The Allahabad High Court on Monday upheld the trial court’s order to survey the Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district.
The petition filed by the Muslim side, seeking to halt the trial court proceedings, was rejected after the court found “no issues with the trial court order” in the ongoing dispute between the Jama Masjid and the Harihar Mandir in the district.
Reacting to the judgment, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain said that the High Court has rejected all objections raised regarding the appointment of the Survey Commissioner by the Civil Judge (Senior Division), Chandausi.
“This is a very important decision of the Allahabad High Court, and all those who had spread the misconception in the country that the Survey Commissioner appointed by Civil Judge Senior Division Chandausi on 19th November was a wrong appointment and he should have heard the Masjid Committee before making the appointment, today that proposition of law has been completely rejected by the court,” Jain told ANI.
Explaining the court’s authority to appoint a Survey Commissioner, Jain said, “The simple proposition of law is that the court can appoint a Survey Commissioner in the exercise of the power of Order 26, Rule 9 and 10. There is no need to hear anyone at that time. The mandate of law is only that when the survey commissioner goes to the spot for the survey, he will conduct the survey in the presence of both parties. Which was followed here on both the days, i.e., 19th and 24th November.”
Criticizing certain parliamentarians and senior advocates who had raised questions on the survey, he added, “So the big barristers and parliamentarians who had made comments on the dignity of the court and the dignity of the parties on the dignity of this entire process, today a well-reasoned judgment has put a full stop to it.”
Jain further said that the High Court’s decision to vacate the stay on the trial means the legal proceedings will now continue.
He also clarified that the Place of Worship Act and the Supreme Court’s order of December 12 do not apply in this case: “We will come to the Supreme Court for a stay vacation of the survey report, which has been filed in a sealed cover. At the same time, the High Court has vacated the stay on the trial. This means that the trial will proceed further. The Worship Act is not applicable in this because it is the admitted case of both parties that this is an ASI-protected monument of 1958 and is governed by the ASI Act of 1958… Therefore, neither the Place of Worship Act nor the Supreme Court order of December 12 is applicable here.”
Speaking on the development, advocate Hari Shankar Jain said, “The court rejected the Muslim side’s plea and said that the survey was correct. Whatever survey was done, it will be read out and made part of the record. If they (the Muslim side) go to the Supreme Court, we are ready to welcome them.”
The mosque management committee had filed a civil revision petition seeking a stay on the ongoing trial court proceedings in an original suit pending before the Sambhal district court.
Earlier, on April 29, the Supreme Court had granted two weeks to the Committee of Management, Shahi Jama Masjid, to respond to a status report filed by Uttar Pradesh authorities, which stated that the disputed well is located outside the mosque premises.
In November 2024, the top court had stayed the trial court proceedings, directing that the matter should not be heard until the mosque committee’s petition against the survey order was listed before the Allahabad High Court.
Tensions had erupted in Sambhal after the local court ordered the mosque survey on November 19. Protests against the order led to clashes with the police, resulting in the deaths of four people.
The survey followed a petition filed in the local court claiming that the site of the mosque was originally a Harihar temple dedicated to Kalki, the last incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and was demolished in 1526 to construct the mosque.
Reacting to the UK-EU deal announced today by the prime minister Keir Starmer, the co-leader of the Green Party, Carla Denyer MP, said:
“Today’s reset is being broadly welcomed by businesses and is good news for UK consumers faced with the cost of living crisis. There is also hope for young people who want to live, work, study and form friendships freely across Europe.
“The Green Party would like to see an even closer relationship between the UK and EU starting with re-joining the customs union and full freedom of movement across the continent. But today’s agreement is definitely a step in the right direction and moves us forward from a place where Reform and the Tories would like us to stay stuck. Their Brexit betrayal rhetoric shows they are willing to disregard the damage inflicted on the country through Brexit and ignore the fact that the vast majority of the UK public now believe the UK was wrong to leave the EU.”
LOWELL, Mass. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and federal law enforcement partners arrested 11 illegal aliens during a worksite enforcement operation targeting a business with alleged unauthorized hiring practices in Lowell May 16.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations special agents and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers conducted the arrests at a staging area for a Massachusetts-based roofing business. After interviews and records checks, 11 individuals were arrested for being illegally present in the United States. The individuals arrested are all Ecuadorian citizens.
ICE HSI New England Worksite Enforcement group led the investigation with support from ICE ERO Boston, DEA New England division, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Boston field division.
Federal law requires employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all individuals they hire, using the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9. ICE uses the I-9 inspection program to promote compliance with these requirements, as part of a broader strategy to address and deter the employment of unauthorized workers. These inspections are among the federal government’s most effective tools to enforce U.S. employment laws.
HSI’s worksite enforcement strategy includes leveraging the agency’s full range of investigative capabilities. Worksite investigations often uncover additional criminal activity such as alien smuggling, human trafficking, money laundering, document fraud, worker exploitation, and substandard wages or working conditions.
Members of the public with information about suspected immigration violations or related criminal activity are encouraged to contact the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or submit information online via the ICE Tip Form.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Buffalo removed two illegally present Guatemalan fugitives wanted in their home country for felony offenses May 12.
Cesar Germain Lopez-Chacon, 28, entered the United States on an unknown date and at an unknown location without admission by an immigration official. The Asbury Park Police Department in New Jersey arrested Lopez-Chacon Jan. 13, 2023, for domestic assault, possession of a controlled substance and possess/intent to use drug paraphernalia. A week later, ICE Newark learned Lopez-Chacon had an outstanding warrant in Guatemala for assaulting a government official. The Neptune Township Police Department arrested Lopez-Chacon for theft July 19, 2024. Lopez-Chacon was released from local custody on each occasion before ICE could lodge and immigration detainer.
ICE Newark arrested Lopez-Chacon for violating the Immigration and Nationality Act during a targeted enforcement operation March 7, and subsequently transferred him to ICE Buffalo. ICE Buffalo detained him in Buffalo Federal Detention Facility for the duration of his removal proceedings. An immigration judge order Lopez-Chacon removed from the U.S. April 23.
Francisco Manuel Lopez, 32, also entered the United States on and unknown date and at an unknown location without admission by an immigration official. ICE New York City encountered Lopez, Feb. 19, 2014, at the Rikers Island Correctional Facility in the Bronx, initiated removal proceedings and lodged an immigration detainer against his release. Officers arrested him a week later pursuant to a warrant. An immigration judge ordered him removed on April 1, 2014, and he was subsequently removed from the U.S. May 12 that same year.
Lopez illegally reentered the U.S. without inspection. On Dec. 11, 2017, the U.S. Border Patrol arrested him near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, served him a notice of intent/decision to reinstate prior order, and turned him over to the U.S Marshals Service for criminal prosecution for illegal reentry. The U.S. District Court of New Mexico convicted Lopez of illegal reentry of a removed alien. Following this conviction, the U.S. Marshals Service transferred Lopez to the New York City Police Department in Manhattan due to an outstanding warrant. The Kings County Criminal Court convicted Lopez of criminal possession of a weapon and assault with a weapon July 2, 2024. ICE New York City lodged an immigration detainer with the Ulster Correctional Facility Sept. 3, 2024. ICE Buffalo arrested Lopez April 21 upon his release from the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision pursuant to his warrant of removal.
On April 23, 2025, ICE Buffalo confirmed that Lopez is an international fugitive wanted in his home country for gender-based violence.
Both aliens were turned over to the legal authorities upon arrival in Guatemala.
Members of the public can report crimes or suspicious activity by completing ICE’s online tip form.
Learn more about ERO Buffalo’s mission to increase public safety on X at @EROBuffalo.
As mental health needs rise globally, Cambodia is taking a significant step forward by preparing to join the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health (SIMH). With plans underway to hold the SIMH Design Workshop in mid-2025, Cambodia is poised to strengthen its mental health system through a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach led by the Ministry of Health and supported by WHO.
The design workshop will lay the foundation for tailored mental health actions under the WHO SIMH, with technical collaboration between Cambodia’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (DMHSA), the Department of International Cooperation (DIC), and WHO.
Strengthening the foundations
While the groundwork for the Initiative moves forward, Cambodia has also made notable progress in recent years, enhancing community mental health support through key technical working groups. Two priority areas show promising momentum:
1. Guidelines for Online Crisis Counseling
In response to growing demand for accessible and timely mental health support, Cambodia developed national Guidelines for Online Crisis Counseling. These guidelines, spearheaded by the Technical Working Group under the leadership of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, establish clear protocols and ethical standards for delivering crisis support through digital platforms.
The guidelines were finalized through a collaborative process. Once adopted, they are expected to be a vital tool for expanding access to safe and responsive mental health care — particularly for people in remote and underserved areas.
2. Psychological First Aid (PFA) Training for Schools
Recognizing the urgent need for youth-centered mental health support, the School Health Department (SHD) of the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport has led the development of a new Psychological First Aid (PFA) training curriculum for schools. The curriculum equips school personnel with essential skills to provide early psychosocial support to students affected by stress, trauma, or crisis.
After technical review and refinement, the final curriculum is ready for pilot testing. The pilot will inform further national scale-up, with the aim of embedding mental health support into Cambodia’s broader school health system.
Looking ahead
The WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health aims to support 100 million more people world-wide to access quality, affordable mental health care by advancing mental health policies, services, and human rights. With strong national leadership and technical momentum already underway, Cambodia is well-positioned to adapt and localize the Initiative to its context — building a more resilient and inclusive system of care for all.
As preparations continue for the program design workshop, and beyond, the country’s collaborative work in schools, digital innovation, and systems planning reflects a shared commitment to making mental health a national priority.
During the plenary session on Monday, 19 May, the Director-General will award Botswana for achieving gold tier status on the path to elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV as a public health problem.
Botswana was already the first country in the world to meet the criteria for silver tier status on the path to elimination of HIV, in 2021. Now, Botswana is the first country to achieve gold tier status, by reaching stringent targets for HIV prevalence among new mothers, HIV incidence among newborns, and service coverage for antenatal care, HIV testing and antiretroviral therapy.
Official side events
Several official side events on HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs will take place during the WHA78. These events require access to the Palais de Nations and only accredited delegated can access. You can find more details in WHO’s page dedicated to WHA78 official side events.
