Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) — China registered 5.62 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) in the first half of 2025, up 27.86 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Public Security.
The number of new NEV registrations for the period from January to June this year has reached a new historical maximum in the country.
As of the end of June this year, the total number of NEV vehicles in stock nationwide reached 36.89 million units, accounting for 10.27 percent of the total number of vehicles in the country.
Battery electric vehicles remained the dominant force in China’s NEV market, with a total inventory of nearly 25.54 million units, or 69.23 percent of the total new energy vehicles. -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Electronic card transactions: June 2025 – information release
14 July 2025
The electronic card transactions (ECT) series cover debit, credit, and charge card transactions with New Zealand-based merchants. The series can be used to indicate changes in consumer spending and economic activity.
Key facts All figures are seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified.
Values are at the national level and are not adjusted for price changes.
June 2025 month Changes in the value of electronic card transactions for the June 2025 month (compared with May 2025) were:
spending in the retail industries increased 0.5 percent ($32 million)
spending in the core retail industries increased 0.7 percent ($40 million).
Visit our website to read this information release and to download CSV files:
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Largest fund of its kind to support vulnerable kids & families
The world’s largest fund of its kind will support vulnerable children and families across the country.
Chancellor launches new £500m Fund to break down barriers to opportunity for up to 200,000 vulnerable children and young people and deliver Plan for Change.
World’s largest fund of its kind will boost pupil achievement and could fund programmes to reduce reoffending or provide specialist workers for children struggling with exclusion, mental health or crime.
Better Futures Fund will run for ten years, with plans to raise another £500 million from local government, social investors, and philanthropists on top of government’s funding
The launch is backed today by groups including Save the Children UK, The King’s Trust and Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government.
Struggling and vulnerable families and children are to be given a better start in life after a new government fund was announced today (Monday 14 July), which will provide them with the support and funding needed to access a better education, a safe home, and the caring supportive environment they need to flourish.
The Better Futures Fund will support up to 200,000 children and their families over the next ten years by bringing together government, local communities, charities, social enterprises, investors, and philanthropists to work together to give children a brighter future.
It could fund providing support in schools to improve attendance, behaviour and overall achievement of pupils, intervening to free children from a life of crime, and offering employment support to secure their futures.
The fund, which is the largest of its kind in the world, will be launched by the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves at a visit to a school today in Wigan, hosted by the charity AllChild. It could fund providing support in schools to improve attendance and behaviour, intervening to free children from a life of crime, and offering employment support to secure their futures.
By investing in early support to tackle challenges like school absence, addiction and re-offending, the fund will help give children the stability and opportunity they need to thrive – delivering on a key part of the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change to give every child the best start in life.
It comes ahead of the government hosting the first Civil Society Summit this week, where the government will set out a comprehensive plan on how this government will partner with experts from outside the traditional corridors of power to create solutions that work for real people – all through the principles of fairness, collaboration and trust.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:
I got into politics to help children facing the toughest challenges. This fund will give hundreds of thousands of children, young people and their families a better chance. For too long, these children have been overlooked. Our Plan for Change will break down barriers to opportunity and give them the best start in life.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:
This groundbreaking Better Futures Fund represents a major step in partnering with the impact economy, which has long played an important role in strengthening communities and driving inclusive growth.
As part of the Plan for Change, we’re bringing together government, local authorities, charities, social enterprises and philanthropists to create a powerful alliance that will transform the lives of vulnerable children and young people.
We owe them the best start in life. Together we will break down barriers to opportunity, ensuring those who need support most aren’t left behind and have the chance to reach their potential.
Social Outcomes Partnerships have already been used with success across the UK, with over 180 commissioners using the model across the country. The Greater Manchester Better Outcomes Partnership (GMBOP), for example, works with young adults in the Greater Manchester area who are at risk of homelessness.
AllChild’s projects have already halved persistent school absences, and 80% of children have improved emotional wellbeing. Other programmes like the Skill Mill offer paid work experience and qualifications, reducing reconviction rates from 63% typically to 8% and three quarters of those in the programme progress to further employment, education or training.
This fund is a big step in the government’s work with the impact economy – unlocking extra resources from philanthropy, social investors and businesses to tackle urgent social challenges. Today’s announcement comes as the government’s Child Poverty Strategy is to be published in autumn to ensure it delivers fully funded measures that tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty across the UK.
The launch is backed today by groups including Save the Children UK, The King’s Trust and Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government.
Today’s announcement is informed by consultation with the Social Impact Investment Advisory Group and other representatives from civil society, purpose-driven business, and local government. Over the coming months Government will build on this and develop a strategic approach to working with the impact economy, who have long played an important role across the UK economy in unlocking innovation, driving inclusive growth and strengthening community resilience.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said:
Partnering with impact capital to tackle child poverty was a personal priority for me coming into government – which is why I set up the Social Impact Investment Advisory Group to advise on the development of this brilliant fund, which we’ve been delighted to support as a government. I’d like to thank Dame Elizabeth Corley for chairing the group and all the members for their hard work.
I warmly welcome the government’s Better Futures Fund as a pivotal step toward transforming how we support children and families across the country. It’s vital that children engage with the right support and opportunities, at the right time, in the right way. Holistic support that is rooted in each child’s local community, builds on their strengths, and places trust and relationships at the heart of delivery.
I hope this fund will be a catalyst for a new way of working – one which prioritises prevention, shared accountability for locally identified outcomes, and genuine cross-sector partnerships. This is how we can ensure every child no matter where they live has the support and opportunities they need to flourish.
Richard Rigby, Head of UK Government Affairs, The King’s Trust said:
At The King’s Trust, we know that timely support can change the course of a young person’s life. Potential is everywhere but opportunity is not. The Better Futures Fund is an investment in the potential of young people who are too often left behind. We welcome this commitment to early intervention and collaboration with organisations like ours to tackle inequalities and help young people build brighter, more secure futures. By getting behind young people, we can all help to make the UK a healthier, wealthier, more positive and cohesive place.”
Further details on the fund will be set out in due course. It will be delivered by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Veronika Zolotova graduated from the RUDN University Agrarian and Technological Institute in 2020 in the field of “Land Management and Cadastres”. Now she is a project manager for the department for the construction of educational facilities in the autonomous non-profit organization “Development of Social Infrastructure” (ANO “RSI”). This year, Veronika reached the semi-finals of the All-Russian competition of managers “Leaders of the Construction Industry”, organized with the support of the Ministry of Construction of Russia. Veronika talks about who inspired her to go into construction, what the industry is living today and what it means to be a modern leader in an interview.
When you are a child, the field of “Land Management and Cadastre” cannot be called a dream profession. Everyone wants to become astronauts, doctors, teachers. How did you come to the profession?
Since childhood, I imagined myself in different professions. But one thing has always remained unchanged – the desire to be part of something great, significant, to leave a mark on history. Over time, I realized that the best way to make this dream come true is to work in the construction industry. In the field thanks to which cities are created before our eyes, the space of the future is formed. I was inspired by my godfather, who worked as a surveyor. His stories about the profession were filled with passion and meaning. Then, for the first time, I became truly interested in this field – and that is how I came to choose the direction of “Land Management and Cadastre”.
One of the facets of student life is exams and tests, preparation for which often makes students nervous. What was the most difficult subject during your studies?
It’s been a while since I graduated from university. Each exam was exciting and difficult in its own way, especially at the beginning. But one subject from my first year has remained especially vivid in my memory: soil science. At that time, it seemed incredibly difficult, almost incomprehensible. It’s funny, but many subjects have faded from memory over time, but soil science has not. Apparently, it was precisely because of its complexity and depth that it was so firmly imprinted in my mind.
Which teacher are you most grateful to?
I am sincerely grateful to all the teachers of our university — everyone who generously shared their knowledge, experience and warmth with us. All of them are true masters of their craft, devoted to their profession and their students. I would like to express special gratitude to two teachers who played a key role in my professional path. An amazing teacher and expert in his field — Anton Aleksandrovich Poddubsky. He taught geodesy and a number of other disciplines, thanks to which I discovered this science from a completely new, deep and fascinating side.
Mikhail Vyacheslavovich Aleshin not only taught classes on the theory of errors and mathematical processing of geodetic measurements, methods of decoding and other specialized subjects, but also became my scientific supervisor when writing my diploma thesis. His approach, exactingness and support became a real intellectual challenge for me and an important school of professional growth.
Thanks to such teachers, studying became not just a mandatory stage, but a real inspiration and a confident step into a future profession.
The most vivid memory from my studies at RUDN University…
The defense of my diploma sank deep into my soul. The fear was almost paralyzing, it is impossible to put into words. Tears, sleepless nights, anxiety to the point of trembling… But I coped. I coped largely thanks to the support of the teachers, who believed in us even when we ourselves doubted. And the joy when I heard: “The defense was successful” was truly immeasurable. It was as if I had flown to seventh heaven from happiness. I still keep in my archives videos where my classmates and I are crying from stress, and then, beaming with joy, we leave the defense – winners.
Already in your first year you started working in the construction industry. What projects did you manage to work on?
My career path began as an assistant surveyor in one of the largest construction companies in Moscow. I learned from professionals, gained experience, and gradually moved on to independent work. Over time, I became a full-fledged surveyor, and was involved in both office and field work. At that time, I was lucky enough to be part of large-scale projects, including the Rudnevo electric depot, Zaryadye Park, and the construction of the metro. This experience not only strengthened my professional skills, but also taught me responsibility, discipline, and the ability to work in a team under real production tasks.
When you are an applicant, “Land Management and Cadastres” sounds like something mysterious and enigmatic. In what areas can graduates of this program work today?
This is a multidisciplinary specialty, and you can develop along a variety of tracks.
Firstly, it is geodesy – work on construction sites, support of engineering surveys, creation of digital terrain models. Demand for surveyors is consistently high, especially in large infrastructure projects.
Secondly, cadastral activities – registration of land plots, work in cadastral chambers, preparation of technical documentation. This area requires attention to detail and a good understanding of the legislation.
Thirdly, land and legal relations. Here, specialists who understand the regulatory framework, can support transactions, participate in land use issues and dispute resolution are in demand.
In addition, areas related to the digitalization of the cadastre are developing – GIS systems, work with spatial data, automation of accounting processes. This is an excellent option for those who want to keep up with technology. The specialty provides a broad base and flexibility – you can choose both a technical direction and a legal one, or combine both. The main thing is not to be afraid to study further and look for your niche.
Where did you find yourself?
As a project manager. Today, I supervise objects from the conception stage to the moment of their transfer to the balance sheet — I control all stages: from surveys and design to registration of rights and commissioning. This requires a comprehensive approach, knowledge of several areas at once — and it was Land Management and Cadastres that gave me this foundation. So I am sure: this specialty has broad prospects, and success depends on how you yourself reveal its potential.
What principles do you follow in your work?
First of all, responsibility. If I accept a task, I will definitely bring it to a result, while focusing on the level of quality that I would like to receive. There is no place for negligence in the construction industry – even a small mistake can result in serious technical or financial consequences.
The second important principle is respect for people. Regardless of the position and role – be it a contractor, a customer, a colleague or a subordinate – I believe it is important to build communication on mutual respect. This helps to find a common language and quickly resolve even the most difficult issues.
The third principle is a friendly atmosphere in the team. We have warm, almost family-like relationships in our team: we support each other, we can talk not only about work, but also share personal moments. Such an environment increases trust and makes working together easier and more productive.
It is this foundation that gives a sustainable result. This is not about beautiful words – it is about how to work effectively, especially in conditions of limited time, resources and high responsibility. In our field, the winner is not the one who is louder, but the one who knows how to build a process, hears the team and is responsible for the result.
You are a finalist in the “Leaders of the Construction Industry” competition. What does participation in this competition mean to you?
For me, this is a big and very important stage in my professional development. The competition program is aimed at identifying promising managers who have experience in senior positions in the construction or housing and utilities sector. For the final, we are developing our own projects. I will not reveal all the cards yet. But I will say one thing: my project addresses current challenges in the construction industry and offers solutions aimed at achieving sustainable development goals. Now I am focusing on the final!
Daily work often becomes routine. What inspires you and allows you to maintain energy and move forward?
In any job, especially management, there is a place for routine – documents, meetings, process coordination. But I am always inspired by one thought: the result of your work is something tangible and long-lasting. When an object is completed, put into operation and begins to benefit the city and people – this is a real feeling of satisfaction. The pleasure of understanding that you have invested effort, experience, time and done something really useful for this world. The thought charges even in the most difficult moments.
And to replenish my energy, I have my own “recipe for a perfect weekend”: a trip to the countryside with friends in tents. We have an amazing team of 19 people, and we are all from the construction industry: surveyors, designers, architects, estimators, designers, project managers… In general, the list can go on and on. We met at one of the professional events, and then became real friends – our families are friends, we support each other both at work and in life. We even have our own name – “Go? Go!” This is about the fact that we are always “for” any activity: hiking, climbing, running, lectures, master classes, parties. This team is my source of energy and inspiration. With such people around you, you feel that you can move mountains – both literally and professionally.
Is it difficult to be a girl in the construction industry – a stereotype or prejudice that still exists today?
This stereotype, unfortunately, still exists – although not in such an open form as before. Sometimes you have to prove your competence a little more than a man would have to in the same position. But personally, I don’t make a problem out of it – I do my job well, consistently and for the result. And this is what ultimately builds trust and respect.
Construction is not about gender, but about responsibility, knowledge of processes, the ability to build communication and bring a project to completion. And every year there are more and more women like me in the industry – strong, smart, professional.
If I encounter bias, I try not to waste energy on arguments. It is much more effective to show in action that you are competent and reliable. And when you have more than one successfully completed project under your belt, the opinion of skeptics changes on its own.
If you had the opportunity to go back to your first year, what would you tell yourself then?
I would tell myself: don’t be afraid to be active, ask more questions, try yourself and don’t put off important steps “for later”. University is not only about lectures and tests, it is a time when you can form yourself as a professional, build connections, participate in projects, and most importantly – learn to take initiative. I would advise not to be afraid of mistakes. Because it is through them that a real understanding of the profession and self-confidence comes. A mistake is not a failure, but an experience, if you draw conclusions.
And, probably, the main advice: everything will work out if you do your job with interest and are truly involved.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Hong Kong, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Click Holdings Limited (“Click Holdings” or “we” or “us”, NASDAQ: CLIK) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), a leading human resources and senior care solutions provider based in Hong Kong, today announced its senior services sector. By integrating secure cryptocurrency solutions, including building a substantial treasury in Bitcoin and Solana, and developing crypto-enabled payment systems, CLIK aims to revolutionize payment efficiency, transparency, and accessibility for its growing portfolio of senior care services.
CLIK’s exploration focuses on harnessing the power of cryptocurrencies to enhance its core offerings while capitalize on the appreciating value of these assets. CLIK is evaluating the development of a cryptocurrency treasury, with a particular emphasis on Bitcoin and Solana. This treasury could scale up to a value of US$100 million as the first step, and shall escalate further alongside business expansion.
In addition, CLIK is exploring the implementation of cryptocurrency-enabled payment systems to enhance the efficiency and security of salary disbursements for its talent pool of over 20,500 registered professionals. CLIK is also assessing the potential of crypto-enabled payments to streamline billing processes for customers who opt to transact using cryptocurrency.
