Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hak-kan and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (June 25):
Question:
(1) of the respective design flows, including passenger and vehicular flows, and actual flows (set out by weekdays and holidays) of various land boundary control points (BCPs) (excluding rail-based ones) at present (set out in a table);
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
HKMC Annuity Limited (HKMCA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited, announced today (June 25) the launch of a six-month “Panda Mode ON!” public education campaign, which uses the joyful, worry-free lifestyle of pandas as a metaphor to showcase retirement financial planning concepts and encourage retirees to achieve a stable and prosperous “Panda Mode” retirement through the creation of a lifelong income stream.
The HKMCA is launching a series of promotional activities including television commercials, outdoor, online and social media advertising across multi-media channels starting this month. Public education and outreach activities will also be held across Hong Kong, including a booth at the “10th Golden Age Expo and Summit 2025”, five “Well-Planned for Life. Stable for Life” roving exhibitions at the Ocean Park Hong Kong and major shopping malls in various districts, together with a promotional truck and information panels, to help promote the importance of retirement financial planning. For details of the outreach activities, please refer to the annex.
To reinforce public understanding of the HKMC Annuity Plan (Plan) and longevity risk management, the HKMCA is also expanding the “Mr. Well-Planned” series. In addition to utilising relatable day-to-day scenarios to highlight the key features of the Plan through television commercials, a new “Answer with One Click” webpage (www.hkmca.hk/eng/QnA) has been launched to provide the public with a convenient way to access answers to frequently asked questions.
For more information, please visit the HKMCA website (www.hkmca.hk) or the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/HKMCAnnuity). For enquiries, please call the HKMCA customer service hotline at (852) 2512 5000.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission) under the Health Bureau announced today (June 25) that, starting from July 2, occupational therapists (OTs) and physiotherapists (PTs) participating in government-subsidised primary healthcare programmes (including the Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme, and the allied health services of the Chronic Disease Co-care Pilot Scheme and District Health Centres) must first be enlisted in the Primary Care Directory (PCD) and join eHealth. To allow sufficient time for the professions to complete the enrolment process, a two-month grace period until September 1 will be provided. The PHC Commission encourages OTs and PTs to register as early as possible, so that they can continue to provide relevant government-subsidised services to members of the public.
The Primary Healthcare Blueprint recommended expanding the PCD to cover more healthcare professionals and developing sub-directories for allied health professionals, including OTs and PTs, with a view to ensuring their participation in continuing medical education or continuing professional development programmes relevant to their disciplines, thereby enhancing the quality of primary healthcare services. In addition, the Blueprint recommended requiring all primary healthcare service providers to use eHealth to promote continuity of healthcare services and cross-sector collaboration.
To minimise the impact on citizens enjoying the subsidised services concerned, the PHC Commission has maintained close communication with the OT and PT professions through different channels since March to introduce them to the details of the new requirements and assist them in enlisting in the PCD and/or joining eHealth. Those OTs and PTs currently participating in relevant government-subsidised programmes but who are yet to be enlisted in the PCD and join eHealth by the end of the grace period (i.e. from September 2 onwards) will no longer be able to offer those government-subsidised primary healthcare services to their patients.
Members of the public may enquire with their OTs or PTs or visit the PCD website (apps.pcdirectory.gov.hk/Public/EN) to confirm whether they are enlisted in the PCD, to ensure that they can continue receiving the relevant subsidised services from the same OT or PT after the grace period.