Date and time
Event title and details
Description
Monday, 19 May
19:30–20:50
Getting the world back on track: Ending AIDS by 2030 still possible!
Location: Palais des Nations – Room/Salle VIII
Organizers: International AIDS Society (IAS), PATH, GNP+
The side-event will focus on the significant challenges facing the global HIV response, particularly in the light of recent funding cuts. It will explore how countries are addressing funding gaps and forging regional and national partnerships to sustain HIV programmes, while identifying innovative financing models.
The discussion will focus on the consequences of the funding cuts, strategies for ensuring the continuity of HIV services and the importance of domestic resource mobilization to achieve the goal of ending AIDS by 2030.
Wednesday, 21 May
18:00–19:20
Uniting in Global Solidarity for Hepatitis Elimination: Acting to Prevent Liver Cancer in Support of the NCD Agenda.
Location: Palais des Nations – Room/Salle VII
Organizers: Pakistan, Tanzania, Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, African Union, World Hepatitis Alliance, Medicines Patent Pool
The integration of hepatitis vaccination, diagnostics and treatment within existing frameworks for UHC and PHC will advance progress toward the global goals of hepatitis elimination and cancer prevention.
The WHA offers a critical opportunity to raise awareness and drive commitment to achieve the elimination of hepatitis and reduction of liver cancer globally. This platform can also provide a basis to launch a Coalition of Member States dedicated to raising the visibility of hepatitis and accelerating global efforts to eliminate it.
Friday, 23 May
18:00–19:20
The contribution of selfcare to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Location: Palais des Nations Room/Salle VIII
Organizers: Belgium, Uruguay, Luxembourg, Global Network of People Living with HIV
This side event will explore how self-care interventions are transforming the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) landscape, supporting primary health care (PHC) and advancing universal health coverage (UHC). Evidence-based self-care interventions for SRHR are recommended by WHO for all economic contexts. Self-care interventions offer practical, empowering solutions to overcome persistent barriers to advance quality SRHR for all.
This side event will highlight the multidimensional benefits of self-care interventions through concrete examples, including impact at national level, and innovation.
Non-official side events
A large number of non-official side events will take place during WHA78 in different venues across Geneva. These events are convened by a diverse range of partner organizations with the technical support from WHO Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs (HHS).
Date and time
Event title and details
Description
Wednesday, 21 May
18:30–20:30
A new era of HIV prevention: Accelerating access to long-acting technologies through sustainable prevention systems and financing.
Location: UNAIDS / WHO D building – Kofi Annan Room
Organizers: UNAIDS (in collaboration with UNFPA, WHO and UNDP), the Federal Republic of Brazil and the Netherlands
This high-level dialogue organized by the Global HIV Prevention Coalition (GPC) aims to galvanize political leadership, financing, and coordinated action to drive a transformational HIV prevention push.
The meeting will serve as a platform for Ministers of Health, global health partners, pharmaceutical companies, and civil society to explore opportunities to expand access to new long-acting prevention technologies as a powerful addition to existing effective options.
Communities at the heart of global health and health security: why sustained funding for community-led health systems matters now more than ever
Location: UNAIDS / WHO D building – Kofi Annan Room
Organizers: Coalition PLUS, Frontline AIDS, UNAIDS and WHO
This high-level discussion will focus on the critical role that communities play in shaping global health and health security policies. In light of ongoing global health challenges, including pandemics, rising health inequities, funding cuts, and the increasing burden on health systems, it is now more important than ever to prioritize community-led health systems.
Furthermore, throughout WHA78 week, the HHS Department will engage informally with Member States to provide an overview of the process for revising the Global Health Sector Strategies on HIV, viral hepatitis, and STIs (2022–2030), and to discuss preparations for the mid-term review, which is scheduled to be presented at the World Health Assembly in 2026.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Mauritania as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, making it the seventh country in WHO’s African Region to achieve this significant milestone. The certification was received by Honorable Abdallahi Sidi Mohamed Wedih, Minister of Health and Aïcha Vall Vergès, Ambassador of Mauritania to Switzerland at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly.
“I congratulate the government and the people of Mauritania for this achievement,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This is another example of the incredible progress we have made against neglected tropical diseases and gives hope to many other nations still fighting against trachoma that they too can eliminate this disease.”
Mauritania has a long history of a fight against trachoma that dates back to the 1960s. However, it was not until early 2000 that the country conducted population-based epidemiological surveys to map trachoma with the support of the Organization for the Prevention of Blindness (OPC), the Institute of Tropical Ophthalmology of Africa (IOTA) and WHO. Trachoma control activities were integrated into the National Programme for the Fight against Blindness at the Ministry of Health.
Mauritania implemented the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy to eliminate trachoma with the support of partners. These activities included provision of surgery to treat the late blinding stage of the disease, conducting mass administration of antibiotic treatment with azithromycin donated by Pfizer through the International Trachoma Initiative, carrying out public awareness campaigns to promote facial cleanliness and personal hygiene as well as improvement in access to water supply and sanitation.
“Eliminating trachoma is a landmark victory for public health in Mauritania,” said Dr Charlotte Faty Ndiaye, WHO Representative in Mauritania. “This success reflects the strong leadership and commitment of the Government, supported by the dedication of health workers, communities, and partners, with the guidance and support of WHO. We will remain vigilant and support the country to preserve this success and protect those most at risk from trachoma.”
Trachoma is the second neglected tropical disease to be eliminated in Mauritania. In 2009, the country had already been certified free of dracunculiasis (Guinea-worm disease) transmission. Globally, Mauritania joins 21 other countries that have been validated by WHO for having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. These are Benin, Cambodia, China, Ghana, India, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Gambia, Togo, Vanuatu and Viet Nam. These countries are part of a wider group of 55 countries that have eliminated one or more neglected tropical diseases.
WHO is supporting Mauritania’s health authorities to closely monitor communities where trachoma was previously endemic to ensure there is no resurgence of the disease.
Disease prevalence
As of April 2024, trachoma remains a public health problem in 37 countries with an estimated 103 million people living in areas requiring interventions against the disease. Trachoma is found mainly in the poorest and most rural areas of Africa, Central and South America, Asia, the Western Pacific and the Middle East. The African Region is disproportionately affected by trachoma with 93 million people living in at-risk areas in April 2024, representing 90% of the global trachoma burden.
Significant progress has been made in the fight against trachoma over the past few years and the number of people requiring antibiotic treatment for trachoma in the African Region fell by 96 million from 189 million in 2014 to 93 million as of April 2024, representing a 51% reduction.
Following Mauritania’s success, there are now 20 countries in WHO’s African Region that are targeting trachoma elimination.
Note to editors
Trachoma is a neglected tropical disease. It is caused by infection with the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, which spreads from person to person through contaminated fingers, fomites and flies that have come into contact with discharge from the eyes or nose of an infected person. Environmental risk factors for trachoma transmission include poor hygiene, overcrowded households, and inadequate access to water and sanitation.
Elimination of trachoma as a public health problem is defined as: (i) a prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis “unknown to the health system” of <0.2% in adults aged ≥15 years (approximately 1 case per 1000 total population), and (ii) a prevalence of trachomatous inflammation – follicular in children aged 1–9 years of <5%, sustained for at least two years in the absence of ongoing antibiotic mass treatment, in each formerly endemic district; plus (iii) the existence of a system able to identify and manage incident trachomatous trichiasis cases, using defined strategies, with evidence of appropriate financial resources to implement those strategies.
To eliminate trachoma as a public health problem, WHO recommends the SAFE strategy: a comprehensive approach to reduce transmission of the causative organism, clear existing infections and deal with their effects.
The road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030 targets the prevention, control, elimination or eradication of 20 diseases and disease groups. Progress against trachoma and other neglected tropical diseases alleviates the human and economic burden that they impose on the world’s most disadvantaged communities.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)
Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and Don Beyer (VA-08), co-chairs of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Caucus, along with Vern Buchanan (FL-16), introduced a resolution recognizing Friday, May 16 as Endangered Species Day. The resolution highlights the strong role that the ESA has played in safeguarding America’s imperiled species and the need to prioritize conservation efforts to address the biodiversity crisis impacting plants and wildlife worldwide.
The critical protections in the Endangered Species Act are currently at risk due to a Trump Administration proposal to rescind the definition of “harm” under the law. The proposed rule change would prohibit only actions that directly hurt or kill actual animals, but not the habitats they rely on. We know that habitat loss and destruction are the leading causes of species decline and extinction. If finalized, this change would be devastating to already fragile species and put currently healthy ones at risk.
“For more than five decades, the Endangered Species Act has been our most effective tool to protect America’s imperiled wildlife, preventing the extinction of some of our most beloved animals like the bald eagle, grizzly bear, and Florida manatee,” said Dingell. “Healthier wildlife populations mean healthier ecosystems, which results in stronger shorelines, less intense wildfires, better water quality, and fewer pests, among many other positive impacts. As the United States continues to face an unprecedented and worsening biodiversity crisis, and the critical protections of the ESA are under attack, we must fight harder than ever to defend them.”
“When the Trump-Musk-Vance Administration wrongly and carelessly fired probationary federal workers, the ESA programs based here in the Northern Virginia office lost species expert biologists with important state and community relationships critical to recovery goals. They lost people who were working to make the endangered species consultation process more efficient so infrastructure projects could move forward in ways that helped protect vulnerable wildlife.” said Beyer. “The ESA is currently working to protect and recover more than 2,000 species of plants and animals, all crucial to maintaining our country’s rich biodiversity and natural heritage. Cutting the core, dependable investment of the federal government’s staff time, expertise, and dollars could have devastating impacts, including breaking up longstanding public-private partnerships. It’s on all of us who support the ESA to support those that work, often silently, to keep the Endangered Species Act alive and properly functioning! I thank my colleagues, Reps. Dingell and Buchanan for helping champion this fight with me.”
In the United States and around the world, more than 2,300 species are recognized as at risk of extinction now or in the foreseeable future, and many more are experiencing declines in populations and future viability. Many scientists categorize our planet’s current biodiversity crisis as the sixth mass extinction event, with plant and wildlife species across the globe facing heightened risk of extinction that is largely driven by human activity.