“This initiative represents a bold step forward for CLIK, merging financial innovation with our mission to empower seniors through reliable, modern services,” said Jeffrey Chan, CEO of Click Holdings. “As the Silver Economy surges—driven by an aging population with significant spending power—we see immense potential in cryptocurrency to streamline operations, attract tech-savvy investors, and unlock new revenue streams. By building a robust Bitcoin and Solana treasury and integrating crypto payments, we’re not just adapting to the future; we’re leading it, delivering enhanced value to our shareholders through innovation and growth.”
CLIK remains committed to regulatory compliance and will conduct thorough feasibility studies, including risk assessments and pilot programs, to ensure these innovations align with global standards and deliver tangible benefits to seniors and their families.
About Click Holdings Limited
Click Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: CLIK) is a Hong Kong-based leader in AI-powered human resources and senior care solutions. Through its proprietary platform, CLIK connects clients with a talent pool of over 20,500 professionals, serving nursing, logistics, and professional services sectors.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “potential,” “continue” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov.
For enquiry, please contact:
Click Holdings Limited Unit 1709-11, 17/F Tower 2, The Gateway Harbour City, Kowloon Hong Kong Email: jack.wong@jfy.hk Phone: +852 2691 8200
Hong Kong, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Click Holdings Limited (“Click Holdings” or “we” or “us”, NASDAQ: CLIK) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), a leading human resources and senior care solutions provider based in Hong Kong, today announced its senior services sector. By integrating secure cryptocurrency solutions, including building a substantial treasury in Bitcoin and Solana, and developing crypto-enabled payment systems, CLIK aims to revolutionize payment efficiency, transparency, and accessibility for its growing portfolio of senior care services.
CLIK’s exploration focuses on harnessing the power of cryptocurrencies to enhance its core offerings while capitalize on the appreciating value of these assets. CLIK is evaluating the development of a cryptocurrency treasury, with a particular emphasis on Bitcoin and Solana. This treasury could scale up to a value of US$100 million as the first step, and shall escalate further alongside business expansion.
In addition, CLIK is exploring the implementation of cryptocurrency-enabled payment systems to enhance the efficiency and security of salary disbursements for its talent pool of over 20,500 registered professionals. CLIK is also assessing the potential of crypto-enabled payments to streamline billing processes for customers who opt to transact using cryptocurrency.
“This initiative represents a bold step forward for CLIK, merging financial innovation with our mission to empower seniors through reliable, modern services,” said Jeffrey Chan, CEO of Click Holdings. “As the Silver Economy surges—driven by an aging population with significant spending power—we see immense potential in cryptocurrency to streamline operations, attract tech-savvy investors, and unlock new revenue streams. By building a robust Bitcoin and Solana treasury and integrating crypto payments, we’re not just adapting to the future; we’re leading it, delivering enhanced value to our shareholders through innovation and growth.”
CLIK remains committed to regulatory compliance and will conduct thorough feasibility studies, including risk assessments and pilot programs, to ensure these innovations align with global standards and deliver tangible benefits to seniors and their families.
About Click Holdings Limited
Click Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: CLIK) is a Hong Kong-based leader in AI-powered human resources and senior care solutions. Through its proprietary platform, CLIK connects clients with a talent pool of over 20,500 professionals, serving nursing, logistics, and professional services sectors.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “potential,” “continue” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov.
For enquiry, please contact:
Click Holdings Limited Unit 1709-11, 17/F Tower 2, The Gateway Harbour City, Kowloon Hong Kong Email: jack.wong@jfy.hk Phone: +852 2691 8200
Hong Kong, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Click Holdings Limited (“Click Holdings” or “we” or “us”, NASDAQ: CLIK) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), a leading human resources and senior care solutions provider based in Hong Kong, today announced its senior services sector. By integrating secure cryptocurrency solutions, including building a substantial treasury in Bitcoin and Solana, and developing crypto-enabled payment systems, CLIK aims to revolutionize payment efficiency, transparency, and accessibility for its growing portfolio of senior care services.
CLIK’s exploration focuses on harnessing the power of cryptocurrencies to enhance its core offerings while capitalize on the appreciating value of these assets. CLIK is evaluating the development of a cryptocurrency treasury, with a particular emphasis on Bitcoin and Solana. This treasury could scale up to a value of US$100 million as the first step, and shall escalate further alongside business expansion.
In addition, CLIK is exploring the implementation of cryptocurrency-enabled payment systems to enhance the efficiency and security of salary disbursements for its talent pool of over 20,500 registered professionals. CLIK is also assessing the potential of crypto-enabled payments to streamline billing processes for customers who opt to transact using cryptocurrency.
“This initiative represents a bold step forward for CLIK, merging financial innovation with our mission to empower seniors through reliable, modern services,” said Jeffrey Chan, CEO of Click Holdings. “As the Silver Economy surges—driven by an aging population with significant spending power—we see immense potential in cryptocurrency to streamline operations, attract tech-savvy investors, and unlock new revenue streams. By building a robust Bitcoin and Solana treasury and integrating crypto payments, we’re not just adapting to the future; we’re leading it, delivering enhanced value to our shareholders through innovation and growth.”
CLIK remains committed to regulatory compliance and will conduct thorough feasibility studies, including risk assessments and pilot programs, to ensure these innovations align with global standards and deliver tangible benefits to seniors and their families.
About Click Holdings Limited
Click Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: CLIK) is a Hong Kong-based leader in AI-powered human resources and senior care solutions. Through its proprietary platform, CLIK connects clients with a talent pool of over 20,500 professionals, serving nursing, logistics, and professional services sectors.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “potential,” “continue” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov.
For enquiry, please contact:
Click Holdings Limited Unit 1709-11, 17/F Tower 2, The Gateway Harbour City, Kowloon Hong Kong Email: jack.wong@jfy.hk Phone: +852 2691 8200
Hong Kong, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Click Holdings Limited (“Click Holdings” or “we” or “us”, NASDAQ: CLIK) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), a leading human resources and senior care solutions provider based in Hong Kong, today announced its senior services sector. By integrating secure cryptocurrency solutions, including building a substantial treasury in Bitcoin and Solana, and developing crypto-enabled payment systems, CLIK aims to revolutionize payment efficiency, transparency, and accessibility for its growing portfolio of senior care services.
CLIK’s exploration focuses on harnessing the power of cryptocurrencies to enhance its core offerings while capitalize on the appreciating value of these assets. CLIK is evaluating the development of a cryptocurrency treasury, with a particular emphasis on Bitcoin and Solana. This treasury could scale up to a value of US$100 million as the first step, and shall escalate further alongside business expansion.
In addition, CLIK is exploring the implementation of cryptocurrency-enabled payment systems to enhance the efficiency and security of salary disbursements for its talent pool of over 20,500 registered professionals. CLIK is also assessing the potential of crypto-enabled payments to streamline billing processes for customers who opt to transact using cryptocurrency.
“This initiative represents a bold step forward for CLIK, merging financial innovation with our mission to empower seniors through reliable, modern services,” said Jeffrey Chan, CEO of Click Holdings. “As the Silver Economy surges—driven by an aging population with significant spending power—we see immense potential in cryptocurrency to streamline operations, attract tech-savvy investors, and unlock new revenue streams. By building a robust Bitcoin and Solana treasury and integrating crypto payments, we’re not just adapting to the future; we’re leading it, delivering enhanced value to our shareholders through innovation and growth.”
CLIK remains committed to regulatory compliance and will conduct thorough feasibility studies, including risk assessments and pilot programs, to ensure these innovations align with global standards and deliver tangible benefits to seniors and their families.
About Click Holdings Limited
Click Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: CLIK) is a Hong Kong-based leader in AI-powered human resources and senior care solutions. Through its proprietary platform, CLIK connects clients with a talent pool of over 20,500 professionals, serving nursing, logistics, and professional services sectors.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “potential,” “continue” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov.
For enquiry, please contact:
Click Holdings Limited Unit 1709-11, 17/F Tower 2, The Gateway Harbour City, Kowloon Hong Kong Email: jack.wong@jfy.hk Phone: +852 2691 8200
Jacksonville, Florida, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Everything Blockchain Inc. (OTC: $EBZT), a public company combining a diversified crypto treasury with validator infrastructure income, today announced the formation and planned spin off of MemeStrategy Inc., a new public vehicle designed to bridge the world of internet meme culture with traditional equity markets.
Under the proposed structure, EBZT shareholders will receive one share of MemeStrategy Inc. for every six shares of EBZT held, following the successful completion of the spin off. MemeStrategy will file a registration statement (Form S-1) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and, upon approval, pursue quotation through FINRA to become a fully independent public company.
What Is MemeStrategy?
MemeStrategy aims to become the first public company focused exclusively on memecoins and viral digital assets, beginning with a concentrated treasury in PEPE, BONK, and SPX6900. Its mission is to become the most memeable stock on the market, with the long term ambition to represent digital culture inside major financial indices.
“We built MemeStrategy to be the most viral stock in the market. The goal is simple, take something like SPX6900 and give it a real shot at the S&P 500.” said Arthur Rozenberg, CEO of Everything Blockchain Inc.
Why the Spin Off Now?
The launch of MemeStrategy strengthens EBZT’s broader mission: to become the market’s leading public crypto yield vehicle. EBZT will continue acquiring high conviction digital assets like SOL, TAO, and XRP while generating cash flow through validator operations and on chain strategies. MemeStrategy adds a complementary exposure to memedriven market cycles, letting EBZT shareholders benefit from both structural blockchain growth and viral retail momentum.
“MemeStrategy captures the upside of market narrative and momentum. Together, they give our shareholders exposure to crypto’s two strongest forces: capital and attention,” said Arthur Rozenberg, CEO of Everything Blockchain Inc.
Next Steps for Shareholders
Dividend ratio: 1 share of MemeStrategy for every 6 shares of EBZT held
Distribution timeline: Once the S-1 is filed and approved by the SEC, MemeStrategy will seek FINRA clearance for public trading
Official record and payable dates will be announced following regulatory approvals
MemeStrategy will operate independently with its own roadmap, leadership team, and capital strategy.
Check out the official launch site for MemeStrategy updates, filings, and dividend details: www.memestrategy.lol
About Everything Blockchain Inc.
Everything Blockchain Inc. (OTC: EBZT) is a public company focused on identifying and capitalizing on opportunities within the rapidly evolving blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors. The company’s strategy centers on building a diversified portfolio of leading crypto networks, with primary focus on Solana infrastructure, while pioneering innovative approaches to public company operations through blockchain technology. EBZT is positioned to become the first U.S. OTC-listed company to fully tokenize its equity. For more information, visit: www.everythingblockchain.io
Contact Information
Arthur Rozenberg
CEO, Everything Blockchain, Inc.
arthur.rozenberg@everythingblockchain.io
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to plans related to tokenization, treasury strategy, market opportunities, capital raises, and anticipated benefits of proposed initiatives. These statements are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: the completion of necessary financing, regulatory approval, technical execution, market acceptance, competitive factors, and general economic conditions. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Everything Blockchain Inc. undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
All amounts presented in this release are in U.S. Dollar (“USD”) unless otherwise stated.
CALGARY, Alberta, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enerflex Ltd. (TSX: EFX) (NYSE: EFXT) (“Enerflex” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an amended and restated credit agreement dated July 11, 2025 with respect to its syndicated secured revolving credit facility (the “RCF”). The maturity date of the RCF has been extended by three years to July 11, 2028 and availability is unchanged at $800 million. As at March 31, 2025, the Company had drawn $117 million on its RCF. Led by the Royal Bank of Canada as agent, Enerflex received renewed lending commitments from all current syndicate members.
The Company also continues to maintain a $70 million unsecured credit facility (the “LC Facility”) with one of the lenders in its RCF syndicate. The LC Facility is supported by performance security guarantees provided by Export Development Canada.
Joe Ladouceur, Enerflex’s CFO (Interim), commented, “We appreciate the strong support and continued partnership from our lending syndicate. The renewal of the RCF provides Enerflex with strong liquidity and improved terms, supporting efforts to deliver long-term growth and value creation for Enerflex shareholders.
Enerflex’s near-term priorities remain unchanged and include: (1) enhancing the profitability of core operations; (2) leveraging the Company’s leading position in core operating countries to capitalize on expected increases in natural gas and produced water volumes; and (3) maximizing free cash flow to further strengthen Enerflex’s financial position, provide direct shareholder returns, and invest in selective customer supported growth opportunities.”
Q2 Earnings Release
Enerflex plans to release its financial results and operating highlights for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, prior to the markets opening on Thursday, August 7, 2025. Results will be communicated by news release and will be available on the Company’s website at www.enerflex.com and under the electronic profile of the Company on SEDAR+ and EDGAR at www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov/edgar, respectively.
Investors, analysts, members of the media, and other interested parties, are invited to listen to or participate in a conference call and audio webcast on Thursday, August 7, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. (MDT), where members of senior management will discuss the Company’s results. A question-and-answer period will follow.
This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and “forward-looking statements” (and together with “forward-looking information”, “FLI”) within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are FLI. The use of any of the words “efforts”, “expected”, “may”, “plan”, “will”, and similar expressions, are intended to identify FLI. In particular, this news release includes (without limitation) FLI pertaining to the Company’s (i) continuing efforts to deliver long-term growth and value creation for Enerflex shareholders and the nature and success of such efforts, if at all; (ii) expectations for increases in natural gas and produced water volumes and the ability of the Company to capitalize on these increases; (iii) ability to continue to deliver direct shareholder returns; and (iv) expectation to release its financial results and operating highlights for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, prior to the markets opening on Thursday, August 7, 2025.
FLI reflects management’s current beliefs and assumptions with respect to such things as the impact of general economic conditions; commodity prices; the markets in which Enerflex’s products and services are used; general industry conditions, forecasts, and trends; changes to, and introduction of new, governmental regulations, laws, and income taxes; increased competition; availability of qualified personnel; political unrest and geopolitical conditions; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Enerflex. More specifically, Enerflex’s expectations in respect of its FLI are based on a number of assumptions, estimates and projections developed based on past experience and anticipated trends and, in respect of increases in natural gas and produced water volumes, industry third party data. As a result of the foregoing, actual results, performance, or achievements of Enerflex could differ and such differences could be material from those expressed in, or implied by, the FLI. The principal risks, uncertainties and other factors affecting Enerflex and its business are identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in: (i) Enerflex’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024, dated February 27, 2025; and (ii) Enerflex’s Annual Report dated February 26, 2025, copies of which are available under the electronic profile of the Company on SEDAR+ and EDGAR at www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov/edgar, respectively.
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of assumptions and risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The FLI included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and are based on the information available to the Company at such time and, other than as required by law, Enerflex disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any FLI, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. This news release and its contents should not be construed, under any circumstances, as investment, tax, or legal advice.
ABOUT ENERFLEX
Enerflex is a premier integrated global provider of energy infrastructure and energy transition solutions, deploying natural gas, low-carbon, and treated water solutions – from individual, modularized products and services to integrated custom solutions. With over 4,600 engineers, manufacturers, technicians, and innovators, Enerflex is bound together by a shared vision: Transforming Energy for a Sustainable Future. The Company remains committed to the future of natural gas and the critical role it plays, while focused on sustainability offerings to support the energy transition and growing decarbonization efforts.