The PCD is a web-based database containing practice information and professional qualifications of primary healthcare service providers in the community. It enables members of the public to look for service providers’ information, such as their practice addresses, telephone numbers, consultation hours, and service provisions, as well as their participation in various government-subsidised programmes, and to choose a suitable primary healthcare service provider according to their personal needs. Subsequent to the establishment of sub-directories for OTs and PTs, the Government will continue to develop sub-directories for other healthcare professionals in phases, with a view to promoting multidisciplinary collaboration in providing comprehensive primary healthcare services to members of the public.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ21: Enhancing Cantonese proficiency of non-ethnic Chinese
Question:
It has been learnt that with the continuous increase in the Cantonese proficiency requirements for job seekers in various trades and industries in Hong Kong, quite a number of non-ethnic Chinese people face difficulties in securing employment due to the language barrier, and in particular, the limited availability of Cantonese courses is further restricting their learning channels. Some self-financing programmes offered by higher education institutions have been cancelled one after another due to under-enrolment, hindering non-ethnic Chinese people from enhancing their language proficiency and integrating into the community. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it will communicate with the universities funded by the University Grants Committee to encourage them to offer more Cantonese courses (such as those similar to the courses offered by the Yale-China Chinese Language Academy of the Chinese University of Hong Kong), particularly those designed specifically for non-ethnic Chinese people; if so, of the details (e.g. the estimated cost of the courses); if not, the reasons for that;
(2) whether it has plans to collaborate with self-financing institutions and other educational institutions to offer more Cantonese learning courses targeting non-ethnic Chinese people, so as to enhance their language proficiency and employment competitiveness; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(3) whether it will consider setting up dedicated scholarships or subsidy schemes to encourage and assist non-ethnic Chinese people in enrolling in the relevant courses offered by various major Cantonese learning centres in Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(4) whether it will consider launching summer Cantonese courses for non-ethnic Chinese youths, with a tailored design for the contents and mode of teaching and learning of such courses, so as to enhance their language proficiency and social confidence; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(5) whether the Government has conducted any study or assessment in the past five years to analyse the actual Cantonese proficiency levels required by different industries in Hong Kong of their employees, as well as the impact on the employment of non-ethnic Chinese people; if so, of the findings of the relevant studies or assessments; if not, whether it will consider conducting relevant studies, so as to facilitate the formulation of corresponding policies?
Reply:
President,
The Government has all along been committed to building a harmonious, inclusive and caring society for ethnic minorities and non-Chinese speakers to enjoy equal opportunities and integrate into the community. Different bureaux and departments of the Government all encourage and support non-Chinese young people to equip themselves for future employment. Regarding the question raised by the Hon Dominic Lee, the consolidated reply after consultation with relevant bureaux and departments is as follows:
Support for non-Chinese speaking (NCS) students
The Education Bureau (EDB) actively assists NCS students in adapting to the local education system at an early stage, encouraging them to make full use of their studies in primary and secondary schools to learn Chinese and integrate into the community. The EDB is committed to enhancing students’ proficiency in biliteracy and trilingualism (written Chinese and English; spoken Cantonese, Putonghua, and English) at both the primary and secondary levels. All eligible children (including NCS students) enjoy equal access to publicly-funded kindergartens, primary and secondary schools. The EDB also encourages parents of NCS students to arrange for their children to study in local kindergartens for early exposure to and learning of the Chinese language. In the 2024/25 academic year, more than 70 per cent of publicly-funded kindergartens, primary and secondary schools admitted NCS students. The EDB has also adopted a multi-pronged approach in providing NCS students with all-encompassing learning support from pre-primary to secondary levels.
At the post-secondary education level, to develop more internationalised campuses and promote cultural integration on campuses, the EDB encourages the University Grants Committee-funded universities to step up their support for students from different backgrounds, including offering appropriate courses and workshops to non-local students who wish to learn Chinese/Cantonese. Additionally, the Vocational Training Council is committed to supporting NCS students in pursuing its vocational and professional education and training programmes, helping them enhance their Chinese language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing for both daily communication and workplace contexts.
Support for school leavers and working individuals
The Government promotes lifelong learning and is committed to enhancing the overall quality of the manpower. At present, many operators in Hong Kong offer a wide range of self-financing programmes to meet the continuing education needs of different individuals. As at June 2025, on the Qualifications Register under the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (QF), based on registered course titles searches, there are around 100 Cantonese language educational courses targeting non-Chinese speakers, involving 22 course providers, covering QF Levels 1 to 4. Among them, there are part-time certificate courses on vocational Cantonese offered by the Employees Retraining Board (ERB) for non-Chinese speakers. NCS school leavers and working individuals may pursue relevant courses based on their personal interests and circumstances.
Moreover, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) provides subsidies for non-school-attending ethnic minorities enrolled in dedicated language courses of the ERB, targetting members of low-income families with an attendance rate of 80 per cent or above. The HAD also provides funding to non-governmental organisations to organise language classes at the Support Service Centres for Ethnic Minorities and in the community to help ethnic minorities meet their basic daily needs.
On the other hand, the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research has launched the Vocational Chinese Language Programme for NCS School Leavers initiative, inviting post-secondary institutions/training providers to develop and deliver vocational Chinese courses that are recognised under the QF. Upon completing the courses and meeting the attendance or assessment requirements, learners may receive up to 85 per cent tuition fee reimbursement. Over the past five years, an average of 200 NCS school leavers have benefited annually.
The Government will continue to review the implementation of the different measures to better support the employment and learning needs of ethnic minorities and facilitate their integration into the community.