Dingell has long worked to protect endangered species across America, fighting to prevent the rollback of the critical safeguards in the Endangered Species Act under the previous Trump Administration.
View the full text of the resolution here. Learn more about the ESA Caucus here.
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jennifer Wallner, Associate Professor, School of Political Studies, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa
Throughout the recent federal election campaign, political leaders outlined their vision for Canada’s future. Responding to a dramatically changing geopolitical climate, party platforms contained ambitious policy proposals about how to reposition the country for the challenges that lie ahead.
But the leaders were silent about how a new federal government would navigate the division of powers among various levels of government in order to bring their proposals to life.
Life would be easy if the problems we faced adhered to the 1867 Constitution Act. Most challenges, however, transcend the individual categories of jurisdiction. Collaboration among jurisdictions is therefore essential to meet the individual and collective needs of Canadians.
From apprenticeships to energy corridors, childcare to caregiving, most policy areas require sustained and substantive co-ordination to succeed. Often, like in case of housing and climate change, this must also include municipalities.
In addition, intergovernmental co-ordination must finally reflect a nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples.
The Liberal Party’s Canada Strong platform refers eight times to nation-building projects. But it fails to acknowledge the need to transform intergovernmental relations for 21st century challenges.
Instead, the Constitution is seemingly perceived as a minor inconvenience, not as a key governance challenge: “We will work with the provinces and territories,” the policy says, seemingly hoping that somehow things will work out.
Federal leaders seem oblivious to the fact that Canada is one of the most decentralized federations worldwide. The provinces exercise fiscal and jurisdictional autonomy exceeding those of other countries. In the meantime, the decisions of individual provinces and territories have implications that stretch far beyond their own borders.
Natural resources fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of provinces and, increasingly, the territories. But their development profoundly affects economic and environmental policy.
If one province or territory unilaterally decimates the natural resources of their region, it’s not just that specific province or territory that bears the consequences. This is just one of many sectors in need of collective consideration so that all of Canada benefits.
There is a simple truth here: orders of government in Canada are not completely autonomous over their areas of jurisdiction. The federal government does not have the legitimate authority to compel provincial-territorial action; in the meantime, provinces and territories have little means to influence federal policy according to the needs and wants of their constituents.
Rather than tackling this institutional problem, the federal government often asserts itself as the leader
Alternatively, the federal government evokes an ad hoc “Team Canada” approach in response to imminent crises, like the re-negotiation of the former NAFTA agreement in 2017 and today’s threats and tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Neither option, however, addresses the deeper problem: intergovernmental relations in Canadian federalism are notoriously weak and lack the legitimacy and transparency to bring about effective collective action.
Canadian and international research shows that a robust institutional framework is critical for nurturing the key ingredient for effective and legitimate intergovernmental relations: Reciprocity.
Regular policy meetings among governments and senior level public servants, especially when backed by sufficient administrative and political support, promotes shared norms and understandings, enhancing the potential for long-term policy solutions.
Royal commission?
If this type of regular collaboration is entrenched, it would be more difficult to obstruct meaningful collective action that respects Canada’s political integrity.
As Mark Carney’s new government gets to work, Canadians must question not only the fiscal soundness of its proposals, but also their feasibility considering the deep divisions in Canadian federalism.
Without taking tangible steps to reimagine Canada’s outdated system of intergovernmental relations or developing a road map for institutional reform, the lasting policy changes that are needed to reposition Canada in an increasingly hostile environment are unlikely to materialize.
About 100 Canadian academics recently argued in an open letter, Canada needs to establish a royal commission for securing Canada’s future. As past experience has shown, this approach has great potential, but it must be developed in partnership among federal, provincial and territorial governments, including those of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples.
Jörg Broschek receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
Jennifer Wallner does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Speech
PM’s remarks at press conference with EU leaders : 19 May 2025
PM’s remarks at his press conference with EU leaders on the UK-EU deal.
Ladies and gentlemen – Britain is back on the world stage.
Working with our partners. Doing deals that will grow our economy and putting more money in the pockets of working people.
In the last two weeks alone, we’ve delivered trade deals with India and the US. That means: jobs saved, jobs created, more growth and a huge vote of confidence in this country.
It shows that – as global instability is rising, the decisions we have taken to stabilise the economy and lead the way internationally have made Britain a place where people want to do business once again.
And from that position of strength – today we have struck this landmark deal with the EU – a new partnership between an independent Britain and our allies in Europe.
This is the first UK-EU summit, that marks a new stage in our relationship. And this deal, is a win-win. It delivers what the British public voted for last year.
It gives us unprecedented access to the EU market – the best of any country outside the EU or EFTA.
All while sticking to our red lines in our manifesto about. Not rejoining the single market, no rejoining the customs union and no return to freedom of movement.
This deal is good for both sides – and let me set out why it is good for Britain. We’ve struck an SPS deal to make food and agriculture trade with the EU cheaper and easier.
Slashing red tape and bureaucracy. That will mean lower food prices at the checkout.
More choice on our supermarket shelves – and more money in people’s pockets.
It will boost British exporters because, once again after a long absence, we’ll be able to sell great British burgers, shellfish and other products into the EU.
We’ve also struck a new Defence and Security Partnership to strengthen our cooperation and strengthen our security – which is vital in this dangerous new era.
And it will open the door to working with the EU’s new defence fund – providing new opportunities for our defence industry, supporting British jobs and livelihoods.
We are also increasing our co-operation on emissions trading. Saving UK businesses from having to pay £800 million in EU carbon taxes. Once again: supporting British businesses, backing British jobs.
Next, we are increasing our cooperation on energy to drive down bills in the long term.
The agreement negotiated by the last government left us with more disconnected with our closest neighbours despite being physically connected to the European grid by our undersea cables.
Today’s deal will see us work to bring these systems together again – benefitting bill payers and boosting our renewables industry in the North Sea.
Today’s deal is also good for British steel, protecting our steel exports from new EU tariffs. Saving the industry £25 million each year. Another example of this government backing our steel sector to the hilt.
We’ve reached a deal today on fish, protecting our access, rights and fishing areas with no increase in the amount that EU vessels can catch in British waters.
Our fishing industry will also benefit from the new SPS agreement which slashes costs and red tape for our exports into the European market. And we already sell 70% of our seafood into that market so it’s really significant. It is also opening the gates to sending shellfish back into the EU.
And I can announce today that we’re investing £360 million into our fishing industry – to help them take advantage of this deal.
We have acted today to strengthen our borders. The previous deal left a huge gap in our ability to work together to tackle illegal migration.
So this deal closes that gap so that we can work across the migration routes to end the migration crisis and smash the criminal gangs.
We are boosting our cooperation on law enforcement. Combating terrorism and serious organised crime with better sharing of intelligence and data – including facial imaging, for the first time.
Today’s deal will also help British holidaymakers as we are confirming that they will able to use e-Gates when they travel to Europe – ending those huge queues at passport control.
And I call on all EU members states to help make this a reality without delay.
Finally – we have agreed today cooperate on a youth experience scheme to allow our young people to travel and work freely in Europe. And I’m clear – this will come with all the appropriate time-limits, caps and visa requirements.
So – it’s a long list – and it just shows how much we have achieved here today – real benefits for the British people.
Because, it’s time to look forward. It’s time to move on from the stale old debates and political fights to focus on delivering common sense, practical solutions which get the best for the British people.
We’re ready to work with all our partners.
If it means we can improve people’s lives here at home.
And that’s what this deal is all about: facing out to the world once again in the great tradition of this nation. Building the relationships we choose, with the partners we choose and closing deals in the national interest.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
World news story
UK Trade Envoy Visits Ghana to Deepen Bilateral Economic Relations
This Bell Ribeiro-Addy’s first official visit to Ghana since her appointment as Trade Envoy in January 2025 to strengthen UK-Ghana economic partnerships.
The British High Commission Accra is pleased to announce that Bell Ribeiro-Addy, the UK’s Trade Envoy to Ghana, will undertake her first official visit to Ghana from 19 –22 May 2025. The four-day mission will include engagements in Accra and Kumasi, underscoring the UK’s commitment to deepening bilateral trade relations and fostering economic growth.
Appointed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in January 2025, Ms. Ribeiro-Addy is part of the UK government’s global network of Trade Envoys, working to promote British trade interests in over 70 countries. Her visit to Ghana marks a significant milestone in her role and reflects the UK’s strategic focus on strengthening partnerships across Africa.
During her visit, Ms. Ribeiro-Addy will meet with a range of high-level stakeholders, including:
Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, Minister of Finance
Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry
Hon. Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, Deputy Minister of Education
Senior government officials, traditional leaders, and academic representatives
UK businesses operating in Ghana and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC)
These discussions will focus on expanding trade and investment opportunities, enhancing economic cooperation, and identifying areas for mutual growth.
In Kumasi, Ms. Ribeiro-Addy will tour two major UK Export Finance (UKEF)-backed projects: the Kumasi Airport and the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital maternity block. These initiatives highlight the UK’s ongoing support for infrastructure development in Ghana’s Ashanti Region.
She will also host a roundtable with the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, aimed at fostering collaboration on gender-inclusive economic development and leadership.
Ms. Ribeiro-Addy said:
I am honoured to represent the UK in Ghana and look forward to engaging with our Ghanaian partners. This visit is an important step in strengthening our trade relations and exploring new avenues for collaboration. I am confident that our discussions will pave the way for a brighter economic future for both our countries.
British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson, added:
We are thrilled to welcome Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP to Ghana. Her visit reflects our shared commitment to building stronger international partnerships, promoting global trade, and realising a vision of inclusive prosperity.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Change of UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York: Christian Turner
Dr Christian Turner CMG has been appointed UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN in New York.
Dr Christian Turner CMG has been appointed UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York in succession to Dame Barbara Woodward DCMG, OBE. Dr Turner will take up his appointment at the end of 2025.