Enerflex’s common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “EFX” and on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “EFXT”. For more information about Enerflex, visit www.enerflex.com.
For investor and media enquiries, contact:
Preet S. Dhindsa President and Chief Executive Officer (Interim) E-mail: PDhindsa@enerflex.com
Joe Ladouceur Chief Financial Officer (Interim) E-mail: JLadouceur@enerflex.com
Jeff Fetterly Vice President, Corporate Development and Capital Markets E-mail: JFetterly@enerflex.com
All amounts presented in this release are in U.S. Dollar (“USD”) unless otherwise stated.
CALGARY, Alberta, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enerflex Ltd. (TSX: EFX) (NYSE: EFXT) (“Enerflex” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an amended and restated credit agreement dated July 11, 2025 with respect to its syndicated secured revolving credit facility (the “RCF”). The maturity date of the RCF has been extended by three years to July 11, 2028 and availability is unchanged at $800 million. As at March 31, 2025, the Company had drawn $117 million on its RCF. Led by the Royal Bank of Canada as agent, Enerflex received renewed lending commitments from all current syndicate members.
The Company also continues to maintain a $70 million unsecured credit facility (the “LC Facility”) with one of the lenders in its RCF syndicate. The LC Facility is supported by performance security guarantees provided by Export Development Canada.
Joe Ladouceur, Enerflex’s CFO (Interim), commented, “We appreciate the strong support and continued partnership from our lending syndicate. The renewal of the RCF provides Enerflex with strong liquidity and improved terms, supporting efforts to deliver long-term growth and value creation for Enerflex shareholders.
Enerflex’s near-term priorities remain unchanged and include: (1) enhancing the profitability of core operations; (2) leveraging the Company’s leading position in core operating countries to capitalize on expected increases in natural gas and produced water volumes; and (3) maximizing free cash flow to further strengthen Enerflex’s financial position, provide direct shareholder returns, and invest in selective customer supported growth opportunities.”
Q2 Earnings Release
Enerflex plans to release its financial results and operating highlights for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, prior to the markets opening on Thursday, August 7, 2025. Results will be communicated by news release and will be available on the Company’s website at www.enerflex.com and under the electronic profile of the Company on SEDAR+ and EDGAR at www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov/edgar, respectively.
Investors, analysts, members of the media, and other interested parties, are invited to listen to or participate in a conference call and audio webcast on Thursday, August 7, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. (MDT), where members of senior management will discuss the Company’s results. A question-and-answer period will follow.
This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and “forward-looking statements” (and together with “forward-looking information”, “FLI”) within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are FLI. The use of any of the words “efforts”, “expected”, “may”, “plan”, “will”, and similar expressions, are intended to identify FLI. In particular, this news release includes (without limitation) FLI pertaining to the Company’s (i) continuing efforts to deliver long-term growth and value creation for Enerflex shareholders and the nature and success of such efforts, if at all; (ii) expectations for increases in natural gas and produced water volumes and the ability of the Company to capitalize on these increases; (iii) ability to continue to deliver direct shareholder returns; and (iv) expectation to release its financial results and operating highlights for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, prior to the markets opening on Thursday, August 7, 2025.
FLI reflects management’s current beliefs and assumptions with respect to such things as the impact of general economic conditions; commodity prices; the markets in which Enerflex’s products and services are used; general industry conditions, forecasts, and trends; changes to, and introduction of new, governmental regulations, laws, and income taxes; increased competition; availability of qualified personnel; political unrest and geopolitical conditions; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Enerflex. More specifically, Enerflex’s expectations in respect of its FLI are based on a number of assumptions, estimates and projections developed based on past experience and anticipated trends and, in respect of increases in natural gas and produced water volumes, industry third party data. As a result of the foregoing, actual results, performance, or achievements of Enerflex could differ and such differences could be material from those expressed in, or implied by, the FLI. The principal risks, uncertainties and other factors affecting Enerflex and its business are identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in: (i) Enerflex’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024, dated February 27, 2025; and (ii) Enerflex’s Annual Report dated February 26, 2025, copies of which are available under the electronic profile of the Company on SEDAR+ and EDGAR at www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov/edgar, respectively.
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of assumptions and risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The FLI included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and are based on the information available to the Company at such time and, other than as required by law, Enerflex disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any FLI, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. This news release and its contents should not be construed, under any circumstances, as investment, tax, or legal advice.
ABOUT ENERFLEX
Enerflex is a premier integrated global provider of energy infrastructure and energy transition solutions, deploying natural gas, low-carbon, and treated water solutions – from individual, modularized products and services to integrated custom solutions. With over 4,600 engineers, manufacturers, technicians, and innovators, Enerflex is bound together by a shared vision: Transforming Energy for a Sustainable Future. The Company remains committed to the future of natural gas and the critical role it plays, while focused on sustainability offerings to support the energy transition and growing decarbonization efforts.
Enerflex’s common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “EFX” and on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “EFXT”. For more information about Enerflex, visit www.enerflex.com.
For investor and media enquiries, contact:
Preet S. Dhindsa President and Chief Executive Officer (Interim) E-mail: PDhindsa@enerflex.com
Joe Ladouceur Chief Financial Officer (Interim) E-mail: JLadouceur@enerflex.com
Jeff Fetterly Vice President, Corporate Development and Capital Markets E-mail: JFetterly@enerflex.com
The Galaxy Z series has set the standard for foldable phones from its very first launch, with a new release every year. Now in its seventh chapter, the latest design revisits where it all started. The Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 are the result of refinements made over each year of innovation. Samsung Newsroom spoke with Hubert Lee, Head of the Design Team and Huichul Yang, Head of the UX (User eXperience) Team, both part of the Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics, to discover the story behind the products and the designers’ persistent pursuit of incredible design.
* Content images simulated for illustrative purposes only and may differ from the actual product. Product specifications may vary by country, region, model and carrier.
Hubert Lee
Executive Vice President, MX Business, Samsung Electronics
Since joining as Head of the MX Design Team in late 2022, Lee has overseen the design direction for all MX product launches. With the launch of the new Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7, Lee showcases Galaxy’s ultimate pursuit of ultra-sleek and modern design.
Huichul Yang
Vice President, MX Business, Samsung Electronics
Since joining Samsung in 2005, Yang has played a pivotal role in advancing mobile UX innovation as an HCI (Human Computer Interaction) expert. Since late 2023, Yang has led the UX Team in the MX Business, crafting the mobile experiences powered by Galaxy AI.
The Essence of Foldable Design
Q. The Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 have finally been unveiled. As the heads of the Design and UX teams, it must mean a lot to both of you.
Lee: Among the products I’ve designed at Samsung, the Galaxy Z Fold7 stands out as the one I am most proud of. Most people said, “Wow!” as soon as they saw it. It’s the thinnest, lightest Galaxy Z Fold series model yet. I believe it captures the essence of what a foldable phone can be. It’s only just been unveiled at Galaxy Unpacked 2025 in New York, but I’m confident that customers will understand its true value as they see it up close and get a feel for it in their hands.
Yang: Alongside the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7, we also introduced One UI 8, an interface optimized for the AI experience. I believe that a sleek, modern design — paired with an intuitive interface — can really resonate with users seeking a more elevated mobile experience in this age of AI.
“The Galaxy Z series isn’t just well-made — it reaffirms our position as a pioneer and benchmark in the foldable phone market.”
— Hubert Lee, EVP, Samsung Electronics
Q. It’s clear you’re both really proud of the products. It must have taken a lot of work to get it out into the world.
Lee: The Galaxy Z series marked the very beginning of foldable phones. To solidify that symbolism, we knew we had to create a product that felt truly impressive to anyone who saw it. There was a shared understanding within the team that simply repeating what we had done in the past wouldn’t be enough to meet customer expectations. Change wasn’t a choice; it was a must. That’s why with the seventh models of the Galaxy Z series, we didn’t approach it as a refinement — we approached it as a redesign from the ground up. We approached it as if we were starting completely from scratch.
We design lifestyle products. To be part of people’s daily lives, portability is essential and reducing weight was key to achieving that. Our mobile R&D office put in a huge amount of effort in that respect. The nature of the hardware meant there was a certain weight we had to carry, but we kept wondering if we could make it just a little bit lighter. That led to a lot of research and testing. As it became lighter, it became thinner and the display larger, until we arrived at the sleek, modern form we had envisioned. The product you see is the result of countless hours of deliberation, passion and engineering.
Q. How did changes to the design of products affect the user interface?
Yang: Since One UI 6, we’ve been introducing a range of AI features as an AI companion. With One UI 8, we focused on meaningful productivity. We took advantage of the Galaxy Z Fold7’s large-screen form factor to enable users to easily compare original and AI-generated content side by side and move it seamlessly between apps.
Q. What are the changes to the Galaxy Z Flip7 UX?
Yang: One of the standout features of the Z Flip7 is its full-front FlexWindow. Gemini is now optimized for the FlexWindow, enabling quick and seamless interaction with AI — anytime you need it. It’s our new take on an AI companion — one that unfolds right in the palm of your hand. Notably, the form factor is such that the main camera faces you when folded, so now you can launch Gemini Live from the FlexWindow and ask about everyday things, like if your outfit is appropriate for the weather or your schedule for the day.
“We envisioned a new future with One UI 8 on the Galaxy Z Flip7 as an AI companion in your hand.”
— Huichul Yang, VP, Samsung Electronics
* This background image has been created by generative AI (Macnific AI, Midjourney).
Q. The products come in a range of colors. Which one is your favorite?
Lee: I love them all but if I had to choose one, it would have to be Silver Shadow. It’s the most straightforward and simple one, but I think it represents Galaxy’s “Ultra Sleek, Ultra Modern” concept really well.
When customers buy premium products like the Galaxy Z Fold7, they tend to prefer values that feel timeless, so we really took that into consideration when choosing the colors for this series. We leveraged the metallic material to bring the colors to life in a way that expresses our design intent and complements the foldable form factor. One of the standout colors of this series is Blue Shadow. As you move the product around, the shine and sophistication are noticeable from all angles.
Let’s Design Together!
Q. Even though you’re on different teams, you’ve been working on the same product. How did the Design and UX teams get connected?
Yang: Wallpaper design is where we really tend to collaborate closely. We work together to make sure the message the Design team wants to convey is properly communicated through the wallpaper, the face of the product. For One UI 7, we aligned the product’s corner radius with the One UI icon geometry. We’ll continue to align the GUI (Graphic user interface) with the underlying style of the product for future releases, too.
“Designing with the authentic mindset that we are all one team — this, I believe, is the most important attitude we need to break silos and grow together.”
— Hubert Lee, EVP, Samsung Electronics
Q. How do the team members collaborate?
Lee: The Design team holds a session called Design Clinic. Group leaders and managers come together to share ongoing projects and insights. It’s not a formal meeting, but rather a relaxed gathering to share ideas over coffee and dessert. It’s an open discussion where even criticism is seen as a way to make our products better and support each other. In the MX Business’s Design team, we cover everything from smartphones and wearables to PCs, tablets, CMF (Color, material and finish) and packaging, each item with its own functions. The Design Clinic helps us gain insights from other fields or discover early-stage ideas.
Q. How do you encourage synergy between designers on the team?
Lee: I often emphasize the phrase, “Let’s Design Together.” Rather than just holding onto what they’ve been assigned, I encourage the team to think collectively about what we’re making and how we can improve it. If feedback or advice isn’t sincere, it just leads to silos between teams. Designing together as one team with an authentic, shared mindset is what I emphasize most within the organization.
Reframing the Future
Q. Aside from designers’ intuition, sensibilities and qualitative insights, do you also incorporate user testing or quantitative validation during the design planning phase?
Lee: The Design team has established a Galaxy Design principle called “Essential Design,” aimed at focusing on core value and removing unnecessary elements. It’s based on three key elements: Simple, Impactful and Emotive. We believe that when these three elements come together in harmony, they create a truly aspirational product. We use the principle and its key elements as evaluation tools during the design planning stage; through a process we call Design Analytics. We conduct evaluations with internal employees to make sure our design intent is being communicated to users effectively. We use the data and insights from this to refine current designs and even identify future products. It’s how we strengthen our design identity, and it’s an integral part of the Galaxy design process.
Q. Do you use AI in your work?
Yang: We refer to AI tools during the testing process. We’ve observed that results from AI-based virtual user testing are fairly close to tests done by recruiting actual users. This leads us to expect that AI can play a significant role in UX evaluation going forward. We’re also experimenting with AI in other ways, like testing multiple versions of motion or animation effects, or turning 2D assets into 3D or animated formats. In this way, we’re continuously learning more about how to enhance our designs with AI.
“Amid the momentum of AI, the ability to direct design will become one of the most valuable assets in making your work truly meaningful.”
— Huichul Yang, VP, Samsung Electronics
Q. The age we live in is constantly changing. What kind of mindset and vision should guide designers today?
Yang: AI is a new momentum for designers. There are more and more of us thinking about how to use AI to make our work more meaningful. I believe those who show interest in how the world is changing and make new tools their own will be the ones leading in the age of AI. Some say designers will fade away as AI advances, but I see it differently. Design direction, the ability to guide AI creations and enrich them, is bound to become even more essential.
Lee: When it comes to new devices like foldable products, we’re not designing features. We’re designing the entire experience. I believe it’s our role as designers to deeply consider why a device folds, why it unfolds and what kind of value and convenience those actions should provide. That’s because we’re not just product designers, we’re lifestyle designers, and in the end, the user is the most important part of all. We have to read the trends constantly and keep asking ourselves what users truly need. To me, design that makes their lives better is design that’s truly meaningful.
For more information about Samsung Electronics’ design, please visit the Samsung Design website.
The Galaxy Z series has set the standard for foldable phones from its very first launch, with a new release every year. Now in its seventh chapter, the latest design revisits where it all started. The Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 are the result of refinements made over each year of innovation. Samsung Newsroom spoke with Hubert Lee, Head of the Design Team and Huichul Yang, Head of the UX (User eXperience) Team, both part of the Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics, to discover the story behind the products and the designers’ persistent pursuit of incredible design.
* Content images simulated for illustrative purposes only and may differ from the actual product. Product specifications may vary by country, region, model and carrier.
Hubert Lee
Executive Vice President, MX Business, Samsung Electronics
Since joining as Head of the MX Design Team in late 2022, Lee has overseen the design direction for all MX product launches. With the launch of the new Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7, Lee showcases Galaxy’s ultimate pursuit of ultra-sleek and modern design.
Huichul Yang
Vice President, MX Business, Samsung Electronics
Since joining Samsung in 2005, Yang has played a pivotal role in advancing mobile UX innovation as an HCI (Human Computer Interaction) expert. Since late 2023, Yang has led the UX Team in the MX Business, crafting the mobile experiences powered by Galaxy AI.
The Essence of Foldable Design
Q. The Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 have finally been unveiled. As the heads of the Design and UX teams, it must mean a lot to both of you.