Issued at HKT 14:45
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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ1: Eradicating youth consumption of “space oil drug”
Question:
The Government statistics show that 128 young people aged under 21 were reported to have consumed “space oil drug” in the first quarter of this year, accounting for over 67 per cent of all reported cases. The youngest among them was just 12 years old. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the respective numbers of cases of young people possessing and consuming “space oil drug” received by the authorities in the past three years; the specific measures in place to assist them in drug treatment and rehabilitation, and the total number of young people who have quit “space oil drug” with such assistance to date;
(2) whether it will establish a regular mechanism for primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong to handle cases of young people consuming “space oil drug”, while strengthening training for frontline personnel, including teachers and social workers, in order to enhance their ability to identify, handle, and prevent cases of students consuming “space oil drug”; and
(3) given that the Government launched the Healthy School Programme some years ago to establish a healthy and drug-free culture in schools by organising personal growth activities and voluntary school drug testing, whether the authorities will step up the promotion of this programme in primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong, so that teachers and social workers can have opportunities to identify those young people who consume “space oil drug” at an early stage and provide them with immediate and appropriate assistance?
Reply:
President,
The Government attaches great importance to combating the emerging “space oil drug” problem. A number of targeted measures have been launched on multiple fronts to curb the use of “space oil drug”, which often illegally contains the anesthetic etomidate. Among these measures, we have already listed etomidate and its three analogues as dangerous drugs through legislation, and have recently proposed listing other analogues as dangerous drugs as well. Since the listing of etomidate as a dangerous drug on February 14, 2025, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have successfully stopped the supply of more than 220 000 drug-filled cartridges by the end of last month with a total of 405 persons arrested. Among those arrested, 153 were involved in trafficking dangerous drugs, accounting for nearly 40 per cent of the arrests. Apart from legislation and law enforcement, the Government has also launched a number of publicity programmes to educate the public to stay away from “space oil drug” and raise awareness among young people of its serious harm.
In consultation with the Education Bureau (EDB), replies to each of the Member’s questions are as follows:
(1) The “space oil drug” has been gradually on the rise since 2023. From 2023 to May 31, 2025, the LEAs arrested a total of 566 persons for unlawful possession of etomidate, and among them, 134 persons or about 20 per cent were young people aged below 21. Regarding the number of abusers, data from the Central Registry of Drug Abuse show that from 2023 to May 31, 2025, there were 493 recorded “space oil drug” abusers, of whom 356 persons, or about 70 per cent, were young people aged below 21. These young people are being followed up by relevant drug treatment institutions or outreaching social work teams with a view to helping them to quit drugs. Indeed, drug treatment and rehabilitation services are an integral part of the Government’s anti-drug strategy. For young people addicted to “space oil drug”, drug treatment and rehabilitation agencies (e.g. Counselling Centres for Psychotropic Substance Abusers (CCPSAs)) provide education programmes, vocational training, and counselling on careers and studies, tailored to their personal growth stages, learning needs and interests. Anti-drug workers also provide young people with essential emotional support and mental health counselling.
(2) Schools are key partners in the Government’s anti-drug efforts. The Narcotics Division (ND) of the Security Bureau (SB), in collaboration with the EDB, has established a regular mechanism for all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong to handle drug-related incidents, including cases involving the use of “space oil drug”. The EDB has also issued guidelines to schools in this regard. To assist schools in handling such cases, the ND of the SB has been working with non-governmental organisations to provide anti-drug professional training for frontline staff, including teachers and social workers, to enhance their capacity in identifying, handling and preventing “space oil drug” abuse cases among students.
(3) After years of implementation, the Healthy School Programme spearheaded by the ND has been proven capable of strengthening students’ resolve to stay away from drugs, thereby fostering an anti-drug culture in schools. In light of the latest drug scene, the ND plans to include etomidate testing in its voluntary school drug testing, targeting its introduction within the next school year. The ND has also required schools to incorporate knowledge on the prevention of “space oil drug” into the activities organised under the Programme, including understanding the harm of “space oil drug”, the serious consequences of committing relevant offences, and the skills to refuse “space oil drug”. While promoting the Healthy School Programme, the ND is also implementing the Beat Drugs with Sports Programme to help young people stay away from “space oil drug” and other drugs through sports activities. About 60 per cent of all secondary schools in Hong Kong have participated in these two anti-drug programmes.