Curriculum Vitae
Full name: Christian Philip Hollier Turner
Year
Role
2023 to present
FCDO, Director General Geopolitics & Political Director
2019 to 2023
Islamabad, British High Commissioner
2017 to 2019
Prime Minister’s International Affairs Adviser & Deputy National Security Adviser
Cabinet Office Fast Stream including roles in Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, Private Secretary to Minister of State, Secretary to Economic & Domestic Committees of Cabinet
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Train services between Bradford and London more than triple thanks to government funding
5 additional train services daily will bring an estimated extra £4 million into the local economy each year.
new platform at Bradford Forster Square station, thanks to £35 million government funding
will boost daily trains between Bradford and London from 2 to 7, providing an extra 1.9 million train seats a year
key part of the government’s commitment to investment in transport infrastructure in the North of England and Plan for Change
Passengers in Bradford are now benefiting from improved, increased rail journeys thanks to a multi-million-pound government boost.
Today (19 May 2025) saw the opening of a brand-new platform at Forster Square Station, which is already facilitating 5 additional services a day between Bradford and London.
The new platform and improved station infrastructure will ease congestion and increase access into the city for passengers, commuters and tourists.
Minister for Local Transport, Simon Lightwood, who officially opened the platform, said:
Thanks to £35 million of government investment, rail passengers in Bradford will now be connected to more jobs, education and business opportunities.
These additional services will not only create a more reliable and comfortable journey but bring an estimated extra £4 million into the local economy each year.
After decades of underfunding, this government is investing in change for the people of Yorkshire by delivering the transport system they deserve.
The new services to Bradford come at a key time as they celebrate being the UK’s City of Culture for 2025. Visitors enjoying the celebrations throughout the year will make use of the enhanced timetable, which sees the first train from London to Bradford now arrive at 09:52 compared with 19:30 previously.
Minister Lightwood continued:
You cannot achieve real growth without the transport connectivity to support it. We have an ambitious Plan for Change that’s making a real difference for the people of West Yorkshire, evidenced by large scale projects like this one.
The extra 1.9 million seats annually, increasing weekday services to Bradford by 250%, show that we are delivering our plan, creating more jobs and more opportunities.
Today’s unveiling is part of the government’s wider commitment to investing in transport infrastructure across the North of England and its wider Plan for Change. Thanks to a £10 billion cash injection from the government, the TransPennine Route Upgrade will provide more capacity on faster, more reliable, greener journeys between Manchester, Leeds and York.
Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield will see their connectivity further improved thanks to the government providing £200 million development funding to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority for the West Yorkshire Mass Transit System.
Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said:
There is such a positive energy in Bradford at the moment, with the recent transformation of the city centre and the series of amazing City of Culture events.
Increasing capacity at one of West Yorkshire’s flagship city centre stations means the city can really build on this momentum.
This will help us to create a transport system to be proud of and is vital to helping us create a more prosperous and better-connected region.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said:
I’m so pleased about the new Platform 0 and the important London services that will now happen as a result of the investment. A major city like Bradford needs to be better connected, not just to the capital but also to other major cities in the country. We’ve been able to work with government, Network Rail and the train operators to make this happen in this major year for us.
These services will provide local people with better access to more and better jobs, not just for this year but permanently. There will be more opportunity to travel for education and training and cultural experiences, as well as giving people from across the country more opportunity to visit us and experience all we have to offer.
A major decision on the future of the Island’s development strategy will be made at an Extraordinary Full Council meeting on Wednesday, 28 May.
At the heart of the meeting will be the future of the Island Planning Strategy (IPS) — a document that will shape development and land use across the Island for years to come.
Councillors will be asked to choose between two options: to continue with the current IPS and seek government approval, or to withdraw the plan and begin work on a new version from scratch.
The newly released report outlines the implications of both routes.
Should the council opt to proceed with the current IPS, it would need to make a number of changes requested by government-appointed Planning Inspectors would need to be made.
This path would see the Island’s annual housing target rise to 703 new homes. Alternatively, withdrawing the plan would mean starting afresh, using a higher baseline figure of 1,104 homes per year — a figure set by national policy.
The IPS doesn’t just deal with housing numbers. It also includes a wide range of policies covering vital local issues such as coastal erosion, flood risk, affordable housing, and design standards — all of which are of great importance to Island communities.
While the report recommends continuing with the current plan, the final decision rests with elected councillors at the Extraordinary Full Council meeting.
The IPS was originally submitted to government in October 2024, with public examination hearings held earlier this year. These hearings, led by Planning Inspectors, assessed whether the plan aligns with national planning policy.
This decision comes at a time of considerable uncertainty, with national planning rules in flux and wider discussions ongoing around local government devolution. The outcome of the 28 May meeting will need to be communicated to the Planning Inspectors by 9 June.
Further explanatory videos are expected to be made available shortly on the council’s official Facebook page.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced today (May 19) that the Director-General of Investment Promotion and leadership team have completed multiple duty visits to emerging markets in Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East this month, actively promoting Hong Kong’s business advantages and opportunities in overseas markets and fostering mutual co-operation. The team participated in various events, met with government organisations, chambers of commerce, business leaders, and company representatives, to deepen exchange in economic and trade between Hong Kong and these places. During the visit to the Middle East, as witnessed by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and local leaders, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to strengthen economic and trade ties and promote deeper business collaboration between the two regions.
Director-General of Investment Promotion, Ms Alpha Lau, Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion Mr Charles Ng, Acting Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion Ms Loretta Lee, and sector team heads visited Türkiye, Hungary, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Qatar, Kuwait, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, and Romania, actively promoting Hong Kong’s business advantages and opportunities. They emphasised Hong Kong’s advantages of connecting the country with the world under “one country, two systems,” and sought to actively expanding into emerging markets, deepen international exchanges and co-operation, and demonstrate the synergistic power of the complementary strengths between the city and the Mainland.
Mr Lee led a business delegation to Qatar and Kuwait from May 11 to 14, Ms Loretta Lee was part of the delegation. Witnessed by the Chief Executive, three MoUs were signed with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Qatar Businessmen Association, and the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority, further strengthening collaborative relationships.
Ms Alpha Lau visited emerging markets along the Belt and Road initiative including Istanbul, Türkiye; Budapest, Hungary; and Cairo, Egypt, from May 10 to 20, meeting with external economic relations committees, export promotion agencies, investment promotion agencies, chambers of commerce, financial services organisations and strategic enterprises, to promote Hong Kong’s business advantages and opportunities and the advantages of raising capital through Hong Kong. She spoke at multiple business seminars co-organised by chambers of commerce, business associations, and external economic relations committees, expanding networks and seeking new business opportunities for Hong Kong and hosted two media roundtable discussions to tell the good stories of Hong Kong.
Mr Ng visited Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and Casablanca, Morocco, from May 11 to 16. In Côte d’Ivoire, Mr Ng spoke at a CEO Forum and engaged with chambers of commerce and industry to highlight Hong Kong’s role as a super-connector in the Belt and Road Initiative. In Morocco, he met with various financial institutions and professional associations to emphasise Hong Kong’s robust financial markets and innovation ecosystem. Mr Ng also met with local media to promote Hong Kong’s business advantages.
Global Head of Financial Services, FinTech & Sustainability at InvestHK, Mr King Leung met with representatives from local financial institutions in Oman, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi to discuss opportunities for digital and technological collaboration between the two regions. The Head of Consumer Products, Ms Angelica Leung met with retail and luxury brand leaders in Bucharest, tapping into emerging markets like Romania and demonstrating why Hong Kong is the ideal location to set up a regional headquarters to thrive across the region’s retail and luxury sectors.
Ms Lau said, “In addition to reaching out to traditional markets, InvestHK is also strengthening economic ties with emerging markets to create more collaboration opportunities. Amid unprecedented global economic challenges and the reshaping of global supply chains, overseas enterprises are keen to expand their presence in Asia. InvestHK will align with the Belt and Road Initiative and the trend of collaborating with the ‘Global South’, deepen international exchanges and collaboration, actively promote cross-border investment, capital market cooperation, and technological innovation exchanges, and assist enterprises in establishing and expanding their business in Hong Kong and the wider region.”
Headline: ICC calls for G7 leadership to revitalise global trade system
Hosted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce under the theme “Bolstering Economic Security and Resiliency”, the B7 Summit was held in Ottawa from 14–16 May.
ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO featured as an executive spotlight speaker during the Summit where he urged G7 countries to demonstrate leadership in shaping the future of global trade.
“A strong, stable, and predictable multilateral trading system is essential, and leadership from the G7 community must drive this forward.”
ICC Secretary General, John W.H. Denton AO
“Revitalising the multilateral trading system should be on Page 1 of the Brief of Leaders going into the G7 Summit in Alberta next month,” he added.
Speaking on a keynote panel alongside Nikki Haley, former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Matthew Harrington, Global President and COO of Edelman, and Bianca Freedman, CEO of Edelman Canada, Mr Denton stressed the growing need for business to play a proactive leadership role in easing global tensions and highlighted ICC’s focus on advancing practical solutions to restore confidence in the global trading system.
“Without leadership, we risk drifting into a more fragmented global economy where uncertainty becomes the norm, and the basic safeguards of the trading system erode. That would be a loss not just for governments, but for businesses and communities everywhere that rely on open, stable markets to grow and prosper.”
Strengthening the voice of business globally
Throughout the B7 Summit, ICC representatives engaged in bilateral meetings with high-level officials, including the G7 Sherpa and Deputy Minister Cindy Termorshuizen, as well as with chamber leaders.
The ICC International Court of Arbitration (ICA) and the ICC Digital Standards Initiative (DSI) were recognised in the final B7 Communiqué, which outlines the business community’s key policy proposals for G7 leaders. ICC was cited as a leading example of how to implement the B7’s Strategic Trade Coordination recommendations.
The B7 Summit culminated in the presentation of policy recommendations to the Canadian government ahead of the G7 Summit, scheduled to take place from 15-17 June in Kananaskis, Alberta.
The B7 serves as the official business engagement platform for the world’s seven largest advanced economies. ICC first participated in the B7 Summit in 2024, under Italy’s G7 Presidency. ICC is also a Network Partner to the B20 and continues to play a leading role in the G20 process, having been actively engaged since 2010.
