of Trump’s inauguration. Like other researchers, I am finding that there are things both sides often agree on, and that not every issue splits neatly across party lines.
Pew Research shows what Democrats and Republicans agree on.
People on both sides of the political divide can be distrustful of tech companies and big businesses, where billionaires have power regardless of who’s in charge. Divisions of “up v down” could be alternatives to seeing divisions as “left v right”.
Both Republicans and Democrats want “the best” leaders who could get things done fast and efficiently. But it would appear that people on both sides are concerned about the “slash-and-burn” way that Doge (the Department for Government Efficiency, the new agency tasked with cutting federal spending) is working.
Emma Connolly 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: The Conversation – Africa – By Nadine Riedel, Director of the Institute for Public and Regional Economics, University of Münster
South Africa’s personal income tax system is in the spotlight as the country’s tax filing season gets under way. Personal income tax is an important way of redistributing income from higher-earning to less-well-off individuals.
But how effectively does it do this and what can get in the way?
At the heart of any redistributive tax system is its structure: which incomes are taxed or exempted, which expenses are tax deductible, how the tax rate schedule is designed, and which tax credits are granted, including how much they reduce the tax owed. The schedule translates taxable income into the taxpayers’ tax liability by defining tax rates by tax brackets. The top tax rate is 45%.
In a recent study we explore how features such as tax rates, deductions, credits, and bracket adjustments shape the redistributive capacity of South Africa’s personal income tax system. For this research, we analyse all the income tax returns of South African taxpayers provided by South Africa’s Revenue Service for the tax years 2015 and 2018. (All records were made anonymous.)
The country´s personal income tax operates under a progressive tax scheme: People pay higher rates of tax as their income rises. Those with lower incomes may owe no income tax at all, while top earners can face marginal rates as high as 45%.
Based on our analysis, this progressive rate schedule is the most effective mechanism for redistributing income from higher- to lower-income earners. By contrast, “tax expenditures” – that is, expenses, which taxpayers can deduct from what they owe in tax – lower the redistributive impact of the personal income tax system.
Put differently: Allowing taxpayers to claim tax deductions and tax credits reduces the extent to which personal income taxation effectively lowers gaps between the after-tax income of high- and low-income earners.
A number of recent tax policy reforms further dampened the redistributive capacity of the system. The spotlight is on potential policy reforms that may counter this.
Weaknesses
Our research shows that the benefits from tax expenditures in the country’s personal income tax system lower its ability to narrow income gaps. South African taxpayers can deduct various expenses from the personal income tax base and their tax liability respectively, including expenses for donations, home offices, certain insurance contributions and public offices.
Many of these benefits are claimed by a relatively small number of taxpayers (often below 1% of the taxpayer population or under 100,000 taxpayers) and are concentrated among top earners. And average deduction amounts can be high.
Even more widely used deductions and credits, such as those for pensions and medical schemes, are disproportionately claimed by higher-income individuals.
We also found that recent reforms have weakened the redistributive capacity of the personal income tax system.
Over the years, adjustments have been made, some intended to improve equity, others driven by the need to bolster revenues. A closer look at three key reforms offers some insight into the impact they have had on the distributive goal of the country’s tax system.
In 2016, pension-related deductions were redesigned to be more generous and to harmonise the treatment of different pension funds. The goal of the reform was to create a fairer and more coherent pension deduction system. While the number of taxpayers claiming pension deductions increased after the reform, our research found that that the policy change still disproportionately benefited higher-income earners. This is because they are more likely to make pension contributions – and do so in larger amounts.
As a result, the policy reduced the overall redistributive impact of the personal income tax system. In other words, it lowered the extent to which personal income taxation reduces income gaps between higher and lower income taxpayers.
The following year, the government introduced a new top tax bracket which raised the marginal tax rate on incomes above R1.5 million (today roughly R1.8 million or US$100,700) from 41% to 45%. That is, if you earn more than R1.5 million, you pay 45% of this income in tax.
The stated aim of the reform was to strengthen the progressivity of the personal income tax system. But our analysis suggests that the real-world impact was limited. This is because the pre-tax incomes of high earners grew more slowly than those of lower-income individuals after the reform. This may reflect that high income earners responded to the reform by lowering their taxable income. They could do so by tax avoidance – high income earners may, for example, shift income to the (potentially lower-taxed) future by compensation through stock options or higher retirement contributions. Or it could be through real adjustments, like earlier retirement entry or less job effort (and, in consequence, lower earnings).
Between 2015 and 2018, inflation pushed wages and prices upward, but tax thresholds did not keep pace. This led to many taxpayers being shifted into higher tax brackets despite no real change in their purchasing power (referred to as bracket creep). This raised effective tax rates, but also had a regressive side-effect: lower- and middle-income earners were disproportionately affected, weakening the personal income tax system’s ability to reduce income inequality.
For example, because of bracket creep, a significant fraction of low-income taxpayers – around 3% – became liable for tax. Without bracket creep they would have stayed below the tax exemption threshold.
Reforms to the tax system
South Africa’s progressive personal income tax structure has played an important redistributive role. Nevertheless, its effectiveness has been weakened by tax expenditures, bracket creep, and uneven reform outcomes.
Targeted policy adjustments can strengthen its redistributive capacity.
Deductions and tax credits: Most of these are regressive, with benefits concentrated among higher-income earners. Phasing out some could strengthen redistribution. But not without trade-offs. After all, deductions and credits also recognise unavoidable expenses, such as work-related or medical costs, and encourage behaviour like charitable giving or retirement saving.
Yet their appropriateness remains widely debated and their use differs across countries.
Beyond fairness, tax expenditures come with other downsides, too. For example, they can complicate tax enforcement and open the door to misreporting, particularly where qualifying expenses are hard to verify.
Policymakers might also consider shifting from deductions to tax credits.
While deductions reduce the taxable income of an individual, tax credits directly reduce the tax owed. Individuals in higher tax brackets gain a relatively higher advantage from deductions, as their tax rate is higher. Contrarily, one rand of tax credit provides the same relief to all taxpayers with a positive tax liability.
Making credits refundable, though potentially costly, could further boost their redistributive effect.
Standardised deductions could help as well, by allowing fixed rand amounts for certain expenses without requiring proof of payment, and offering relief to lower-income taxpayers who often forgo claims due to lack of resources or knowledge.
Finally, addressing bracket creep by automatically indexing tax brackets to inflation could preserve the progressivity of the personal income tax system over time, shielding lower- and middle-income taxpayers from a quiet rise in tax burdens.
Prof. Dr. Nadine Riedel receives funding from UNU WIDER.
This research is part of the so-called SATIED program. In the context of the program, I act as an academic work stream lead and receive compensation through UNU WIDER (which is the University of the UN) for this role.
Ida Zinke 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.