Lee: Among the products I’ve designed at Samsung, the Galaxy Z Fold7 stands out as the one I am most proud of. Most people said, “Wow!” as soon as they saw it. It’s the thinnest, lightest Galaxy Z Fold series model yet. I believe it captures the essence of what a foldable phone can be. It’s only just been unveiled at Galaxy Unpacked 2025 in New York, but I’m confident that customers will understand its true value as they see it up close and get a feel for it in their hands.
Yang: Alongside the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7, we also introduced One UI 8, an interface optimized for the AI experience. I believe that a sleek, modern design — paired with an intuitive interface — can really resonate with users seeking a more elevated mobile experience in this age of AI.
“The Galaxy Z series isn’t just well-made — it reaffirms our position as a pioneer and benchmark in the foldable phone market.”
— Hubert Lee, EVP, Samsung Electronics
Q. It’s clear you’re both really proud of the products. It must have taken a lot of work to get it out into the world.
Lee: The Galaxy Z series marked the very beginning of foldable phones. To solidify that symbolism, we knew we had to create a product that felt truly impressive to anyone who saw it. There was a shared understanding within the team that simply repeating what we had done in the past wouldn’t be enough to meet customer expectations. Change wasn’t a choice; it was a must. That’s why with the seventh models of the Galaxy Z series, we didn’t approach it as a refinement — we approached it as a redesign from the ground up. We approached it as if we were starting completely from scratch.
We design lifestyle products. To be part of people’s daily lives, portability is essential and reducing weight was key to achieving that. Our mobile R&D office put in a huge amount of effort in that respect. The nature of the hardware meant there was a certain weight we had to carry, but we kept wondering if we could make it just a little bit lighter. That led to a lot of research and testing. As it became lighter, it became thinner and the display larger, until we arrived at the sleek, modern form we had envisioned. The product you see is the result of countless hours of deliberation, passion and engineering.
Q. How did changes to the design of products affect the user interface?
Yang: Since One UI 6, we’ve been introducing a range of AI features as an AI companion. With One UI 8, we focused on meaningful productivity. We took advantage of the Galaxy Z Fold7’s large-screen form factor to enable users to easily compare original and AI-generated content side by side and move it seamlessly between apps.
Q. What are the changes to the Galaxy Z Flip7 UX?
Yang: One of the standout features of the Z Flip7 is its full-front FlexWindow. Gemini is now optimized for the FlexWindow, enabling quick and seamless interaction with AI — anytime you need it. It’s our new take on an AI companion — one that unfolds right in the palm of your hand. Notably, the form factor is such that the main camera faces you when folded, so now you can launch Gemini Live from the FlexWindow and ask about everyday things, like if your outfit is appropriate for the weather or your schedule for the day.
“We envisioned a new future with One UI 8 on the Galaxy Z Flip7 as an AI companion in your hand.”
— Huichul Yang, VP, Samsung Electronics
* This background image has been created by generative AI (Macnific AI, Midjourney).
Q. The products come in a range of colors. Which one is your favorite?
Lee: I love them all but if I had to choose one, it would have to be Silver Shadow. It’s the most straightforward and simple one, but I think it represents Galaxy’s “Ultra Sleek, Ultra Modern” concept really well.
When customers buy premium products like the Galaxy Z Fold7, they tend to prefer values that feel timeless, so we really took that into consideration when choosing the colors for this series. We leveraged the metallic material to bring the colors to life in a way that expresses our design intent and complements the foldable form factor. One of the standout colors of this series is Blue Shadow. As you move the product around, the shine and sophistication are noticeable from all angles.
Let’s Design Together!
Q. Even though you’re on different teams, you’ve been working on the same product. How did the Design and UX teams get connected?
Yang: Wallpaper design is where we really tend to collaborate closely. We work together to make sure the message the Design team wants to convey is properly communicated through the wallpaper, the face of the product. For One UI 7, we aligned the product’s corner radius with the One UI icon geometry. We’ll continue to align the GUI (Graphic user interface) with the underlying style of the product for future releases, too.
“Designing with the authentic mindset that we are all one team — this, I believe, is the most important attitude we need to break silos and grow together.”
— Hubert Lee, EVP, Samsung Electronics
Q. How do the team members collaborate?
Lee: The Design team holds a session called Design Clinic. Group leaders and managers come together to share ongoing projects and insights. It’s not a formal meeting, but rather a relaxed gathering to share ideas over coffee and dessert. It’s an open discussion where even criticism is seen as a way to make our products better and support each other. In the MX Business’s Design team, we cover everything from smartphones and wearables to PCs, tablets, CMF (Color, material and finish) and packaging, each item with its own functions. The Design Clinic helps us gain insights from other fields or discover early-stage ideas.
Q. How do you encourage synergy between designers on the team?
Lee: I often emphasize the phrase, “Let’s Design Together.” Rather than just holding onto what they’ve been assigned, I encourage the team to think collectively about what we’re making and how we can improve it. If feedback or advice isn’t sincere, it just leads to silos between teams. Designing together as one team with an authentic, shared mindset is what I emphasize most within the organization.
Reframing the Future
Q. Aside from designers’ intuition, sensibilities and qualitative insights, do you also incorporate user testing or quantitative validation during the design planning phase?
Lee: The Design team has established a Galaxy Design principle called “Essential Design,” aimed at focusing on core value and removing unnecessary elements. It’s based on three key elements: Simple, Impactful and Emotive. We believe that when these three elements come together in harmony, they create a truly aspirational product. We use the principle and its key elements as evaluation tools during the design planning stage; through a process we call Design Analytics. We conduct evaluations with internal employees to make sure our design intent is being communicated to users effectively. We use the data and insights from this to refine current designs and even identify future products. It’s how we strengthen our design identity, and it’s an integral part of the Galaxy design process.
Q. Do you use AI in your work?
Yang: We refer to AI tools during the testing process. We’ve observed that results from AI-based virtual user testing are fairly close to tests done by recruiting actual users. This leads us to expect that AI can play a significant role in UX evaluation going forward. We’re also experimenting with AI in other ways, like testing multiple versions of motion or animation effects, or turning 2D assets into 3D or animated formats. In this way, we’re continuously learning more about how to enhance our designs with AI.
“Amid the momentum of AI, the ability to direct design will become one of the most valuable assets in making your work truly meaningful.”
— Huichul Yang, VP, Samsung Electronics
Q. The age we live in is constantly changing. What kind of mindset and vision should guide designers today?
Yang: AI is a new momentum for designers. There are more and more of us thinking about how to use AI to make our work more meaningful. I believe those who show interest in how the world is changing and make new tools their own will be the ones leading in the age of AI. Some say designers will fade away as AI advances, but I see it differently. Design direction, the ability to guide AI creations and enrich them, is bound to become even more essential.
Lee: When it comes to new devices like foldable products, we’re not designing features. We’re designing the entire experience. I believe it’s our role as designers to deeply consider why a device folds, why it unfolds and what kind of value and convenience those actions should provide. That’s because we’re not just product designers, we’re lifestyle designers, and in the end, the user is the most important part of all. We have to read the trends constantly and keep asking ourselves what users truly need. To me, design that makes their lives better is design that’s truly meaningful.
For more information about Samsung Electronics’ design, please visit the Samsung Design website.
A journalist who was on the Rainbow Warrior voyage to Rongelap last night condemned France for its “callous” attack of an environmental ship, saying “we haven’t forgotten, or forgiven this outrage”.
David Robie, the author of Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior, said at the launch that the consequences of almost 300 US and French nuclear tests – many of them “dirty bombs” — were still impacting on indigenous Pacific peoples 40 years after the bombing of the ship.
French saboteurs had killed “our shipmate Fernando Pereira” on 10 July 1985 in what the New Zealand prime minister at the time, David Lange, called a “sordid act of international state-backed terrorism”.
Although relations with France had perhaps mellowed over time, four decades ago there was a lot of hostility towards the country, Dr Robie said.
“And that act of mindless sabotage still rankles very deeply in our psyche,” he said at the launch in Auckland Central’s Ellen Melville Centre on the anniversary of July 10.
About 100 people gathered in the centre’s Pioneer Women’s Hall for the book launch as Dr Robie reflected on the case of state terrorism after Greenpeace earlier in the day held a memorial ceremony on board Rainbow Warrior III.
“One of the celebrated French newspapers, Le Monde, played a critical role in the investigation into the Rainbow Warrior affair — what I brand as ‘Blundergate’, in view of all the follies of the bumbling DGSE spy team,” he said.
Plantu cartoon “And one of the cartoons in that newspaper, by Plantu, who is a sort of French equivalent to Michael Leunig, caught my eye.
“You will notice it in the background slide show behind me. It shows François Mitterrand, the president of the French republic at the time, dressed in a frogman’s wetsuit lecturing to school children during a history lesson.
“President Mitterrand says, in French, ‘At that time, only presidents had the right to carry out terrorism!’
Tahitian advocate Ena Manurevia . . . the background Plantu cartoon is the one mentioned by the author. Image: Asia Pacific Report
He noticed that in the Mitterrand cartoon there was a “classmate” sitting in the back of the room with a moustache. This was none other than Edwy Plenel, the police reporter for Le Monde at the time, who scooped the world with hard evidence of Mitterrand and the French government’s role at the highest level in the Rainbow Warrior sabotage.
Dr Robie said that Plenel now published the investigative website Mediapart, which had played a key role in 2015 revealing the identity of the bomber that night, “the man who had planted the limpet mines on the Rainbow Warrior — sinking a peace and environmental ship, and killing Fernando Pereira.”
Jean-Luc Kister, a retired French colonel and DGSE secret agent, had confessed to his role and “apologised”, claiming the sabotage operation was “disproportionate and a mistake”.
“Was he sincere? Was it a genuine attempt to come to terms with his conscience. Who knows?” Dr Robie said, adding that he was unconvinced.
Hilari Anderson (right on stage), one of the speakers, with Del Abcede and MC Antony Phillips (obscured) . . . the background image shows Helen Clark meeting Fernando Pereira’s daughter Marelle in 2005. Image: Greenpeace
French perspective Dr Robie said he had asked Plenel for his reflections from a French perspective 40 years on. Plenel cited three main take ways.
“First, the vital necessity of independent journalism. Independent of all powers, whether state, economic or ideological. Journalism that serves the public interest, the right to know, and factual truths.
“Impactful journalism whose revelations restore confidence in democracy, in the possibility of improving it, and in the usefulness of counterbalancing powers, particularly journalism.”
Secondly, this attack had been carried out by France in an “allied country”, New Zealand, against a civil society organisation. This demonstrated that “the thirst for power is a downfall that leads nations astray when they succumb to it.
“Nuclear weapons epitomise this madness, this catastrophe of power.”
Eyes of Fire 10 years ago . . . same author, same publisher. Video: Pacific Media Centre
Finally, Plenel expressed the “infinite sadness” for a French citizen that after his revelations in Le Monde — which led to the resignations of the defence minister and the head of the secret services — nothing else happened.
“Nothing at all. No parliamentary inquiry, no questioning of François Mitterrand about his responsibility, no institutional reform of the absolute power of the president in a French republic that is, in reality, an elective monarchy.”
‘Elective monarchy’ trend Dr Robie compared the French outcome with the rapid trend in US today, “a president who thinks he is a monarch, a king – another elective monarchy.”
He also bemoaned that “catastrophe of power” that “reigns everywhere today – from the horrendous Israeli genocide in Gaza to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, from Trump to Putin to Netanyahu, and so many others.”
The continuous Gaza massacres were a shameful indictment of the West that had allowed it to happen for more than 21 months.
Dr Robie thanked many collaborators for their help and support, including drama teacher Hilari Anderson, an original crew member of the Rainbow Warrior, and photographer John Miller, “who have been with me all the way on this waka journey”.
He thanked his wife, Del, and family members for their unstinting “patience and support”, and also publisher Tony Murrow of Little Island Press.
Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior . . . published 10 July 2025. Image: David Robie/Little Island Press
Launching the book, Greenpeace Aotearoa programme director Niamh O’Flynn said one thing that had stood out for her was how the legacy of the Rainbow Warrior had continued despite the attempt by the French government to shut it down 40 years ago.
“We said then that ‘you can’t sink a rainbow’, and we went on to prove it.
“When the Rainbow Warrior was bombed in Auckland harbour, it was getting ready to set sail to Moruroa Atoll, to enter the test exclusion zone and confront French nuclear testing head-on.”
So threatened The French government had felt so threatened by that action that it had engaged in a state-sanctioned terror attack to prevent the mission from going ahead.
“But we rebuilt, and the Rainbow Warrior II carried on with that mission, travelling to Moruroa three times before the French finally stopped nuclear testing in the Pacific.
“That spirit and tenacity is what makes Greenpeace and what makes the Rainbow Warrior so special to everyone who has sailed on her,” she said.
“It was the final voyage of the Rainbow Warrior to Rongelap before the bombing that is the focus of David Robie’s book, and in many ways, it was an incredibly unique experience for Greenpeace — not just here in Aotearoa, but internationally.
“And of course David was a key part in that.”
O’Flynn said that as someone who had not even been born yet when the Rainbow Warrior was bombed, “I am so grateful that the generation of nuclear-free activists took the time to pass on their knowledge and to build our organisation into what it is today.
“Just as David has by writing down his story and leaving us with such a rich legacy.”
Greenpeace Aotearoa programme director Niamh O’Flynn . . . “That spirit and tenacity is what makes Greenpeace and what makes the Rainbow Warrior so special to everyone who has sailed on her.” Image: APR
Other speakers Among other speakers at the book launch were teacher Hilari Anderson, publisher Tony Murrow of Little Island Press, Ena Manuireva, a Mangarevian scholar and cultural adviser, and MC Antony Phillips of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.
Anderson spoke of the Warrior’s early campaigns and acknowledged the crews of 1978 and 1985.
“I have been reflecting what these first and last crews of the original Rainbow Warrior had in common, realising that both gave their collective, mostly youthful energy — to transformation.
“This has involved the bonding of crews by working hands-on together. Touching surfaces, by hammer and paint, created a physical connection to this beloved boat.”
She paid special tribute to two powerful women, Denise Bell, who tracked down the marine research vessel in Aberdeen that became the Rainbow Warrior, and the indomitable Susi Newborn, who “contributed to naming the ship and mustering a crew”.
Manuireva spoke about his nuclear colonial experience and that of his family as natives of Mangareva atoll, about 400 km from Muroroa atoll, where France conducted most of its 30 years of tests ending in 1995.
He also spoke of Tahitian leader Oscar Temaru’s pioneering role in the Nuclear-Free and Independent Pacific (NFIP) movement, and played haunting Tahitian songs on his guitar.
Teresa Sindelar always knew she wanted to be a part of human spaceflight, but she was unsure how to make that dream a reality until a chance encounter with former NASA astronaut Tom Stafford when she was 11 years old. The pair met in a local jewelry shop near Sindelar’s Nebraska home, where Gen. Stafford was signing autographs. In addition to his photo, Gen. Stafford gave Sindelar a valuable tip – she should check out the Kansas Cosmosphere, a space museum in Hutchinson, Kansas. “I proceeded to attend every camp the Cosmosphere offered as a student, interned during college, and worked there full time while earning my graduate degree,” Sindelar said.