Slavery is not a problem cast to the annals of history. Modern slavery and forced labour are hidden in plain sight, found everywhere from nail salons to pristine factories, impacting 50 million people worldwide. Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s John Schultz explains more about this worsening problem and how it impacts economies and communities. He also explains how data technologies and artificial intelligence are being leveraged in new ways to draw insights from sources such as from shipping reports, photos, supply chain data and victim impact statements to tackle this issue in a way that’s never been possible before. He shares the collaborations in place that are broadening data pools and the simple question business leaders must ask to dig deeper into their own firms to make real change possible.
This interview was recorded in at the Annual Meeting in Davos Switzerland, January 2025.
What most people get wrong about progress: Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2IJjZs4E7A&list=PL7m903CwFUgkDwzqiHQj0cjnZYJNJF8VQ&index=2&t=1s
Understanding the housing affordability crisis – and what’s needed to fix it: Habitat for Humanity CEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crdJqhl8pGk&list=PL7m903CwFUgkDwzqiHQj0cjnZYJNJF8VQ&index=14
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The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Monday said it has begun sharing non-personal, anonymized data from the Aadhaar Dashboard on the open government data platform called data.gov.in.
The move aims to further promote transparency, research, and data-driven policy making, said the Ministry of Electronics and IT in a statement.
The datasets, released by the Chief Data Officer (CDO) and Deputy Director General of UIDAI, include aggregated insights on Aadhaar enrollment, updates, and authentication patterns, categorized by geography, age group, and other relevant parameters.
According to the IT Ministry, by making these non-personal and anonymized datasets accessible, UIDAI aims to support academic research, innovation in digital services, and collaborative developments.
“This initiative opens new avenues for evidence-based policy-making and technological innovation, furthering UIDAI’s commitment to transparency, public good, and secure data governance,” it added.
It also aligns with the broader government vision of fostering evidence-based policymaking and maximizing the value of open data for the public good. It is expected to further boost digital inclusion and governance efficiency.
Meanwhile, the total number of Aadhaar authentication transactions has crossed the 150 billion (15,011.82 crore) mark. Moreover, the total number of eKYC transactions (37.3 crore) carried out during April is 39.7 percent more than the numbers during the same period last year.
The cumulative number of e-KYC transactions has crossed 2,393 crore as of April 30, according to the Ministry of Electronics and IT.
In April alone, almost 210 crore Aadhaar authentication transactions were carried out, nearly 8 percent more than the same month in 2024, the ministry informed.
More than 100 entities, both in the government and private sectors, are using face authentication for the smooth delivery of benefits and services. In FY25, Aadhaar number holders carried out more than 2,707 crore authentication transactions in 2024-25. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Monday said it has begun sharing non-personal, anonymized data from the Aadhaar Dashboard on the open government data platform called data.gov.in.
The move aims to further promote transparency, research, and data-driven policy making, said the Ministry of Electronics and IT in a statement.
The datasets, released by the Chief Data Officer (CDO) and Deputy Director General of UIDAI, include aggregated insights on Aadhaar enrollment, updates, and authentication patterns, categorized by geography, age group, and other relevant parameters.
According to the IT Ministry, by making these non-personal and anonymized datasets accessible, UIDAI aims to support academic research, innovation in digital services, and collaborative developments.
“This initiative opens new avenues for evidence-based policy-making and technological innovation, furthering UIDAI’s commitment to transparency, public good, and secure data governance,” it added.
It also aligns with the broader government vision of fostering evidence-based policymaking and maximizing the value of open data for the public good. It is expected to further boost digital inclusion and governance efficiency.
Meanwhile, the total number of Aadhaar authentication transactions has crossed the 150 billion (15,011.82 crore) mark. Moreover, the total number of eKYC transactions (37.3 crore) carried out during April is 39.7 percent more than the numbers during the same period last year.
The cumulative number of e-KYC transactions has crossed 2,393 crore as of April 30, according to the Ministry of Electronics and IT.
In April alone, almost 210 crore Aadhaar authentication transactions were carried out, nearly 8 percent more than the same month in 2024, the ministry informed.
More than 100 entities, both in the government and private sectors, are using face authentication for the smooth delivery of benefits and services. In FY25, Aadhaar number holders carried out more than 2,707 crore authentication transactions in 2024-25.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Recruitment consultant sentenced after fraudulently using Covid loans for personal purposes
Suspended sentence for Bounce Back Loan fraudster
Rico Iheagwara fraudulently applied for two £20,000 Bounce Back Loans during the summer of 2020
Iheagwara’s SJR Recruitment Limited company was not trading at the time of the applications
SJR Recruitment was placed into liquidation in 2021 with liabilities of more than £67,000
A recruitment consultant who fraudulently spent Covid support funds for personal purposes has been handed a suspended sentence.
Rico Iheagwara secured two Bounce Back Loans worth £20,000 each from different banks for his Essex-based SJR Recruitment Limited company when businesses were only entitled to a single loan under the scheme.
Iheagwara, 36, of River Meads, Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, for fraud when he appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Friday 16 May.
He was also ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activity.
David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:
Rico Iheagwara blatantly abused a taxpayer-backed scheme designed to support genuine small businesses through the pandemic. He knew he was not entitled to support yet continued with his fraudulent applications nonetheless.
Iheagwara’s business was not trading at the time of his application so he was not entitled to a single penny from the scheme, let alone the £40,000 he fraudulently secured.
Tackling Covid support scheme abuse remains a key priority for the Insolvency Service and we will not hesitate to prosecute fraudsters such as Iheagwara who stole from the public purse during a national emergency.
SJR Recruitment was incorporated in January 2017 with Iheagwara as its sole director. The company’s registered office address was on High Road in Loughton.
Iheagwara was also the sole signatory on both company bank accounts which were opened in May 2020, just one month before his first fraudulent application.
For both applications, made in June and July 2020, Iheagwara claimed the company’s turnover was £82,000.
Iheagwara transferred the first £20,000 loan into his personal account on the same day he received the funds. For the second loan, he moved all £20,000 into his personal account the following day.
None of the £40,000 was used for the economic benefit of his business. Insolvency Service analysis of bank statements suggested that the funds were used for everyday expenses and paid to various family members.
In interviews, Iheagwara said he spent the funds on rent, paying off personal finance and supporting his children.
SJR Recruitment went into liquidation in April 2021. No repayments were made on the loans.
The Insolvency Service is seeking to recover the fraudulently obtained funds under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Further information
Rico Iheagwara is of River Meads, Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire. His date of birth is 21 August 1988
The IAM Union Rail Division and Transportation Communications Union/IAM (TCU/IAM) stood shoulder to shoulder with other labor unions and transit advocates at the Pennsylvania State Capitol to send a loud and unified message: public transit workers and the communities they serve must not be abandoned.
Dozens of union members, transit riders, and community allies rallied in Harrisburg, Pa., to call on state lawmakers to pass urgently needed legislation that would provide stable, long-term funding for Pennsylvania’s mass transit systems.
Without immediate action, public transit services, particularly those operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), face devastating cuts and fare hikes that would disproportionately impact working families, seniors, and students across the state.
“This fight is not just about transit, it’s about people,” said Josh Hartford, IAM Special Assistant to the International President for the Rail Division. “Every route slashed, every job cut, every fare hike—it’s a direct hit to the livelihoods of our members and their communities. We are calling on the Pennsylvania legislature to do what’s right: fund public transit and protect the workers who keep it running.”
“TCU/IAM and IAM Union members know firsthand what’s at stake,” said TCU-IAM National President Artie Maratea. “Cuts to service don’t just mean fewer trains and buses, they mean lost jobs, weakened communities, and an erosion of the public infrastructure that millions rely on every single day.”
The IAM Union and TCU/IAM reaffirm their commitment to working in solidarity with all labor allies and local leaders to ensure public transportation remains safe, accessible, and reliable for everyone.
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
Clerks like Aaron record all the changes made to a bill by members in either House before it becomes law
Once they are ready, the bills are tied with green ribbon before going to the House of Lords for consideration. Red ribbons are used for bills sent from the House of Lords.
The Clerks at the Table are consulted by the Chair, Ministers, Whips, and Members generally, on any matter that may arise in the conduct of a sitting. They also record the decisions taken by the House during each of its sittings.
Learn more about the how Parliament works on our website.
https://www.parliament.uk/about/how
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore, Chief of Navy Reserve and Commander, Navy Reserve Force, announced the selection of Air Traffic Controller 1st Class (AW/SW/IW) Stephanie Y. Ramirez as the 2024 Navy Reserve Sailor of the Year (RSOY), in a ceremony, May 16.
Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE
Headline: Poland’s presidential election was competitive but affected by deep polarization, international observers say
A voter casts his ballot during the first round of the presidential election in Poland. Warsaw, 18 May 2025 (OSCE/Katya Andrusz) Photo details
WARSAW, 19 May 2025 – The first round of Poland’s presidential election offered voters a genuine choice between political options, but it took place against a background of deep political polarization that also impacted some key state institutions involved in the electoral process, international observers said in a statement today.
The joint observation mission from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) found that the electoral legal framework is adequate to hold democratic elections. However, some aspects would benefit from further revision as many prior recommendations remain unaddressed. Concerns were raised about the independence of the judiciary, including the court chamber responsible for validating election results, potentially weakening public trust.
“The election campaign so far has demonstrated Poland’s strength as a dynamic democracy, but to strengthen it further the deep trenches of political polarization must be addressed through inclusive dialogue that bridges political and ideological divides,” said Dunja Mijatović, who headed the ODIHR observation mission. “At the same time, the inflammatory messaging by some candidates that targeted migrants, the LGBTI community, and ethnic and religious groups, including xenophobic and anti-Ukrainian overtones, raised serious concern.”
The authorities took largescale and proactive efforts to protect the election process from multiple attempts at foreign interference, disinformation, and cyberattacks, but the coordination between the institutions working in this area as well as public communication about the protective measures used require further strengthening. While attempted cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns surged in the run-up to the election, state institutions said they had identified and mitigated these threats.