Apart from the Healthy School Programme and the Beat Drugs with Sports Programme just mentioned, the ND has been promoting a healthy and drug‑free school culture through enhanced cross‑disciplinary and cross‑sectoral collaboration with various anti-drug service units and welfare service units. This collaboration provides teachers and social workers with opportunities to identify young people who have taken “space oil drug” at an early stage, and offer timely and appropriate assistance. In this regard, the ND arranges for the CCPSAs to reach out to schools and organise anti-drug school talks, including providing training for teachers and social workers, and educating students about the harm of “space oil drug”. Since 2024, over 170 schools with a total of 38 000 students, teachers and social workers have participated in these talks. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre will also organise a new round of interactive activities in July 2025 for candidates of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination and senior secondary school students. These activities aim to provide students with a stress-relieving occasion and reinforce their resistance against “space oil drug”. The ND also conducts free drama tours for schools to educate upper primary students in an interactive manner on the harm of “space oil drug”. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Police Force has staged a new play, “Interactive Anti-Drug Theatre – A Space Study Adventure”, to safeguard schools from the emerging “space oil drug”. Finally, on parental education, the ND works closely with the Committee on Home-School Co-operation and the Federations of Parent-Teacher Associations in various districts to provide parents and young people with timely and appropriate assistance related to “space oil drug”.
President, the Government has taken various measures to curb “space oil drug”. We have strategies in place to address the situation, ranging from legislation and law enforcement to treatment and rehabilitation. We will humbly listen to the views of the community, adjust our strategies as situation changes, and proactively adopt innovative and targeted approaches to combat drug harm together with the public.
Thank you, President.
Issued at HKT 14:35
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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​Following is a question by the Hon Yiu Pak-leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, in the Legislative Council today (June 25):
Question:
There are views that the road ancillary facilities and experience of walking to the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) are not satisfactory at present, and during festivals, holidays and large-scale activities, congestion often occurs on the roads in the vicinity. On improving the accessibility of the WKCD, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as it has been reported that the southern landing facility of the WKCD is expected to come into operation in the fourth quarter of this year, of the specific timetable; of the specific measures in place to expedite the development of waterborne transport there, and whether it has studied developing the area into one of the distribution points for marine tours;
(2) as some members of the public and tourists have reflected that the current experience of walking from the Xiqu Centre along Austin Road West to the area around the M+ is not satisfactory, whether the authorities will consider prioritising the creation of a pleasant harbourfront promenade from the Xiqu Centre to the WKCD to facilitate access of members of the public and tourists to the area; and
(3) as there are views that the existing road design of Museum Drive outside the Hong Kong Palace Museum is unsatisfactory and prone to causing traffic congestion, and the authorities are conducting a road network study in the vicinity of Museum Drive, including a study on the construction of additional slip road exits to the West Kowloon Expressway, of the details of the study and whether the relevant works can commence as soon as possible?
Reply:
President,
The West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD or the District) is an important strategic cultural infrastructure investment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. The WKCD is not only a popular choice for local residents to participate in cultural activities, but also one of the must-visit cultural and creative attractions welcomed by tourists.
The Government and the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) have always attached great importance to the accessibility of West Kowloon. Currently, there are many public transport services and routes to the WKCD, including the MTR, seven franchised bus routes, five green minibus (GMB) routes as well as Water Taxis.
When large-scale activities such as fireworks displays are held at the WKCD or in its vicinity, the WKCDA will closely liaise with the Police and Transport Department (TD). The Police will implement temporary traffic management measures, including road closures, as needed within the WKCD and its vicinity whereas the TD will co-ordinate with public transport services providers to increase their services. Visitors can walk to the two MTR stations (i.e. Kowloon Station and Austin Station) or nearby places to access public transports when roads in the vicinity are still closed after the activities. During major festivals in the past two years, the said arrangements have been working smoothly.
Having consulted the Transport and Logistics Bureau and the WKCDA, my reply to the question raised by the Hon Yiu Pak-leung is set out below:
(1) The Southern Landing Facility (SLF) located opposite to M+ is expected to complete and open in quarter four of this year (2025). By then, the existing berthing point of Water Taxi at the New Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter will be relocated to this new landing facility. The WKCDA is also liaisng with the TD in actively exploring the introduction of a new ferry route between the WKCD and Central, so as to fully utilise the new landing facility for further improving waterborne transport to and from the WKCD.
The SLF is a public landing facility. The WKCDA is currently formulating the future arrangements for the use of the SLF, including reservation arrangements for berthing public vessels other than Water Taxi, and will maintain close communication with the tourism industry and relevant Government departments to explore ways to maximise the utilisation of the SLF.