She discovered a passion for teaching and mentoring young students through her work in the museum’s education department and a stint as a high school science teacher. When she began looking for opportunities at NASA, she sought a position that melded instruction with technical work. “I like pouring into others and watching them grow,” she said. Today, Sindelar is a chief training officer (CTO) within the Flight Operations Directorate at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Along with her fellow CTOs, Sindelar oversees the correct and complete training of NASA astronauts, crew members representing international partners, and all flight controllers. “I put the pieces together,” she said. “It is my job to make sure instructors, schedulers, outside partners, facility managers, and others are all in sync.” She added that CTOs have a unique position because they see the big picture of a training flow and understand the long-term training goals and objectives.
“I get to do a lot of cool things and go to a lot of cool places,” she said, noting that the training facilities at Johnson and other NASA centers, as well as facilities managed by international partners, are top-notch. While she does enjoy watching astronauts work through problems and learn new systems, she has a special fondness for flight controller training and mentoring young professionals. “What fills my cup the most is seeing a brand-new employee right out of college blossom into a confident flight controller, do their job well, and make our missions better,” she said. “I like knowing that I had something to do with that.” Sindelar has been part of the Johnson team since 2010 and worked as an educator in what was then called the center’s Office of Education and as a crew training instructor in the Space Medicine Operations Directorate before becoming a CTO. In March 2025, Sindelar received a Space Flight Awareness Program Honoree Award for her outstanding leadership in the Private Astronaut Mission (PAM) program, which is an important component of NASA’s strategy for enabling a robust and competitive commercial economy in low Earth orbit. As the lead CTO for the third PAM, Axiom Mission 3, Sindelar managed training while identifying critical inefficiencies, enhancing mission safety and performance. She spearheaded a key stakeholder retreat to streamline operations, reorganized training resources for improved accessibility, and implemented efficiency improvements that optimized mission support. Sindelar’s work was recognized during an award ceremony at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and she got to attend the launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission as a special guest. In her 15 years with the agency, she has learned the importance of leading by example. “My team needs to see that I meet the bar I set,” she said. “Leading is about motivating your people so they are committed, not just compliant.”
Keeping a team motivated and on track is particularly important to training success and safety. “We only get a matter of months to train astronauts to do the most hazardous activities that humans have done, or to train flight controllers who literally have the mission and the lives of astronauts in their hands,” Sindelar said, adding that they cannot afford to have an unfocused or indifferent team. Sindelar observed that Johnson’s training team is acutely aware of their responsibilities. “We live and work in the same communities as the crew members,” she said. “We see them at school functions, at the grocery store, at the park. We know their families are counting on us to bring their loved ones home safely.” She has also learned that her voice matters. “When I was a young professional, I just never felt I could be influential, but the only person holding me back was me,” she said. “I had to learn to trust in my own instincts. That was definitely outside of my comfort zone.” She credits her mentors with helping her build confidence and knowing when and how to speak up. “I have had many giants of the spaceflight community mold and shape me in my career, from my counselors at the Cosmosphere all the way to flight directors and astronauts,” she said. “It is my privilege to learn from them, and I am grateful to each of them.” Outside of work, Sindelar uses her voice in a different way – as part of her church choir. She also plays piano, stating that she is as passionate about music and volunteerism as she is about human spaceflight. She is a member of the Friendswood Volunteer Fire Department, as well, serving on its rehab team and as the department’s chaplain
As NASA prepares to return humans to the Moon and journey on to Mars, Sindelar hopes she has taught the next generation of explorers enough so they can show the world the wonders of the universe. “This next generation will see and do things my generation never even thought of,” she said, adding that it is time for them to start leading. “Use your voice. Take care of each other along the way. Reach out and help the next one in line.” Sindelar keeps a reminder of that important message on her desk: the picture Gen. Stafford signed all those years ago.
Headline: DHS Reveals Criminal Histories of Illegal Aliens Detained at Prairieland Detention Center at Time of July 4 Attack
lass=”text-align-center”>Gang members, human traffickers, pedophiles, and suspected terrorists are among those defended by rioters and Democratic politicians WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reveals the criminal histories of illegal aliens detained at the U
S
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Prairieland Detention Center on the night of the July 4 coordinated ambush
On July 4, 2025, over 1,000 illegal aliens were in custody at Prairieland
Their offenses include molestation of a minor, sexual assault, murder, kidnapping, arson, aggravated assault and human trafficking
There are also almost 50 detainees who are members of foreign terrorist organization or gangs—including MS-13 and Tren de Aragua— as well as 13 Known Suspected Terrorists (KSTs)
These are the type of savage individuals Democratic politicians and rioters are defending over American victims
The violence against DHS law enforcement must end
Our brave ICE officers, who put their lives on the line every day to defend America, are facing a nearly 700 percent increase in assaults against them
This week, violent protestors attacked ICE officers while conducting targeted enforcement operations in San Francisco
Last month, Portland rioters violently targeted law enforcement and stormed an ICE field office
“On Independence Day, a group of approximately 15 rioters violently attacked and shot at the brave law enforcement operating ICE Prairieland Detention Center that houses monsters including pedophiles, human traffickers, murderers and terrorists,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin
“And yet, these violent rioters are attacking our law enforcement who are keeping Americans safe and these deprecated individuals out of American communities
Secretary Noem has made it clear: If you threaten or attempt to harm a law enforcement officer, we will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law
Headline: Five New Counties Eligible for FEMA Disaster Assistance
Five New Counties Eligible for FEMA Disaster Assistance
AUSTIN, Texas – Homeowners and renters in Burnet, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis and Williamson counties are now eligible for FEMA disaster assistance after the severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding that began July 2
FEMA and the State of Texas may be able to help with serious disaster-related needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs and personal property loss
Previously, Kerr County was designated for FEMA assistance, meaning survivors with losses in Kerr County could apply even if they do not live in the county or in Texas
Survivors with homeowners’, renters and flood insurance are encouraged to file a claim with their insurance carrier as soon as possible
By law, FEMA cannot provide funding for losses covered by your insurance
If your policy does not cover all disaster expenses, you may be eligible for federal assistance
There are several ways to apply
The fastest way is to go to DisasterAssistance
gov
You may also use the FEMA App for mobile devices or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362
Lines are open daily from 6 a
m
to 10 p
m
CT
If you use a relay service, captioned telephone or other service, you can give FEMA your number for that service
Helpline operators speak many languages
Press 2 for Spanish
You may also visit a Disaster Recovery Center to receive in-person assistance
A recovery center is open from 8 a
m
to 7 p
m
daily at First Baptist Church, 625 Washington St
, Kerrville, TX 78028
As more Disaster Recovery Centers open, you may find one closer to you by using your ZIP code to search FEMA
gov/DRC
To view an accessible video on how to apply, visit: Three Ways to Register for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube
For the latest information about the Texas recovery, visit fema
Sixty years ago, NASA’s Mariner 4 captured groundbreaking views of the Red Planet, leading to a steady stream of advances in the cameras used to study other worlds. In 1965, NASA’s Mariner 4 mission brought Mars into American living rooms, where TV sets showed fuzzy black-and-white images of a cratered landscape. The spacecraft took 21 complete pictures — the first ever captured of another planet — as it flew by as close as 6,118 miles (9,846 kilometers) above the surface. The mission team couldn’t wait to see what the camera aboard the spacecraft would return. When the actual images were delayed, they went so far as to create a color-by-numbers image, assigning hues to specific values in the data. Their handiwork wasn’t far off, and the barren landscape Mariner 4 captured ignited the imaginations of future scientists and engineers who would go on to work on a succession of missions, each revealing Mars in a way it had never been seen before. Millions of Mars images have been taken since then, many of which are captivating in their own way. The images that follow highlight some of the “firsts” in the way the agency has used imaging to help unlock the secrets of Mars. Viking 1 Sets Foot on Mars July 20, 1976
Viking 1 became the first spacecraft to touch down on Mars on July 20, 1976. The first high-resolution image it sent to Earth captured a dry, rocky landscape that dashed any hope among scientists of discovering life on the surface. But the crisp images that followed from the lander’s 360-degree cylindrical scan camera underscored the scientific value of seeing Mars from the ground and generated excitement for a more ambitious visit: a robotic spacecraft that could drive across this alien world. Portrait of Mars by Viking 1 Orbiter 1980
When the twin Viking landers arrived at Mars, each descended from an orbiter that used cameras to map Mars in a way Earth-based telescopes couldn’t. They began capturing images before the landers even touched down, continuing until 1980. That year, the Viking 1 orbiter captured images that were later stitched into a defining portrait of Valles Marineris — the “Grand Canyon of Mars.” Sojourner Starts to Explore July 5, 1997
By the time NASA returned to the Martian surface in 1997 with the Pathfinder lander and its microwave-oven-size Sojourner rover, much had changed on Earth since Mariner 4’s images beamed to TV viewers: Now, the internet was bringing around-the-clock news to personal computers, allowing a young generation of space fans to witness the tentative first steps of a new form of planetary exploration. The panoramic images from the ground were the first since Viking and, as part of NASA’s “faster, better, cheaper” initiative, offered more detail and a comparatively lower cost. Opportunity Spots Passing Dust Devil March 31, 2016
In 2004, NASA’s golf-cart-size twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity set down on the Red Planet, beginning a new phase of Martian exploration. Equipped with both mast-mounted panoramic and arm-mounted microscopic imagers, the roving spacecraft let scientists, engineers, and the world discover new terrain each day. They captured colorful views of Martian vistas and revealed details of pebble-size “blueberries.” Mars was beginning to feel less like an unfamiliar world than a place with recognizable landmarks. MRO’s HiRISE Views Victoria Crater July 18, 2009
Since Viking, a series of increasingly advanced orbiters have arrived at Mars with new science tools and cameras. Using increasingly sophisticated imagers, they have mapped the planet’s hills and valleys, identified significant minerals, and found buried glaciers. A camera that has been in operation aboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter since 2006, the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) frequently captures individual dunes, boulders, and craters, as with this picture of Victoria Crater, revealing features that had been blurry in previous images. The camera has also identified landing sites and places where future rovers (perhaps even astronauts) could explore. Curiosity, Perseverance Bring More Cameras and Color Aug. 5, 2012 and Feb. 18, 2021
Both Curiosity and Perseverance arrived at Mars (in 2012 and 2021, respectively) loaded with cameras that pack millions of pixels into their images and peer farther into the distance than Spirit or Opportunity ever could. They also feature upgraded arm-mounted cameras for studying fine details like sand particles and rock textures. Perseverance took a step beyond Curiosity in several ways, including with high-speed cameras that showed its parachute deploying and its rocket-powered jetpack flying away during entry, descent, and landing on Mars. Another advance can be seen in each vehicle’s hazard-avoidance cameras, which help rover drivers spot rocks they might bump into. As seen in the first images each rover sent back, Curiosity’s black-and-white cameras were upgraded to color and higher resolution for Perseverance, providing clearer views of the surface. Ingenuity Spots Perseverance at Belva Crater Aug. 22, 2023
Just as Pathfinder brought the tiny Sojourner rover to Mars, NASA’s next-generation Perseverance rover carried the Ingenuity helicopter. Along with proving flight in Mars’ thin air was possible, Ingenuity used a commercial, off-the-shelf color camera to take aerial views over the course of 72 flights. During one of those flights, Ingenuity even spotted Perseverance in the distance — another first on the Red Planet. Future Mars helicopters might be able to scout paths ahead and find scientifically interesting sites for robots and astronauts alike. More About These Missions NASA JPL, which is managed for the agency by Caltech in Pasadena, California, built Mariner 4, the Viking 1 and 2 orbiters, Pathfinder, Sojourner, Spirit and Opportunity, Curiosity, Perseverance, and Ingenuity. It continues to operate Curiosity and Perseverance. Lockheed Martin Space in Denver built MRO and supports its operations, while JPL manages the mission. The University of Arizona, in Tucson, operates HiRISE, which was built by BAE Systems, in Boulder, Colorado. The Viking 1 and 2 landers were built by Martin Marietta; the Viking program was managed by NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. JPL led operations for the Viking landers and orbiters. News Media Contacts Andrew GoodJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.818-393-2433andrew.c.good@jpl.nasa.gov Karen Fox / Molly WasserNASA Headquarters, Washington202-358-1600karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / molly.l.wasser@nasa.gov 2025-088
NASA astronaut Shannon Walker retired July 10, concluding a career that spanned 38 years, including 30 years of federal service and more than 21 years as an astronaut. During two spaceflights, she spent 330 days in orbit, contributing to hundreds of scientific experiments and technology demonstrations for the benefit of humanity. Walker served as a mission specialist during NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station in 2020, the first crewed operational Dragon spacecraft flight. She also was the first woman to fly aboard a Dragon spacecraft. Once aboard the orbiting laboratory, Walker joined the Expedition 64/65 crew and briefly commanded Expedition 65, logging 167 days in space before returning to Earth in May 2021. She spent 163 days in space during her first spaceflight in 2010 as a member of the space station’s Expedition 24/25 crew. She was the pilot of the Soyuz TMA-19, which became the first crew to dock with the station’s Rassvet module. “Shannon’s dedication to human space exploration has left an incredible impact, not just here in Houston, but across the industry,” said Steve Koerner, acting director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “Her leadership and guidance will be missed immensely, but she leaves behind a legacy of excellence that will continue to inspire the next generation of explorers for decades to come.” Most recently, Walker served as the deputy chief of the Astronaut Office. She also oversaw the 2021 class of astronaut candidates, supervising their training and graduation in 2024. “Shannon and I were a part of the same astronaut class back when we first started,” said Joe Acaba, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA Johnson. “She has been a great friend to me ever since and a great leader within the Astronaut Office. I could not imagine a better partner by my side when, nearly 20 years later, we’d become chief and deputy chief. She has undoubtedly been a positive influence on this office, and her retirement is well-deserved.” Walker began her career as a flight controller in the Mission Control Center at NASA Johnson, supporting several shuttle missions. She next worked in the International Space Station Program Office, helping to develop, build, and integrate hardware for the space station. In the early days of the space station, she returned to mission control, leading the engineering team responsible for the space station’s technical health. She was selected as an astronaut in 2004. After completing her initial two years of training, she served as a crew support astronaut and worked as a capsule communicator, or capcom. She also held leadership positions within the several branches of the Astronaut Office focused on International Space Station operations, crew Soyuz missions, and supporting astronauts with flight assignments. She also commanded the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations project, or NEEMO 15 underwater mission. “I had always known I wanted to be an astronaut when I grew up, but looking back on the past 38 years, I never would have imagined how many adventures my career would take me on,” said Walker. “I feel fortunate to have been able to work with people all over the world in the pursuit of space exploration. I have seen a lot of change in the evolution of human spaceflight, and I know the future is in good hands with all the talented people we have here and the generations yet to come.” The Houston native attended Rice University in her hometown, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in physics, followed by a master’s degree and doctorate in space physics. Learn more about how NASA explores the unknown and innovates for the benefit of humanity at: https://www.nasa.gov/ -end- Chelsey Ballarte Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 Chelsey.n.ballarte@nasa.gov
What you need to know: Californians are strongly encourage to us state and local resources to protect themselves from heat illness as triple digit temperatures move across our state.
SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom is encouraging Californians to prepare for dangerous heat throughout California, and smoky conditions in the far northern part of the state, today through early next week.
The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories in many portions of the state on Friday and Saturday, extending through Sunday in parts of the Central Valley. In Northern California, areas west of Redding are under Extreme Heat Warnings due to triple digit temperatures that are expected to linger into the first part of next week. Air quality will also be impacted due to smoke from several wildfires burning in remote California and Oregon locations.
“As temperatures soar across our state, I urge Californians to take precautions and utilize state and local resources to protect from dangerous heat illness and unhealthy air.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
CalHeatScore map results from Friday, July 11, 2025
The recently launched CalHeatScore heat-ranking tool indicates much of northern and central California will be impacted by moderate to severe heat conditions through Monday, with some areas feeling the heat through Wednesday. Residents can check their area by zip code for local conditions.
Here are a few tips and considerations for Californians – especially those with access and functional needs, children, and older residents – to stay safe from heat and reduce health risks:
Have a heat plan
Monitor weather forecasts and advisories to know when excessive heat is expected and how long it’s expected to last. Create a heat plan and encourage others to stay safe during a heat event.
Keep cool
Visit a local cooling center or air-conditioned space, such as a library, community center or shopping center. If you’re unable to travel or find an air-conditioned space, consider the following at home:
Close windows, doors, shades and curtains to prevent hot air and sunlight from entering your home during high heat days.
Place a cool, damp towel on the back of your neck and wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothes.
Use cool compresses and take a cool shower or bath to help reduce body temperature and provide relief from the heat.
Use your support networks
Identify individuals in your life, such as family, friends and neighbors, who could help support you during heat events.
Remember, creating an emergency preparedness plan based on your personal needs is critical to ensure you and your loved ones remain safe during an emergency.
Sign up for alerts and notifications
Sign up for emergency alerts with your county or local officials. You can choose how to get alerts sent to you when you sign up, including cell phone, home phone, email, text messages and, in some cases, TTY devices.
Sign up for a medical baseline program, an assistance program for people who depend on power for certain medical needs. Participation is important to ensure you receive additional notification of current or upcoming power shutoff events, which may occur during extreme heat events.
Press releases, Recent news
Recent news
Jul 11, 2025
News What you need to know: Governor Newsom is announcing that the California Employment Development Department is awarding $11 million to help six California organizations connect underserved adults — including veterans, people with disabilities, and at-risk young…
Jul 11, 2025
News What you need to know: As part of California’s strategy to combat homelessness and expand housing, Governor Gavin Newsom is reorganizing state agencies to institutionalize housing, homelessness, and affordability as long-term priorities. The reorganization…
Jul 10, 2025
News What you need to know: To help mark Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, the First Partner visits an apprenticeship program that is helping opportunity youth—including women of color—break into careers in Hollywood’s below-the-line workforce. LOS ANGELES—First Partner…
DBEDT NEWS RELEASE: Hawai’i Tourism Authority Advisory Board Applications Open
Posted on Jul 11, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom
STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI
JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR
KE KIAʻĀINA
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANDTOURISM
KA ʻOIHANA HOʻOMOHALA PĀʻOIHANA, ʻIMI WAIWAI A HOʻOMĀKAʻIKAʻI
JAMES KUNANE TOKIOKA
DIRECTOR
KA LUNA HOʻOKELE
HAWAI‘I TOURISM AUTHORITY ADVISORY BOARD APPLICATIONS OPEN
State Boards and Commissions Seeking Applicants
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 11, 2025
HONOLULU – The state of Hawai‘i Office of Boards and Commissions is seeking individuals interested in serving on the advisory board for the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), a state agency administratively attached to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT).
Per Act 132, the HTA shall be headed by an advisory board of directors that shall consist of 12 members including at least one representative each from the city and county of Honolulu and the counties of Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i and Maui. At least six members shall have knowledge, experience and expertise in the area of accommodations, transportation, retail, entertainment, or attractions, and at least one member shall represent a tourism-impacted entity. At least one member appointed by the Governor shall have knowledge, experience and expertise in the area of Hawaiian cultural practices. Members appointed by the Governor are subject to advice and consent of the state Senate.
Interested applicants are invited to apply online through the Governor’s boards and commissions portal (https://boards.hawaii.gov/apply/apply-for-a-board/).
About the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority is the state agency responsible for representing the Hawaiian Islands around the world — and for holistically managing tourism in a sustainable manner consistent with community desires, economic goals, cultural values, preservation of natural resources and visitor industry needs. HTA works with the community and industry to mālama Hawaiʻi — care for our beloved home. For more information about HTA, visit hawaiitourismauthority.org or follow @HawaiiHTA on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and X.
About the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism
DBEDT is Hawai‘i’s resource center for economic and statistical data, business development opportunities, energy and conservation information, as well as foreign trade advantages. DBEDT’s mission is to achieve a Hawai‘i economy that embraces innovation and is globally competitive, dynamic and productive, providing opportunities for all Hawai‘i’s citizens. Through its attached agencies, the department fosters planned community development, creates affordable workforce housing units in high-quality living environments and promotes innovation-sector job growth.
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Media Contacts:
Laci Goshi
Communications Officer
Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, State of Hawai‘i
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
BEIJING, June 14 — Army special operations troops of China and Serbia will carry out Peace Guardian 2025 joint training in North China’s Hebei Province in the second half of July, said Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, at a press briefing on Monday.
“This will be the first joint training between Chinese and Serbian militaries. It will help strengthen combat capabilities of participating troops and deepen cooperation between the two militaries,” he stated.
Headline: Verizon donates $10,000 to aid New Mexico flood relief, benefit local nonprofit
RUIDOSO, N.M – As a New Mexico mountain community begins to clean up following a devastating flash flood, Verizon is supporting relief efforts in the community with a $10,000 donation to the Community Foundation of Lincoln County. This New Mexico-based organization provides resources for local residents and this donation will go towards their shelter fund to provide assistance with temporary housing and repairs.
“We are here for the Ruidoso community, our hearts break for the lives that were lost and the families they leave behind,” said Aimee Novak, Mountain Market President at Verizon. “Our teams have been committed to helping New Mexico residents during recent natural disasters, from supporting first responders during recent wildfires to aiding current flooding recovery efforts through this donation.”
New Mexico’s governor issued a State of Emergency but despite the recent destruction, Verizon’s network remains operational.
Verizon supported community and first responders during previous wildfires
According to officials, recent wildfires and burn scars contributed to the flooding. Verizon supported public safety officials during last year’s wildfires in Ruidoso and the surrounding area by deploying several temporary assets to aid first responders with critical communications. Verizon has a fleet of more than 550 mobile assets ready to rapidly deploy and deliver essential services during natural disasters like the wildfires in New Mexico.
Satellite communication provides critical connectivity during disasters
Disasters like this are a good reminder that when services are impacted by severe weather or people find themselves in very remote areas, satellite communication is now a crucial option. Customers with select Android and iOS devices on any Verizon myPlan can access satellite messaging and emergency SOS features, including location detection, for free. To learn more about satellite messaging: https://www.verizon.com/wireless-devices/smartphones/messages-via-satellite/.
Headline: Verizon donates $10,000 to aid New Mexico flood relief, benefit local nonprofit
RUIDOSO, N.M – As a New Mexico mountain community begins to clean up following a devastating flash flood, Verizon is supporting relief efforts in the community with a $10,000 donation to the Community Foundation of Lincoln County. This New Mexico-based organization provides resources for local residents and this donation will go towards their shelter fund to provide assistance with temporary housing and repairs.
“We are here for the Ruidoso community, our hearts break for the lives that were lost and the families they leave behind,” said Aimee Novak, Mountain Market President at Verizon. “Our teams have been committed to helping New Mexico residents during recent natural disasters, from supporting first responders during recent wildfires to aiding current flooding recovery efforts through this donation.”
New Mexico’s governor issued a State of Emergency but despite the recent destruction, Verizon’s network remains operational.
Verizon supported community and first responders during previous wildfires
According to officials, recent wildfires and burn scars contributed to the flooding. Verizon supported public safety officials during last year’s wildfires in Ruidoso and the surrounding area by deploying several temporary assets to aid first responders with critical communications. Verizon has a fleet of more than 550 mobile assets ready to rapidly deploy and deliver essential services during natural disasters like the wildfires in New Mexico.
Satellite communication provides critical connectivity during disasters
Disasters like this are a good reminder that when services are impacted by severe weather or people find themselves in very remote areas, satellite communication is now a crucial option. Customers with select Android and iOS devices on any Verizon myPlan can access satellite messaging and emergency SOS features, including location detection, for free. To learn more about satellite messaging: https://www.verizon.com/wireless-devices/smartphones/messages-via-satellite/.
Over the past six months, the headlines have been dominated by stories of fear, division and hatred.However, activists around the world are working away to ensure hope prevails. Here are some of the human rights wins we can be proud of from January to June 2025.
January
Afghanistan
In 2023, Amnesty International released a report on the Taliban’s war on women. Following its findings, the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor filed a request for arrest warrants against the Taliban’s Supreme Leader and their Chief Justice, citing crimes against humanity.
The request charges the Taliban’s Supreme Leader and their Chief Justice for gender persecution against women, girls, and LGBTI people since their return to power in August 2021. Although the warrants are still subject to the approval of ICC judges these are the first public arrest warrants sought by the ICC in Afghanistan since the country became a member of the court in 2003.
Cameroon
Dorgelesse Nguessan was released on 16 January after spending more than four years in prison for participating in a protest. The hairdresser and single mother had never been politically active yet joined a protest after growing concerned about the high cost of living. She was charged with insurrection, tried by a military court and sentenced to five years in prison on 7 December 2021.
I thank those who directly or indirectly work for your organization and contributed to my release.
Dorgelesse Nguessan
Dorgelesse was part of Amnesty International’s 2022 Write for Rights campaign, where thousands of supporters called for her release. Amnesty also provided short-term relief support to assist Dorgelesse and her family through the difficult moments of her detention. On 16 January, the Court of Appeal reduced her sentence.
“I thank you for all the efforts you have devoted as I was arbitrarily detained,” said Dorgelesse. “I thank those who directly or indirectly work for your organization and contributed to my release.”
Chile
On 2 January, two police [Carabineros] officers were sentenced to prison for shooting activist Renzo Inostroza and blinding him in one eye. The court concluded that their actions violated both Chile’s national regulations and international obligations. This conviction set a judicial precedent in the struggle to ensure the Chilean justice system pursues criminal responsibility for the unlawful actions of the Carabineros. This conviction follows Amnesty’s landmark Eyes on Chile report, which analyzed patterns and individual cases of police violence during the social unrest that broke out in Chile in October 2019. Renzo’s case was part of the report.
Saudi Arabia
From January to February, Amnesty successfully campaigned for the release of several human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia. On 7 January, human rights defender and former prisoner of conscience, Mohammed al-Qahtani, was conditionally released after spending 12 years in prison for his human rights work. On 13 February, 47-year-old teacher Asaad bin Nasser al-Ghamdi was released from prison following an unfair trial before the notorious Specialized Criminal Court (SCC). Asaad was arrested in 2022 and initially sentenced to 20 years in prison for social media posts criticizing the government’s Vision 2030 programme. On 10 February 2025, Leeds University PhD student and mother of two, Salma al-Shehab, was released from prison after completing a four-year prison term following an unfair trial before the SCC. Following a grossly unfair trial, the SCC had convicted Salma al-Shehab of terrorism-related offences for publishing tweets in support of women’s rights.
USA
The United States sanctioned a number of companies involved in the transfer of weapons into Sudan and Darfur. These sanctions follow Amnesty’s innovative briefing, published in July 2024, that combined business trade data and video analysis to show how the constant import of foreign-manufactured arms into Sudan was fuelling relentless civilian suffering.
Amnesty International members long campaigned for the release of Native American activist Leonard Peltier and most recently called on President Biden to grant Leonard Peltier clemency on humanitarian grounds and as a matter of justice.
USA
Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist, was imprisoned for nearly 50 years in the USA for a crime he maintains he did not commit. There were serious concerns about the fairness of his trial and conviction. Tribal Nations, Nobel Peace Laureates, former FBI agents, numerous others, and even the former U.S. Attorney, James Reynolds, whose office handled the prosecution, have called for Leonard Peltier’s release. Amnesty International members had long campaigned for his release, and most recently called on President Biden to grant Leonard Peltier clemency on humanitarian grounds and as a matter of justice. In the final hour of his presidency, former President Biden commuted Peltier’s life sentence to home confinement. Amnesty recently offered him short-term relief support as he works to rebuild his life after his release.
February
Algeria
Thanks to sustained advocacy work from Amnesty International Algeria and several national women’s rights organizations, Algeria’s president Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced a series of concrete measures to combat violence against women – moving from commitment to action.
The Ministry of Solidarity has since launched a national toll-free helpline, available 24/7 across the country, enabling victims to report abuse, be referred to appropriate support services, and receive emergency assistance when in danger. It is already proving effective. A Guide for Women Victims of Violence has been published in Arabic and English and is currently being distributed nationwide. New legal measures, including the possibility of issuing an immediate restraining order against perpetrators of violence, have also been announced.
Benin
Thousands of Beninese families living in coastal areas have been living an endless nightmare, victims of forced evictions orchestrated in the name of tourism development. However, in February the authorities issued a public call for people awaiting proper compensation to come forward so their case can be followed up. The National Agency for Land and Property’s direct also asked Amnesty International for a list of people who have not received appropriate reparations.
The move follows the release of an Amnesty International report on forced evictions in Benin in December 2023 and a subsequent campaign calling for proper compensation for those who have been unfairly evicted, which proved vital in securing this positive outcome.
Thank you all very much. Without your help, we could not have saved my husband.
Zaynura Hasan
Amnesty International had been campaigning for his freedom since he was initially detained in July 2021. Zaynura Hasan, Idris’ wife, thanked the organization for the relentless support.
“Thank you all very much. Without your help, we could not have saved my husband.”
Serbia
Recent research by Amnesty International’s Security Lab and European Regional Office documented how Serbian police and intelligence authorities are using advanced phone spyware alongside mobile phone forensic products to unlawfully target journalists, environmental activists and other individuals in a covert surveillance campaign.
In a significant human rights win, Cellebrite (a company specialising in digital intelligence and forensics) announced it will stop the use of its digital forensic equipment for some of its customers in Serbia as a direct result of Amnesty’s research. Simultaneously, Serbia’s Prosecutor for High Technological Crime, the Ombudsman and Data Protection Commissioner started separate investigations based on the research findings.
Senegal
In a positive step forward, the Senegalese government invited Amnesty International to provide support and assistance for people who have been arrested for participating in protests, as well as former detainees.
Since 2021, Amnesty International has denounced the unlawful use of force by security forces during protests, compiled a list of those who have been killed, and condemned the arbitrary detention of hundreds of people for having called for or participated in protests. According to figures gathered by Amnesty International and other civil society organizations, at least 65 people were killed, the majority by firearms, with at least 1,000 wounded. A further 2,000 people were arrested.
Amnesty International continues to call for the repeal of the amnesty law adopted by the former government, for justice and reparation for the victims and their family members.