“The first round of Poland’s presidential election was professionally managed, but deep political divisions, unresolved constitutional crises, weak safeguards against campaign abuses and foreign interference from Russia and others threaten the integrity of the process,” said Liliana Tanguy, Acting Head of the PACE Delegation. “As the country heads into the second round, it is a pivotal moment for all stakeholders to strengthen transparency and uphold democratic standards, and for all Polish citizens to make their voices heard in shaping the nation’s democratic future.”
The election administration managed the election efficiently at all levels, but its decision-making process was not always transparent. Election day itself was calm and the process was professional and well organized, but the secrecy of the vote was often not ensured.
The freedoms of expression, assembly and association were respected in a vibrant campaign. While the interaction between candidates was mostly respectful, at times the campaign tone turned personal and confrontational. Intolerant messaging targeting vulnerable communities was also observed, including online. In the absence of sufficient regulation, public officials at various levels and across the political spectrum frequently campaigned on behalf of candidates, and the line between official duties and campaign activities often appeared blurred. Women remain underrepresented in public and political life and their involvement as speakers at campaign events and in campaign leadership remained limited. Only two out of the 13 presidential candidates were women.
While there have been some recent improvements to media freedom, including a reduction in litigation against journalists, the media landscape remains highly polarized, limiting voters’ access to impartial information. ODIHR’s media monitoring found clear patterns of biased coverage across both public and private outlets. Overall, the limited access of voters to comprehensive information needed for making a fully informed choice highlighted the need for systematic media reforms.
The international election observation to the Polish presidential election totalled 67 observers from 30 countries, consisting of 34 ODIHR-deployed experts and long-term observers, and 33 parliamentarians and staff from PACE.
Media contacts:
Katya Andrusz, ODIHR: +48 609 522 266 or katya.andrusz@odihr.pl
Ivi-Triin Odrats, PACE: +33 607 067773 or Ivi-Triin.ODRATS@coe.int
As a Canadian citizen living and working in education in the United Kingdom, I was invited to attend by the High Commission of Canada in London.
The occasion provided a relaxing yet exciting opportunity to reflect on my involvement embedding sustainability into education related to innovation and intellectual property (IP) rights law.
Royal Gardens as oasis
King Charles has been a lifelong supporter of sustainability education, which is a new addition to the curricula. For me, the Royal garden and lake beautifully highlighted concerns with sustainability.
The King’s Royal garden at the Palace is an oasis in the city of London, alive with foliage and wildlife that guests may stroll around and explore. According to the event leaflet: “A survey of the Garden by the London Natural History Society revealed a wealth of flora and fauna, some quite rare species.”
‘The garden party at Buckingham Palace for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee,’ painting by Frederick Sargent, 1887. (Royal Collection (U.K.) 407255/Wikipedia)
Why intellectual property and sustainability?
Since 2004, I have been an innovation, intellectual property rights and business law educator. My research group contributed to a publication called The Guide to The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), developed to explore the connections between the United Nation’s 17 SDGs, sustainable development and IP.
Intellectual property is of concern because we need to envision and build a common future with innovation and creativity. How sustainability challenges are overcome depends on the commercialization of new green technology catalysts.
This “tubercle” technology, named for a rounded point of a bone, also has applications for hydroelectric turbines and for revolutionizing fan design. These blades, featuring tubercles (bumps) on the leading edge, reduce aerodynamic drag and improve performance. WhalePower also generates revenue by licensing its patented technology to other companies to use in wind turbines.
Patents encourage knowledge sharing
Patents encourage knowledge sharing, because the way the invention works must be disclosed, rather than kept secret.
For example, new tidal energy inventors can read Whalepower’s patents and be inspired to further advance the new technology with additional incremental innovations.
In this manner, IP often stimulates investment by providing the legal rights needed to justify longer-term investment in a changing landscape of innovation.
The significant role of IP rights in promoting sustainability gained a higher profile when the United Kingdom’s Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) became an Official Nominator for the annual Earthshot Prizelaunched by Prince William’sRoyal Foundation in 2020.
CIPA provides crucial IP rights checks to finalists, ensuring that their innovations have no outstanding IP issues. This partnership is an example of how the Royal Family works together with CIPA to use the power of IP to help solve sustainability challenges.
As the King stated when he was Prince of Wales in 2017: “Mine is not a new commitment, but perhaps you will allow me to restate my determination to join you in continuing to do whatever I can, for as long as I can, to maintain not only the health and vitality of the ocean and all that depends upon it, but also the viability of that greatest and most unique of living organisms — nature herself.”
Janice Denoncourt is affiliated with the British Association for Canadian Studies (BACS)..
Hundreds of universities around the world are now engaging in psychedelic research. And psychedelic legalization initiatives are taking hold.
Psychedelics are becoming big business. Just as private capital flooded the cannabis sector years ago, a psychedelic gold rush is underway.
Wealthy entrepreneurs are investing in the psychedelic industry while biotechnology start-ups are raising capital and running clinical trials on novel psychedelic molecules. Venture capitalists are eyeing the prospects of a new lucrative mass market.
The authors of this article have a new book out: ‘Psychedelic Capitalism’ published by Fernwood. (Fernwood)
Three causes for concern
To date, most debates about psychedelics have offered little critical analysis of their relationship to the political economy of modern capitalism and broader power structures. In our new book Psychedelic Capitalism, we make three central claims about the so-called psychedelic renaissance.
First, the medicalization of psychedelics is likely to restrict access and reinforce existing health and social inequalities.
Second, the corporatization of psychedelics will enable economic elites to dominate the market while appropriating the vast reservoir of knowledge built up by Indigenous communities, public institutions and underground researchers.
And third, rather than representing progressive drug reform, the limited legalization of select psychedelics for medical use will help to entrench and sustain the drug war and the criminalization of most drug use.
Ignoring community knowledge
Across North America, we’re seeing a medicalization of psychedelics, where a range of problems are presented as treatable by these substances. This is happening in a way that boosts corporate control of the process and pushes aside community and Indigenous knowledge.
We have seen this scenario play out in Australia. Substances such as psilocybin and MDMA are legally available, but only through a doctor’s prescription and at great financial cost — raising questions about equity, access and who these therapies are for.
Framing psychedelics as pharmaceutical commodities and individualized health-care solutions reinforces the prohibitionist narrative that these substances are unsuitable for use outside of the medical context. This narrative shifts attention away from how medicalized use might perpetuate a neoliberal ideology — locating mental “disorder” within an individual, rather than addressing more systemic causes such as poverty, inequality and social exclusion.
A system built on expensive individual therapy, medically trained gatekeepers and hyper-controlled clinical access is not the model that most advocates have envisioned.
A pill-only model for productivity and happiness
The foundations of psychedelic capitalism were largely created by public innovation at the public’s expense and are now in the process of being taken over by private capital.
Psychedelic conferences increasingly resemble corporate trade shows. The psychedelic tourism industry continues to expand and cater to elite clients. For-profit companies like Mind Medicine and Compass Pathways are eliminating psychotherapy from their treatment protocols and embracing a “pill-only” model favoured by Big Pharma.
Psychedelics, including microdosing and psychedelic-assisted therapy, are marketed as a way for the general population to extract more work out of their already overworked lives, and to be happy about it in the process.
Companies are competing to capture intellectual property to harness profits from existing compounds and erect legal barriers around new chemicals and their applications.
There has been a surge of new patent applications (and granted patents) in the U.S. on substances such as psilocybin, LSD, DMT, 5-MeO DMT and mescaline that seek to secure exclusivity, monopolize supply chains and privatize knowledge that already exists in the public domain.
Psychedelics have been swept up into the well-rehearsed capitalist playbook where private players are fabricating exclusionary rights over what are ultimately the products of collective human struggle and intellectual achievement.
Medical legalization of psychedelics
The medicalized approach to psychedelic mainstreaming also connects to drug law and policy.
Across North America, the biomedical approach is the main influence on drug law and the primary avenue for psychedelic access in most jurisdictions. This approach is widely supported by psychedelic capitalists who have a financial stake in medical legalization and want to limit legal access to anything outside of the medical-pharma frame.
In the United States, places like Oregon and Colorado have more holistic legal models that include elements of community control to prevent corporate capture. But most state initiatives remain limited in scope and are centred around medicalized therapy, particularly for military veterans. Even in Oregon, which has been lauded for its progressive drug policies, there has been an unmistakable drift toward medicalization.
Canada’s cannabis industry exemplifies how processes of legalization can become intertwined with the interests of corporate-dominated industries.
As Michael Devillaer, professor of psychiatry and behavioural neurosciences and author of Buzz Kill (2024), has explained, the cannabis industry has prioritized profit maximization, product promotion and increased consumption at the expense of public health concerns.
What is best for public interest?
As the medical legalization of psychedelics deepens, we are likely to see the intensification of criminal penalties for recreational and other uses.
In fact, police seizures of psychedelics like psilocybin in the U.S. have increased in recent years. Global arrests for the transportation of compounds such as ayahuasca, iboga and peyote have also increased.
These problems are likely to be exacerbated by systems of bifurcated scheduling, where a drug product is placed in a different class from the active ingredient or substance.
For example, if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were to approve psilocybin for depression or MDMA for PTSD, it is likely that only FDA-approved medicinal psilocybin and MDMA products would be rescheduled, while the substances themselves would continue to be prosecuted as restricted narcotics.
It is in the public interest to move beyond a myopic focus on medical legalization to a more open, decriminalized model of public access. An approach like this would not only mitigate the threats associated with corporate capture, it would also reduce the harms associated with criminalization and the war on drugs.
Community-controlled decriminalization is a better path to mainstreaming psychedelics than relinquishing power to the medical industry and pharmaceutical cartels that provide monopolized services to primarily affluent customers.
And treating drug use and dependence as a public health issue and incentivizing harm reduction and support services for at-risk populations would go a long way to mitigating the tragedies of the drug war.
Kevin Walby receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Jamie Brownlee 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 – USA – By Eran Ben-Joseph, Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
The U.S. Housing Corporation built nearly 300 homes in Bremerton, Wash., during World War I.National Archives
In 1918, as World War I intensified overseas, the U.S. government embarked on a radical experiment: It quietly became the nation’s largest housing developer, designing and constructing more than 80 new communities across 26 states in just two years.
These weren’t hastily erected barracks or rows of identical homes. They were thoughtfully designed neighborhoods, complete with parks, schools, shops and sewer systems.
Few Americans are aware that such an ambitious and comprehensive public housing effort ever took place. Many of the homes are still standing today.
But as an urban planning scholar, I believe that this brief historic moment – spearheaded by a shuttered agency called the United States Housing Corporation – offers a revealing lesson on what government-led planning can achieve during a time of national need.
Government mobilization
When the U.S. declared war against Germany in April 1917, federal authorities immediately realized that ship, vehicle and arms manufacturing would be at the heart of the war effort. To meet demand, there needed to be sufficient worker housing near shipyards, munitions plants and steel factories.
So on May 16, 1918, Congress authorized President Woodrow Wilson to provide housing and infrastructure for industrial workers vital to national defense. By July, it had appropriated US$100 million – approximately $2.3 billion today – for the effort, with Secretary of Labor William B. Wilson tasked with overseeing it via the U.S. Housing Corporation.
Over the course of two years, the agency designed and planned over 80 housing projects. Some developments were small, consisting of a few dozen dwellings. Others approached the size of entire new towns.
For example, Cradock, near Norfolk, Virginia, was planned on a 310-acre site, with more than 800 detached homes developed on just 100 of those acres. In Dayton, Ohio, the agency created a 107-acre community that included 175 detached homes and a mix of over 600 semidetached homes and row houses, along with schools, shops, a community center and a park.
Designing ideal communities
Notably, the Housing Corporation was not simply committed to offering shelter.
Its architects, planners and engineers aimed to create communities that were not only functional but also livable and beautiful. They drew heavily from Britain’s late-19th century Garden City movement, a planning philosophy that emphasized low-density housing, the integration of open spaces and a balance between built and natural environments.
Milton Hill, a neighborhood designed and developed by the United States Housing Corporation in Alton, Ill. National Archives
Importantly, instead of simply creating complexes of apartment units, akin to the public housing projects that most Americans associate with government-funded housing, the agency focused on the construction of single-family and small multifamily residential buildings that workers and their families could eventually own.
This approach reflected a belief by the policymakers that property ownership could strengthen community responsibility and social stability. During the war, the federal government rented these homes to workers at regulated rates designed to be fair, while covering maintenance costs. After the war, the government began selling the homes – often to the tenants living in them – through affordable installment plans that provided a practical path to ownership.
A single-family home in Davenport, Iowa, built by the U.S. Housing Corporation. National Archives
Though the scope of the Housing Corporation’s work was national, each planned community took into account regional growth and local architectural styles. Engineers often built streets that adapted to the natural landscape. They spaced houses apart to maximize light, air and privacy, with landscaped yards. No resident lived far from greenery.
In Quincy, Massachusetts, for example, the agency built a 22-acre neighborhood with 236 homes designed mostly in a Colonial Revival style to serve the nearby Fore River Shipyard. The development was laid out to maximize views, green space and access to the waterfront, while maintaining density through compact street and lot design.
At Mare Island, California, developers located the housing site on a steep hillside near a naval base. Rather than flatten the land, designers worked with the slope, creating winding roads and terraced lots that preserved views and minimized erosion. The result was a 52-acre community with over 200 homes, many of which were designed in the Craftsman style. There was also a school, stores, parks and community centers.
Infrastructure and innovation
Alongside housing construction, the Housing Corporation invested in critical infrastructure. Engineers installed over 649,000 feet of modern sewer and water systems, ensuring that these new communities set a high standard for sanitation and public health.
Attention to detail extended inside the homes. Architects experimented with efficient interior layouts and space-saving furnishings, including foldaway beds and built-in kitchenettes. Some of these innovations came from private companies that saw the program as a platform to demonstrate new housing technologies.
To manage the large scale of this effort, the agency developed and published a set of planning and design standards − the first of their kind in the United States. These manuals covered everything from block configurations and road widths to lighting fixtures and tree-planting guidelines.
A single-family home in Bremerton, Wash., built by the U.S. Housing Corporation. National Archives
The standards emphasized functionality, aesthetics and long-term livability.
Architects and planners who worked for the Housing Corporation carried these ideas into private practice, academia and housing initiatives. Many of the planning norms still used today, such as street hierarchies, lot setbacks and mixed-use zoning, were first tested in these wartime communities.
And many of the planners involved in experimental New Deal community projects, such as Greenbelt, Maryland, had worked for or alongside Housing Corporation designers and planners. Their influence is apparent in the layout and design of these communities.
A brief but lasting legacy
With the end of World War I, the political support for federal housing initiatives quickly waned. The Housing Corporation was dissolved by Congress, and many planned projects were never completed. Others were incorporated into existing towns and cities.
Yet, many of the neighborhoods built during this period still exist today, integrated in the fabric of the country’s cities and suburbs. Residents in places such as Aberdeen, Maryland; Bremerton, Washington; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Watertown, New York; and New Orleans may not even realize that many of the homes in their communities originated from a bold federal housing experiment.
These homes on Lawn Avenue in Quincy, Mass., in 2019 were built by the U.S. Housing Corporation. Google Street View
The Housing Corporation’s efforts, though brief, showed that large-scale public housing could be thoughtfully designed, community oriented and quickly executed. For a short time, in response to extraordinary circumstances, the U.S. government succeeded in building more than just houses. It constructed entire communities, demonstrating that government has a major role and can lead in finding appropriate, innovative solutions to complex challenges.
At a moment when the U.S. once again faces a housing crisis, the legacy of the U.S. Housing Corporation serves as a reminder that bold public action can meet urgent needs.
Eran Ben-Joseph does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Americans largely agree that women have made significant gains in the workplace over the past two decades. But what about men? While many Americans believe women are thriving, over half believe men’s progress has stalled or even reversed.
To make matters more complex, recent research has revealed a massive divide along gender and partisan lines. The majority of Republican men think full gender equity in America has been achieved, while the majority of Democratic women think there’s still work to be done.
Asresearchers at the Rutgers Center for Women in Business, we think this divide matters a lot. And for business leaders, this gap isn’t just a social or political issue. It’s a leadership challenge with direct implications for team cohesion and morale. If gender equity efforts are seen by some employees as a loss rather than a collective gain, leaders risk inadvertently entrenching division.
Yet workers’ perceptions of gender equity efforts tell another story.
For example, 61% of Americans believe changing gender norms have made it easier for women to be successful at work, but only 36% say the same for men. What’s more, 61% of men think women have equal job opportunities, but only 33% of women believe the same thing.
These differences reveal an important truth: Perception, not policy alone, shapes how equity efforts are received.
Involving men in the equity conversation
Research suggests men and women associate power with different psychological outcomes. Men are more likely to associate power with control, while for women, power is more often linked to a feeling of freedom. As a result, efforts to share power may feel more liberating to women but destabilizing to men – particularly to those already in power.
But this doesn’t mean one’s gain needs to come at another’s expense – just that people make sense of change through the lens of their own identities and experiences.
When men perceive progress for women as a threat to their status or opportunity, resistance grows, even in the face of data suggesting otherwise. This cycle becomes especially difficult to break because it requires challenging one’s own beliefs, which isn’t always easy.
This is why learning about others’ experiences is so useful. For example, a man and a woman might be equally ambitious and capable, but perhaps only one of them experiences being routinely interrupted in meetings. These differences in personal history and lived experience shape how work environments are interpreted and therefore navigated.
Understanding this diversity of perspectives and discussing lived experiences can help gender equity efforts become more effective. Building a truly equitable future requires acknowledging that feelings about efforts required to reach that future may differ widely.
With that in mind, here are some best practices for leaders to consider as they navigate the changing landscape.
Preparing for differences in perspective
Avoid zero-sum thinking. If men think gender equity efforts will erode their opportunities or diminish their own power, they’ll disengage. Leaders should instead frame equity as essential to team and business success – and ground conversations in metrics that show how inclusion drives outcomes.
Know that the stakes may vary. Women may see gender equity as a matter of justice or even survival, and when stakes are existential, compromise can be difficult. At the same time, they may experience organizational progress toward gender equity as a personal win. Publicizing these changes and their mutually beneficial gains can help to create a more cohesive team where everyone can thrive.
Be aware that different clocks are ticking. Some men may view change as happening too quickly, destabilizing established norms. Women, on the other hand, may feel progress is too slow, given centuries of systemic inequity. Holding both views as worthy of respect requires teamwork. Encourage dialogue where the goal is mutual understanding rather than unity.
Building coalitions around shared experiences
Promote policies that benefit everyone. By promoting policies such as hybrid work and parental leave that benefit everyone, workplaces will attract and retain a more diverse workforce, which leads to greater innovation. Encourage men to take advantage of these policies and ensure your company culture makes it acceptable to do so. This enables men to actually experience the benefit of these initiatives. Align efforts around shared values – such as the desire for healthier families, better education or stronger economies.
Use both/and thinking. Supporting men who express fears about status loss can open space for dialogue. Provide that space. At the same time, acknowledge the ongoing struggles women continue to face and their fears about workplaces returning to “the way they used to be.” One viewpoint does not need to negate the other.
Prioritize lived experience. Rather than insisting that everyone see gender equity the same way, find ways for men to experience mutually beneficial initiatives. Then, encourage dialogue about experiences rather than ideas.
Bridge divides with dialogue
Mixed mentorship matters. Pairing employees with mentors of different backgrounds – across gender, race, age, department or seniority level – can help them cultivate curiosity and learn from one another.
Activate resource groups. Groups focused on cross-cultural engagement provide employees with a platform to discuss challenges, share experiences and collaborate on inclusion initiatives. Additionally, encouraging allies to participate in employee resource groups and business resource groups fosters increased openness and understanding. Leaders can support groups by providing resources, visibility and executive sponsorship.
Embrace discomfort. In general, people work to avoid feeling uncomfortable. However, discomfort is often necessary for growth. Starting with this premise and encouraging thoughtful, open and honest discussions about sensitive topics and potential fears can help foster transparency and build trust. Leaders can facilitate these conversations through town halls, roundtable discussions or dedicated dialogue sessions.
Progress depends not just on metrics and policies but on trust, communication and humility. When people feel seen and heard – whether they’re feeling empowered or uncertain – they’re more likely to engage.