Taner Kılıç, a refugee rights lawyer and former Chair of Amnesty International’s Türkiye section, was finally acquitted after nearly eight years of judicial proceedings.
Türkiye
Taner Kılıç, a refugee rights lawyer and former Chair of Amnesty International’s Türkiye section, was finally acquitted after nearly eight years of judicial proceedings.
Arrested in June 2017 and imprisoned for over 14 months, he was unjustly convicted in 2020 despite no credible evidence. He faced more than six years in prison for “membership of a terrorist organization”. Amnesty provided relief support to him and his family as they navigated the difficulty of his imprisonment.
Reflecting on the case, Taner said: “This nightmare that has gone on for almost eight years is finally over… The only thing I was sure of throughout this process was that I was right and innocent, and the support from all over the world gave me strength. I thank each and every one who stood up for me.”
In a landmark ruling, Brazilian actor Juan Darthés was found guilty for the rape of Argentinian actress Thelma Fardin. Amnesty provided legal and psychosocial support to Thelma.
Latin America
In a landmark ruling for women’s rights in Latin America, a Brazilian court convicted actor Juan Darthés of sexual violence against Argentine actress Thelma Fardin, who accused him in 2018 of abusing her when she was 16. Amnesty provided support for transport related costs, and psychosocial support for Thelma throughout her case. The sentence sets an important precedent for sexual violence cases in the region.
After a five-year legal battle across three countries, Thelma stated: “Today I can look my 16-year-old self in the eye and say we did it.”
Philippines
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by police on the basis of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.
Thousands of people, mostly from poor and marginalized communities, were unlawfully killed by the police – or by armed individuals suspected to have links to the police – during Duterte’s so-called “war on drugs”. Amnesty has been calling for his arrest for a number of years and described it as “a long-awaited and monumental step for justice”. He is now due to stand trial at the ICC.
Sierra Leone
Hawa Hunt, a reality TV star, was freed from detention on 4 March and cleared of all the cybercrime related charges against her. She was arrested on live television in December 2024 and charged with insulting the President and First Lady in a social media video.
Amnesty International called on authorities to release her and to ensure her rights were upheld.
Her daughter Alicia said: “In one of the very few phone calls I was able to have with my mother as she was in jail, I told her how Amnesty International spoke up for her. She and our whole family were very touched by the support. We believe it played a very key role in her being released.”
Since May 1995, the Saturday Mothers have held peaceful weekly protests demanding justice for relatives forcibly disappeared in the eighties and nineties.
Türkiye
Since May 1995, the Saturday Mothers have held regular peaceful protests at Galatasaray Square every Saturday, demanding justice for relatives forcibly disappeared in the eighties and nineties. Their 700th vigil on 25 August 2018 was banned and violently dispersed by police using tear gas and water cannons.
Forty-six people were detained and later released, but in 2020, they were prosecuted for “attending illegal meetings and marches without weapons and not dispersing despite warnings”.
Thanks to the determination of the Saturday Mothers and their supporters – including Amnesty International who provided legal aid – all were acquitted in March 2025.
USA
On March 17, US immigration authorities detained Alberto, the father of a Venezuelan family of four, separating him from his wife and two children. Despite the family having pending asylum applications, he was charged with “illegal” entry to the United States. His case was an example of the Trump administration’s use of a provision of immigration law to target individuals and families that have been in the United States for years, rather than recent arrivals at the US-Mexico border. On April 21, 2025, Alberto was granted bond and released from ICE detention, following calls from Amnesty International and reunited with his wife and two children.
May
Chile
Romario Veloz was shot and killed by an army captain during social unrest in La Serena, Chile, in 2019. The police officer who shot Romario Veloz was imprisoned in May 2025 – setting a precedent in cases of human rights violations committed by state agents. Despite the victory, widespread impunity for police violence continues. Romario was also part of Amnesty’s Eyes on Chile investigation (2020). Amnesty provided support to Romario’s young child, helping her access education as well as covering the legal expenses for the family’s quest to seek justice.
Alongside the report, Amnesty was part of the Advisory Unit for Police Reform, wrote letters to the Chilean president and gave numerous media interviews on police violence. Amnesty Chile’s relentless campaigning paid off and helped to stop the implementation of the use of tasers by Chilean police forces.
Côte d’Ivoire
On 7 May, Ghislain Duggary Assy, Communications Secretary of the Movement of Teachers for the Dignity Dynamic union, was provisionally released pending his trial, due to international pressure from Amnesty International. A month earlier, he had been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment solely for having called for strike action in primary and secondary schools.
Amnesty International condemned the flagrant violation of workers’ rights, in particular the right to strike and freedom of association and will continue to call for his unconditional release.
Greece
Two years ago, the Pylos shipwreck led to the death of more than 600 people. Now, 17 Greek coastguard officers face charges in connection with it, including causing a shipwreck, exposure to danger and failure to provide assistance. These developments may pave the way towards accountability for the worst shipwreck in the Mediterranean in recent years.
Amnesty has been calling for justice through sustained advocacy and campaigning.
Türkiye
Afghan asylum seeker Tabriz Saifi is blind due to chronic diabetes and relies on dialysis three times a week. However, his international protection application was rejected by the Turkish authorities on 28 February, which meant he no longer had access to life-saving healthcare. Amnesty International immediately launched an urgent action, calling for the decision to be reversed.
On 2 May, his family was informed that the decision had been reversed and that his asylum seeker status had been reinstated, along with full access to free healthcare.
Girls and women support the right to abortion in Argentina.
Argentina
An Argentine private health insurer was fined over $4,000 USD for denying a legal abortion to a woman whose pregnancy posed serious health risks — a clear violation of the country’s reproductive rights law.
Amnesty International Argentina provided legal advice and stressed that rulings like this reinforce the need to guarantee access to legal abortion as a right, not an exception subject to individual or institutional discretion.
Council of Europe
Following sustained advocacy by Amnesty International and the Omega Research Foundation, the Council of Europe’s Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) adopted a report on measures against the trade in goods used for death penalty, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Georgia
After months of public pressure, protests and legal action, the Georgian Ministry of Justice announced it would end the humiliating practice of fully stripping detainees during body searches.
The decision followed a lawsuit from the Public Defender in February, a report from Amnesty International condemning the practice as degrading and unlawful, as well as a video featuring Georgian artist and activist Kristina Botkoveli, who was subjected to a forced strip search, harassment, and threats after participating in protests.
Following calls from Amnesty International and other organizations, the revised Sámi Parliament Act has now been approved by the Finnish parliament.
Finland
The Sámi are a group of Indigenous people that come from the region of Sápmi, which stretches across the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Kola peninsula in Russia.
For a number of years, they have been subjected to human rights violations. However, following calls from Amnesty International and other organizations, the revised Sámi Parliament Act has now been approved by the Finnish parliament.
The amended Act strengthens Indigenous Sámi people’s right to self-determination and improves the way in which the Sámi Parliament operates. It also corrects human rights violations highlighted by international human rights treaty bodies.
Hungary
On 28 June, Budapest Pride proceeded despite restrictive anti-Pride laws and police targeting the march. Around 200,000 people, including over 280 Amnesty International activists and staff from Hungary and 22 other countries, peacefully demanded equality and assembly rights. This was Budapest’s largest Pride in 30 years, symbolizing strong public resistance to discrimination and highlighting the resilience of Hungary’s LGBTI community. Amnesty’s Let Pride March campaign helped raise awareness, mobilize activists, and urged police to respect peaceful protest. With over 120,000 global actions supporting the event – it demonstrated that solidarity can overcome oppression, though challenges for LGBTI rights in Hungary persist.
Activists and speakers – including King Okabi of the Ogale community – call for an end to Shell’s pollution of the Niger Delta and compensation outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, on day one of the Ogale and Bille communities vs Shell trial, 13 February 2025.
Nigeria/UK
After a decade-long fight for justice, a UK court ruled that Shell can be held liable for the oil spills and leaks it has failed to clean up in the Niger Delta – regardless of how long ago they happened.
The judgement is an important step towards justice for communities in the Niger Delta and a vital opportunity to make Shell pay for the devastating pollution it has caused to the Ogale and Bille communities’ lands.
In parallel with this decision, the Nigerian government also pardoned the Ogoni Nine. The group of activists, led by Ken Saro-Wiwa, Nigerian author and campaigner, were executed 30 years ago by a government that wanted to hide the crimes of Shell and other oil companies that were destroying the lives and livelihoods of tens of thousands of people across the Niger Delta.
Amnesty has been supporting and campaigning for justice for the Ogoni Nine for years and documenting the destruction Shell has left behind through a series of powerful reports. While these are positive outcomes, much more needs to be done to ensure justice is achieved for communities in the Niger Delta, including holding Shell and other oil companies to account for the damage they have done and continue to do – and Amnesty will be there every step of the way!
Ukraine
On 24 June, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset signed an agreement establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine in Strasbourg, following calls from Amnesty International and others. It is hoped this will help hold perpetrators of the crime of aggression accountable.
Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and student organizer who recently graduated from Columbia University, was targeted for his role in student protests at Columbia University.
USA
On March 9, US immigration authorities unlawfully arrested and arbitrarily detained Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist, lawful permanent resident of the USA, and student organizer who recently graduated from Columbia University. Mahmoud was targeted for his role in student protests at Columbia University, where he was exercising his rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. He was not charged with a crime yet was held in a detention centre, told that his permanent residency status was “revoked”, and placed in deportation proceedings. Amnesty International demanded that authorities release Mahmoud immediately and respect his rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and due process. After 104 days in a Louisiana immigration detention centre, Mahmoud Khalil was released on bail in June 21, however he’s still facing threats of deportation by US authorities. He has since filed a $20 million USD lawsuit against the Trump administration.
Global warming has picked up pace since around 2010, leading to the recent string of record warm years. Why this is happening is still unclear, and among the biggest questions in climate science today. Our new study reveals that reductions in air pollution – particularly in China and east Asia – are a key reason for this faster warming.
Cleanup of sulphur emissions from global shipping has been implicated in past research. But that cleanup only began in 2020, so it’s considered too weak to explain the full extent of this acceleration. Nasa researchers have suggested that changes in clouds could play a role, either through reductions in cloud cover in the tropics or over the North Pacific.
One factor that has not been well quantified, however, is the effect of monumental efforts by countries in east Asia, notably China, to combat air pollution and improve public health through strict air quality policies. There has already been a 75% reduction in east Asian sulphur dioxide emissions since around 2013, and that cleanup effort picked up pace just as global warming began accelerating.
Our study addresses the link between east Asian air quality improvements and global temperature, building on the efforts of eight teams of climate modellers across the world.
We have found that polluted air may have been masking the full effects of global warming. Cleaner air could now be revealing more of the human-induced global warming from greenhouse gases.
In addition to causing millions of premature deaths, air pollution shields the Earth from sunlight and therefore cools the surface. There has been so much air pollution that it has held human-induced warming in check by up to 0.5°C over the last century.
With the cleanup of air pollution, something that’s vital for human health, this artificial sunshade is removed. Since greenhouse gas emissions have kept on increasing, the result is that the Earth’s surface is warming faster than ever before.
Modelling the cleanup
Our team used 160 computer simulations from eight global climate models. This enabled us to better quantify the effects that east Asian air pollution has on global temperature and rainfall patterns. We simulated a cleanup of pollution similar to what has happened in the real world since 2010. We found an extra global warming of around 0.07°C.
While this is a small number compared with the full global warming of around 1.3°C since 1850, it is still enough to explain the recent acceleration in global warming when we take away year-to-year swings in temperature from natural cycles such as El Niño, a climate phenomenon in the Pacific that affects weather patterns globally.
Based on long-term trends, we would have expected around 0.23°C of warming since 2010. However, we actually measured around 0.33°C. While the additional 0.1°C can largely be explained by the east Asian air pollution cleanup, other factors include the change in shipping emissions and the recent accelerated increase in methane concentrations in the atmosphere.
Air pollution causes cooling by reflecting sunlight or by changing the properties of clouds so they reflect more sunlight. The cleanup in east Asian air pollution influences global temperatures because it reduces the shading effect of the pollution over east Asia itself. It also means less pollution is blown across the north Pacific, causing clouds in the east Pacific to reflect less sunlight.
The pattern of these changes across the North Pacific simulated in our models matches that seen in satellite observations. Our models and temperature observations also show relatively strong warming over the North Pacific, downwind from east Asia.
The main source of global warming is still greenhouse gas emissions, and a cleanup of air pollution was both necessary and overdue. This did not cause the additional warming but rather, removed an artificial cooling that has for a time helped shield us from some of the extreme weather and other well-established consequences of climate change.
Global warming will continue for decades. Indeed, our past and future emissions of greenhouse gases will affect the climate for centuries. However, air pollution is quickly removed from the atmosphere, and the recent acceleration in global warming from this particular unmasking may therefore be short-lived.
Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
Laura Wilcox receives funding from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Research Council of Norway, the Clean Air Fund, and Horizon Europe.
Bjørn H. Samset receives funding from the Research Council of Norway, the Clean Air Fund, and Horizon Europe.
Last year we know that we fell short of expectations in some areas of The Darley Park Weekender. We want you to know that we’ve listened, that your feedback is valued, and that we’ve committed to making changes to improve the customer experience.
Your safety and enjoyment are our top priorities at The Darley Park Weekender. To ensure a secure and fun experience for everyone, including other park users, we have important safety measures and restrictions in place.
You said: Queues were slow at the event entrance on Sunday, and the increased security checks seemed excessive. We did: We’ll have more security lanes open during peak times to keep delays to a minimum. There’s entertainment on stage as soon as the gates open, so please consider getting here earlier on, when queues should be shorter to minimise your wait.
You said: Security at the event entrance asked for the contents of flasks and kids juice bottles to be poured away. We did: Whilst we can’t allow filled flasks and unsealed soft drinks on site, we are providing access to hot water for you to fill your flasks on site, as well as our usual provision of cold water, all available for free. Empty plastic bottles or sealed soft drinks are still allowed. If you need to bring unsealed baby milk/formula please contact us ahead of the event.
You said: Bar queues were long and slow, some of you missed getting back to see acts on stage. We did: We’ve got bigger bars, more serving points, and cocktails (which can take longer to make) will be available from separate serving points.
You said: The Sunday fireworks display was poor, not as good as previous years. We did: We are investing in improved pyrotechnics for this year’s display.
You said: No trolleys were allowed on site and there was no trolley park outside the entrance. We did: Whilst we can’t admit trolleys to the site, we will have a trolley park outside the event entrance, to allow transportation of items for those who need it. Please note trolleys are left at your own risk. We understand some people may need assistance. If you have specific access needs, including the use of a trolley or other aid, please email us before the event at derbylive@derby.gov.uk. We’ll assess each request individually and do our best to help. We also have an access entrance and wheelchair platform that allows for customers to have an improved view of the stage and hard-standing access to the site.
You said: Water ran out on wash bays near the toilets. We did: We will ensure they are more regularly checked, cleaned and have water available.
You said: Some of you felt sound was poor on Sunday and you couldn’t hear from the zones furthest away from the stage. We did: Sound technicians are aware of the cause of this issue and will adjust levels accordingly. We will also monitor sound levels at regular intervals throughout the concert.
Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council and Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, said:
The Darley Park Weekender is one of Derby’s most exciting events, and we’re committed to making it the best and most enjoyable experience for everyone.
We’ve listened to your feedback from last year’s event, and our teams have worked hard to implement changes that will make a real difference. Come along and join us for an even better event this year!
The Darley Park Weekender is back for summer 2025, with three days of musical entertainment, set against the backdrop of the beautiful Darley Park.
80s Mix Tape returns on Fri 29 Aug with Bananarama, Haircut 100, The Fizz, Gary Davies and Cassette Roulette. Ultimate 90s follows on Sat 30 Aug, featuring poptastic icons Heather Small, East 17, 911, Damage, Mark Angels and Cassette Roulette. Rounding off the weekend on Sun 31 Aug is The Darley Park Concert, Derby’s annual spectacular evening of classical music, with Sinfonia Viva.
Save on tickets by buying in advance. Tickets bought in advance for 80s Mix Tape or Ultimate 90s are £27 for adults, £15 for children aged 5 -15 and under 5s are free. Tickets bought on the day are £38 for adults. £15 for ages 5-15 with under 5s free. Tickets bought in advance for The Darley Park Concert are £6 for adults and £3 for children aged 1 -15. Tickets bought on the day are £11 for adults and £6 for ages 1-15.
New for 2025, are VIP Darley Garden experience tickets. Enjoy access to our exclusive VIP area which has it’s own bar, toilets and a great view of the main stage. You can also beat the queues with your own fast track entry! VIP tickets for 80s Mix Tape or Ultimate 90s are £65, VIP tickets for The Darley Park Concert are £30.
Historic peatlands at the heart of the Industrial Revolution to become New National Nature Reserve
Network of 11 nature abundant lowland peat sites in between Liverpool and Manchester to become a King’s Series National Nature Reserve.
Risley, Holcroft and Chat Moss NNR
Site is home to vast peatland habitats, lizards, adder, and curlew
New reserve falls on the doorstep of urban communities in Warrington and Greater Manchester, giving 2.7 million people the opportunity to access nature within 10 miles of their homes
Ten thousand years in the making and launched today (Monday 14 July), the new Risley, Holcroft and Chat Moss National Nature Reserve will provide a destination for the people of Warrington and Greater Manchester to access nature-rich landscapes.
The newest addition under the King’s Series, this network of 11 sites from lowland raised bogs and fen, through to lowland heath, wet woodland and drier woodland habitats will be restored to provide homes for rare species, such as lapwings, curlew, sundew and adders.
After being at the centre of the industrial revolution, this area is becoming a leading example of nature recovery, through the restoration of some of our most important and precious habitats.
The peatlands in this area were created over a period of 10,000 years, since the last Ice Age, and now heavily degraded. Peatlands are a hugely important part of England’s natural environment. They act as the country’s lungs, storing more carbon than any other type of landscape, as well as holding huge amounts of water and preventing flooding around them. However, more than 80% of England’s peatlands are damaged, dried out or degraded with the majority of England’s lowland peat being intensively farmed.
These internationally important lowland peat habitats, which are over an area the size of 750 professional rugby pitches or 25 Trafford Centres, are being restored. This will help mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect the security and prosperity of communities in Warrington and Greater Manchester.
Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, said:
“This part of England led the world in industrial innovation and today it shows leadership in Nature recovery. Nature is vital for our health, wealth and security and this new reserve reveals the huge potential for meeting modern challenges through natural solutions. Spending time outdoors in natural settings is great for mental and physical wellbeing, the services provided by nature help prevent flooding, catch carbon and benefits the local economy.
“Supporting nature around urban areas creates better places to live and work, and this new reserve will allow the millions of people who live near it to experience nature at its best.”
Nature Minister Mary Creagh said:
“This beautiful landscape will now have the chance to recover and thrive, after centuries of damage, providing wonderful wild spaces for local people to enjoy.
“This Government is committed to turning the tide on nature’s decline after years of neglect as part of our plan for change. New National Nature Reserves deliver on our promise to improve access to nature and protect nature-rich habitats, such as peatlands.”
The deep lowland peat within this National Nature Reserve was degraded through drainage and peat cutting, damage which accelerated during the industrial revolution. The renowned engineer and ‘Father of Railways’ George Stephenson built a ‘floating’ railway line in 1830 through Chat Moss, between Liverpool and Manchester, the first intercity railway line in the world.
This made the region a trailblazer in nineteenth century industrial innovation, with the world-famous Stephenson’s Rocket travelling on the line, but also saw much of the peatland being opened to drainage. Now, the North West is following up its role as a leader in industry by taking the lead on nature recovery in this iconic landscape.
This is the 10th reserve to be launched as part of the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves, which will leave a lasting public legacy for people and nature with 25 new National Nature Reserves by 2027.
The new reserve, within the Great Manchester Wetlands, sits between the National Nature Reserves of Rostherne Mere to the south, the Flashes of Wigan and Leigh to the north, and links to the Bollin to Mersey Nature Recovery Project, creating a recovering network of wetland and woodland across the region.
The new reserve will be managed by Natural England, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Forestry England, The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside, Warrington Borough Council, Wigan Council and Woodland Trust.
This collaboration will enable the seven partners to join under one common purpose to enhance nature’s recovery, enhance climate resilience and Net Zero efforts providing vital wild greenspace, creating a network of bigger, better, joined-up wildlife-rich places.
The launch of this latest reserve in the King’s Series comes as part of a wider effort to drive forward nature recovery in the region. Based across 11 sites, the reserve is in the heart of the Great Manchester Wetlands, a 480 km2 nature recovery partnership restoring the wetlands of Salford, Warrington and Wigan.
Restoration work has been taking place at some of the sites since the 1980s, but this has accelerated since 2010 with the creation of the Great Manchester Wetlands Partnership. The programme has shown benefits for nature and people in the peatland landscape are possible over a short space in time.
The sites demonstrate a full range of lowland peat restoration from recently acquired arable/horticultural fields (Natural England’s Moss Side Farm) to former industrial and hand-cut peat extraction sites. There are bog and fen habitats in the early stages of recovery through to internationally protected lowland raised bog.
The new reserve will drive ongoing recovery of this landscape through a joined up approach to restoration, access and research. This will further support the net zero ambition of by Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the three Local Authorities of Salford, Warrington and Wigan.
QUOTES PACK
Warrington Borough Council Leader, Cllr Hans Mundry, said:
“It’s a great honour for Risley, Holcroft, and Chat Moss to receive this designation as a National Nature Reserve. It will strengthen our work, as partners, to protect the rich diversity of habitats and wildlife found here, including many rare species. At the same time, it will allow us to create more opportunities for people to discover and rediscover these beautiful, hidden landscapes and connect with nature and heritage.”
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Paul Mosley, Regional Comms and Engagement Manager for the Woodland Trust said
“It’s a pleasure to be part of this new national nature reserve with our woodland sites at Gorse Covert Mounds, Pestfurlong Moss and New Moss Wood. Recent landscaping and habitat management works at these sites has really helped to improve their biodiversity for wildlife and for the benefit of people who come to enjoy these fantastic spaces. Being part of the NNR will help to protect them now and in the future which is a great collaborative achievement.”
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Lancashire Wildlife Trust CEO, Tom Burditt, said:
“The peatlands are a hugely important for wildlife and for the environment – they were described as ‘the lungs of the UK’ by Tom Heap on Countryfile. So it’s only right that these mosses and the work that is being done to restore them receives this national recognition.”
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Charlotte Harris, CEO, Cheshire Wildlife Trust
“The designation of the Risley, Holcroft and Chat Moss National Nature Reserve marks a powerful moment for nature recovery in the North West. As a site owner at Holcroft Moss, we at Cheshire Wildlife Trust are proud to be part of this pioneering partnership — one that brings together landowners, communities, and conservation organisations under a shared vision for our landscape’s future.”
“This designation is more than a milestone — it’s a launchpad. It gives us a platform to secure long-term funding, engage more people, and embed nature recovery into local policy and planning. We thank Natural England and our partners for their leadership and look forward to delivering bold, landscape-scale impact in the years ahead.”
Stakeholders engage in hands-on exercises using the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities to assess resilience levels and identify priority actions.
From 17 to 19 June 2025, Capricorn District Municipality in South Africa hosted a three-day workshop on Urban Risk-Informed Development Planning and Making Cities Resilient 2030. The training was jointly organized by the municipality, Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Regional Office for Africa, under the GIZ Resilience Initiative Africa project.
Located in Limpopo Province, Capricorn faces multiple hazards such as floods, drought, wildfires, and heatwaves. This makes resilience planning not just relevant but critical. Through participatory exercises, government officials and local stakeholders worked to build their capacities and identify priority actions for disaster risk reduction (DRR).
Stakeholders were introduced to DRR frameworks to guide their understanding and action planning. This included a comprehensive orientation on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, which emphasizes the need for a multi-hazard, multi-sectoral approach to managing disaster risk, and the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) initiative, particularly its Ten Essentials for Making Cities Resilient. These frameworks served as the conceptual backbone for local resilience planning.
Participants were guided through the practical application of the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities, a diagnostic tool designed to measure urban resilience across critical sectors. Stakeholders collectively reviewed Capricorn District’s resilience performance, identifying strengths, gaps, and opportunities for improvement. The assessment provided a baseline to inform strategic planning, resource prioritization, and future investments in resilience-building across the district.
” Resilience is not optional; it is essential. Through honest reflection and active collaboration, we can build inclusive, adaptive communities aligned with the Sendai Framework and the SDGs,” said Councillor Pemme Jossuf.
Stakeholders of the Urban Risk-Informed Development Planning workshop in Capricorn District Municipality
The assessment revealed that while foundational systems for disaster resilience are in place, several critical gaps still need to be addressed. These include the need for better integration of DRR in spatial planning, stronger financial mechanisms for resilience, safeguarding of natural ecosystem and the need for more inclusive engagement with at risk communities.
“Seeing our real scores motivates us to prioritize actions where they matter most. This is exactly the kind of systemic, practical work that sets a foundation for long-term resilience across the SADC region” shared Mr. Mpheehe Machaba, the executive manager for community services, Capricorn District Municipality.
The workshop emphasized the importance of inclusive risk-informed planning, integration of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) in performance management, and the use of local knowledge to protect at risk communities. Special focus was placed on aligning local strategies with national policies and international frameworks like the Sendai Framework, SDG 11- Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 13- Climate Action, and South Africa’s DRM legislation.
“The Scorecard isn’t just a technical tool but a means through which cities understand where they are, where they need to go, and how to get there, ” said Carolyne Mengich, the associate programme management officer at UNDRR.
Breakout sessions encouraged collaborative reflection on risks, vulnerabilities, and opportunities for integrating resilience into development planning.
The final day of the workshop was dedicated to the co-creation of draft DRR Action Plans specifically tailored to the local context, risks, and institutional capacities of the Capricorn District. Building on the insights from the Scorecard assessment, participants identified priority actions across multiple sectors including coordination, infrastructure, social services, and information management and communication. Emphasis was placed on ensuring that the action plans were realistic, inclusive, and locally owned. There was broad consensus that effective implementation will require a phased approach, beginning with quick wins and capacity-building measures, followed by more resource-intensive structural interventions. Participants also recognized that sustained progress hinges on strong multi-stakeholder coordination, inclusive of government departments, local municipalities, civil society, the private sector, and technical partners. The Capricorn experience underscores how locally driven, globally informed resilience building can guide municipalities in South Africa and beyond.
In a pivotal step toward fortifying urban resilience in East Africa, Dar es Salaam City Council, in collaboration with United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the GIZ Resilience Initiative Africa (RIA), convened a workshop to strengthen local capacity for disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaption. Held at the historic Karimjee Hall, this three-day event, held from June 17th to 19th, 2025, brought together 25 stakeholders, including local government officials, development partners, civil society representatives, academia and the private sector.
The workshop successfully elevated the role of local governance in advancing risk-informed development and climate adaptation strategies. The efforts align with key global and regional frameworks, including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. The initiative also aligns with the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) Initiative, which supports cities to strengthen their resilience to climate and disaster risks.
Addressing urban vulnerability in a rapidly changing climate
With more than half of the global population now residing in urban areas—a figure expected to surpass 60% by 2030—rapid urbanization, climate variability, poverty, and insufficient planning have significantly heightened cities’ vulnerability to disasters. Dar es Salaam, specifically, is projected to grow into a mega city of more than 10 million people by 2030, intensifying challenges related to increased frequencies of floods and droughts, sea level rise and salinity affecting groundwater.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Amani Kavishe, Natural Resource Officer, Dar es Salaam City Council, underscored the urgent need for cities to adopt integrated approaches that not only address immediate hazards but also build long-term adaptive capacities.
“Building a resilient Dar es Salaam starts with how we plan and build today. If we do not integrate resilience into our infrastructure and policies now, we will continue to rebuild after every flood”said Mr. Kavishe. ‘”his workshop is a step forward towards smarter, safer urban development.”
Building local capacity with practical tools and preliminary assessment
A central component of the workshop involved extensive training on the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities, a diagnostic tool that helps local authorities assess their resilience using the Ten Essentials of the MCR2030 initiative – which outline the steps that need to be taken to build urban resilience. As a co-organizer and a key facilitator, UNDRR provided essential technical capacity for the workshop.
Participants actively applied the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities, with technical guidance provided by experts from UNDRR and GIZ. Through this practical exercise, they conducted a preliminary assessment of Dar es Salaam City Council’s current resilience status. The assessment process enabled participants to identify key strengths, critical gaps, and opportunities for improvement in the city’s disaster risk reduction efforts.
The workshop primarily focused on training participants on the use of the Scorecard and understanding its implications, laying groundwork for future strategy development.
A platform for knowledge exchange and commitment
The event served as more than a training; it was a forum for collaboration and exchange. Participants shared experiences, challenges, and innovations from their respective institutions, contributing to a rich dialogue on context-specific resilience building. The Resilience Initiative Africa (RIA)project, a partnership implemented by GIZ, in collaboration with UNDRR Regional Office for Africa, the African Union Commission (AUC), the SADC Secretariat, Slum Dwellers International and Africa Adaptation Initiative, reiterated its commitment to supporting inclusive and gender-responsive urban development that leaves no one behind.
Feedback from participants underscored the workshop’s impact. ‘”The workshop was highly informative, equipping us with crucial knowledge on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and practical strategies for implementing it in our community to enhance city resilience’”Carlos Mdemu from Mazingira Konekti (CSO).
In closing, the UNDRR representative underscored the importance of sustaining momentum beyond the workshop. Participants were encouraged to leverage the tools, partnerships, and knowledge gained to formulate actionable DRR strategies, and to utilize platforms such as the MCR2030 dashboard,which offers guidance, tools, and monitoring capabilities to help cities assess resilience, track progress, and connect with partners for,continued support and collaboration.
As cities like Dar es Salaam continue to grow, the imperative to integrate resilience thinking into all facets of planning has never been more urgent. Through strengthened institutional capacities and cross-sectoral cooperation, the workshop marks a significant milestone toward a safer, more resilient urban future for Tanzania and Africa.