In other words, the real opportunity isn’t to win an argument about whether gender equity is “done,” but to build organizations where everyone can see a future for themselves in the workplace – and feel as if they have a role in shaping it.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
A little over two decades ago, addressing Nigeria’s HIV crisis topped U.S. President George W. Bush’s priorities. Africa’s most populous nation had 3.5 million HIV cases, and the disease threatened to destabilize the region and ultimately compromise U.S. interests. These interests included securing access to Nigeria’s substantial oil reserves, maintaining regional military stability and protecting trade partnerships worth billions.
While living in Nigeria for my work as a medical anthropologist, I witnessed PEPFAR’s rollout and saw firsthand how the powerful therapies it provided transformed Nigerian lives. The women I worked with told me they could finally put aside the fears of death or abandonment that had consumed their days. Instead, they could focus on a newly expanded horizon of possibilities: building careers, finding love, having healthy children.
Now, however, a serious threat to preventing and treating HIV worldwide looms. The Trump administration’s decision to substantially restrict access to a vital HIV prevention tool – PEPFAR-funded preexposure prophylaxis, or PrEP – would cut off ongoing treatment for millions of people and block future access for countless others who need this protection.
The Trump administration aims to cut HIV prevention funding.
The timing is devastating: Scientists recently made a major advance in HIV prevention. Named the 2024 Breakthrough of the Year by the journal Science, the drug lenacapavir offers six months of HIV protection with one injection. Unlike previous PrEP options that required daily pills, which created significant barriers to consistent access and adherence, this twice-yearly injection dramatically simplifies prevention.
By undermining access to a treatment that has been essential to reducing HIV rates, the Trump administration’s new restrictions threaten to derail two decades of bipartisan investment in eliminating HIV globally. The consequences extend well beyond individual lives.
Afterlife of aid
“Some people that have it, they choose to be wicked and just spread it all around,” confided Elizabeth, a woman I interviewed during my time in Nigeria. I am using a pseudonym to protect her privacy. “They say, ‘Somebody gave it to me, so I am going to spread it too.’ But if they know that they can live positively with the virus, it would reduce their evil thoughts.”
Elizabeth’s words reveal a concerning dynamic: When hope for treatment disappears, a dangerous desperation can take its place. Patients who feel abandoned by health care systems might lose motivation to protect others from HIV. They may also stop seeking medical care, abandon prevention measures and turn away from future aid.
Cultural anthropologists use the phrase “the afterlife of aid” to describe what happens after global aid programs are withdrawn or drastically reduced. Communities are left not just without resources but with a lasting sense of betrayal that undermines their willingness to seek help, creating cycles of skepticism that can persist for generations.
Treatment as hope
In my fieldwork, I’ve witnessed how managing life with the virus involves far more than taking medications. It requires carefully navigating personal relationships, family obligations, cultural expectations and hopes for the future.
Many of the women I worked with had contracted HIV from their husbands or boyfriends. Some even suspected their partners’ positive status but were unable to protect themselves. Before these medications, women – both HIV positive and HIV negative – had to choose between risking rejection or risking transmission.
The welfare of entire families depends on access to HIV medication. Here, a woman who is the sole provider of several children takes antiretroviral treatment. Saurabh Das/AP Photo
Elizabeth and David’s story illustrates these challenges. They had been together for more than a year when David proposed. “When I sensed he was serious about marriage, I knew I had to tell him my status,” Elizabeth told me during one of our many conversations. Though initially shocked, he remained committed to their relationship.
Elizabeth had maintained a decade of careful adherence to her HIV treatment, but the couple still struggled with consistent condom use. David described using condoms as akin to “eating candy with the wrapper still on it.” He also was eager to have a baby. While PrEP had greatly reduced transmission risk, it placed the full burden of protecting her husband on Elizabeth.
The path Elizabeth navigated highlights how Nigerian cultural expectations complicated their situation. When proving one’s fertility is often considered essential to establishing gender identity, the pressure to have sex without protection created additional tension. Moreover, Elizabeth’s need to balance her own health needs with her husband’s desires reflected the delicate negotiation many Nigerian women face between personal well-being and marriage.
As Elizabeth prepared for the birth of their child, she expressed both joy and anxiety: “I have to stay healthy for both of them now.”
Politicizing global health
Previous interruptions in aid foreshadow what’s at stake when shifts in U.S. political priorities compromise global health funding.
Consider the global spike in maternal and child mortality when President Ronald Reagan instituted the Mexico City Policy, often referred to as the “global gag rule.” It blocked U.S. funding to all international nongovernmental organizations that provided or even referred abortion services.
This policy has been repeatedly implemented by Republican administrations – including those of George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Donald Trump during his first term – and subsequently rescinded by Democratic presidents, creating a disruptive cycle of funding uncertainty. Among these affected organizations are recipients of PEPFAR funds.
The human cost of this policy pendulum is measurable and significant. Researchers have found that when this law is enacted, nations across the globe suffer increased death rates for newborns and mothers as well as jumps in HIV cases. In countries heavily dependent on U.S. aid, the Mexico City Policy has resulted in approximately 80 additional child deaths and nine additional maternal deaths per 100,000 live births annually and about one additional HIV infection per 10,000 uninfected people.
My research in Nigeria also reveals the fragile progress that now hangs in the balance. Before treatments arrived, HIV ravaged Nigerian communities. In 2001, nearly 6% of the population had HIV, totaling around 3.5 million people. The Hausa language reflected this trauma: Terms for AIDS also meant “lifeless body” and “nearby grave.”
Following the rollout of HIV treatments, Nigeria’s cases dropped dramatically – by 2010, prevalence had fallen to 4.1%. Declines continued steadily as treatment access expanded from 360,000 people in 2010 to over 1 million by 2018. This progress was heavily dependent on international support, with PEPFAR and other global donors providing over 80% of the US$6.2 billion spent fighting HIV in Nigeria between 2005 to 2018.
What’s at stake isn’t just increasing HIV rates. The Trump administration’s reductions in foreign aid threaten to unravel over two decades of U.S. investment in global security and economic growth.
Public health crises rarely stay contained within national boundaries. When health systems fail in West Africa, diseases can quickly spread overseas and require costly emergency responses. The 2014 Ebola outbreak demonstrated this reality, when cases reached America and prompted a $5.4 billion emergency response. Similarly, the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, which infected around 60 million Americans, showed how quickly infectious diseases circle the globe when surveillance and containment systems are inadequate.
Inconsistent aid, in turn, undermines American global leadership and creates openings for competing powers to establish their influence. China has actively exploited these gaps, establishing bilateral trade with Africa reaching $295 billion in 2024. While the U.S. reduced its global health engagement during previous administrations, China expanded its global health diplomacy, partnering on issues ranging from infectious disease prevention and control to health emergency response and health technology innovation.
Meanwhile, restrictions in PrEP access risk recreating the same impossible choices women faced at the advent of the epidemic: choosing between disclosing their status and risking abandonment; accepting unprotected sex and risking transmission, or refusing unprotected sex and risking violence or loss of economic support.
I believe the result is a far less safe world where preventable suffering continues, hard-won progress unravels and the promise of an AIDS-free generation remains unfulfilled.
Kathryn Rhine has received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Wenner Gren Foundation, the American Philosophical Society, the West African Research Association, the American Council of Learned Societies, Fulbright programs, the National Science Foundation, and the National Security Education Program. These views are her own and not those of her institution.
Festival organisers across the Lancaster district are being invited to apply for small grants of £3,000 to help them grow and reach new audiences.
The funding is being made available by Lancaster City Council via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is part of ongoing efforts to support festivals that celebrate the local area and help to attract visitors.
Councillor Martin Bottoms, cabinet member with responsibility for Morecambe regeneration and local economy, said: “Festivals bring our communities together, support local talent, and make our district a vibrant place to live, work and visit. These small grants are designed to give organisers a helping hand to develop and expand their reach.”
The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday May 30.
The earliest start date for projects is July 1 and they need to have taken place by the end of March 2026. For more details of the fund and how to apply visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/ukspf.
NEW YORK, May 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) (NYSE American: CLM) (CUSIP: 21924B302) is pleased to announce the completion of its one-for-three rights offering which expired on Friday, May 16, 2025 (the “Offering”). Under the terms of the Offering, record date stockholders were entitled to purchase one newly issued share of common stock of the Fund for every three rights held. The subscription price for each newly issued share was determined to be $7.30 which, under the terms of the prospectus, was equal to the greater of (i) 112% of net asset value per share as calculated at the close of trading on the date of expiration of the Offering and (ii) 80% of the market price per share at such time.
Based on preliminary results provided by the Fund’s subscription agent, the Fund received requests for approximately $173 million of its shares. The Fund anticipates issuing over-subscription shares under the additional subscription privilege.
The subscription price is higher than the original estimated subscription price of $6.61. It is anticipated that shares will be issued on or about Thursday, May 22, 2025. Stockholders are encouraged to contact their broker regarding the specifics of their account. Newly issued shares will not be entitled to the Fund’s distribution to stockholders for the month of May 2025.
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. is a closed-end, diversified management investment company and is registered with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. is traded on the NYSE American under the trading symbol “CLM”. The Fund’s investment adviser is Cornerstone Advisors, LLC, which also serves as the investment adviser to another closed-end fund, Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. (NYSE American: CRF). For more information regarding Cornerstone Strategic Investment Fund, Inc. or Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. please visit www.cornerstonestrategicinvestmentfund.com, and www.cornerstonetotalreturnfund.com.
Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. An investment in the Fund is subject to certain risks, including market risk. In general, shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount from their net asset value and at the time of sale may be trading on the exchange at a price that is more or less than the original purchase price or the net asset value. An investor should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses. Please read the Fund’s disclosure documents before investing.
In addition to historical information, this report contains forward-looking statements, which may concern, among other things, domestic and foreign markets, industry and economic trends and developments and government regulation and their potential impact on the Fund’s investment portfolio. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the factors set forth in the Fund’s disclosure documents, filed with the SEC, and actual trends, developments and regulations in the future and their impact on the Fund could be materially different from those projected, anticipated or implied. The Fund has no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements.