(2) The WKCD is situated on a 40-hectare site next to the High Speed Rail Hong Kong West Kowloon Station, the MTR Tuen Ma Line Austin Station as well as the Tung Chung Line Kowloon Station. Citizens and visitors can choose to use the nearest MTR station according to the different arts and cultural facilities in the District they want to visit.
Taking M+ as an example, visitors can use the MTR Kowloon Station and walk about 10 minutes via Elements Shopping Mall and the Art Square Bridge to reach it. As for the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM), visitors can go for Exit E of the MTR Kowloon Station, walk via Nga Cheung Road and the pedestrian footbridge of the former toll plaza of the Western Harbour Crossing to enter the WKCD West Gate, and then walk along the District’s roads to reach the HKPM in 15 minutes. Visitors going to the Xiqu Centre can use the Austin Road Pedestrian Linkage System at Exit E of the MTR Austin Station to reach the destination within 5 minutes on foot.
The development of the WKCD has always adopted the “City Park” design concept. The planning fundamental of the WKCD is pedestrian-oriented with emphasis on its connectivity, encouraging visitors to walk to and from different arts and cultural facilities within the District. For instance, from M+ to the HKPM, visitors can walk for about 10 minutes through the Art Park or along the WKCD Promenade, both of which are places where citizens and tourists love to linger. As for going from Xiqu Centre to M+, since there are still works in progress in the relevant waterfront and Austin Road West section, we recommend citizens to take about 15 to 20 minutes to walk via Austin Station, High Speed Rail Hong Kong West Kowloon Station, Elements, and the Artist Square Bridge at this stage.
If visitors choose to travel between the WKCD and the High Speed Rail Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and MTR Austin Station by public transport, they can take the GMB Route CX1, or take the Kowloon Motor Bus Route W4 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
(3) The Government and the WKCDA have been exploring various options for improving the road network of the WKCD, including the addition of an exit from Museum Drive to the West Kowloon Highway to improve vehicular accessibility of the northern part of the WKCD. The Government will continue to study with the WKCDA in this regard to meet the development needs of the WKCD.
Thank you, President.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Third application announced under New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme supported by Vetting Committee and enhancement measure launched for New Industrialisation Funding Scheme
At the same time, to further support enterprises in adopting smart manufacturing and to seize market opportunities, the ITC has introduced an enhancement to the New Industrialisation Funding Scheme (NIFS). For NIFS applications seeking funding support of no more than $2.8 million, they will be processed according to the newly established streamlined procedures to speed up the process of approving NIFS applications.
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said, “The Government actively promotes the development of new industrialisation through the NIAS and the NIFS, injecting new impetus into Hong Kong’s economy. We are pleased that enterprises are making use of the funding support from these two schemes to set up new smart production facilities in Hong Kong. Funded enterprises will bring to Hong Kong the relevant technologies and expertise of product manufacturing, driving the development of Hong Kong’s new industrialisation and diversified economy.”
The Government launched the NIAS in September 2024. The NIAS provides funding support on a 1 (Government): 2 (enterprise) matching basis for enterprises engaging in industries of strategic importance (i.e. life and health technology, AI and data science, advanced manufacturing and new energy technologies) and contributing no less than $200 million to setting up new smart production facilities in Hong Kong. For each project, the minimum total project cost is $300 million. Each enterprise can receive up to $200 million of funding under the NIAS. In addition, the Government encourages enterprises with approved projects under the NIAS to carry out research or increase their scale of research in Hong Kong by providing additional funding for them to engage research talent, as well as facilitating such enterprises in employing non-local talent required for setting up or operating the new production facilities in Hong Kong.
The NIFS aims to subsidise manufacturers on a 1 (Government): 2 (enterprise) matching basis to set up new smart production lines in Hong Kong. The funding ceiling for each project is one-third of the total project cost or $15 million, whichever is lower. Each enterprise can carry out up to three projects concurrently to receive a maximum total funding of up to $45 million under the NIFS.
The NIAS and the NIFS are open for applications throughout the year. Details are available on the website of the Innovation and Technology Fund (www.itf.gov.hkIssued at HKT 11:30
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Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A study published in NPJ Vaccines looks at adjuvants in vaccines and their association with a lower risk of dementia.
Dr Julia Dudley, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing. Identifying ways to reduce dementia risk is a priority for research, and vaccination offers an intriguing area of exploration. There have been an increasing number of studies suggesting a link between people who receive certain vaccinations, like the Shingrix vaccine, and a decreased risk of dementia. This study offers a potentially different perspective on what might be linked to this finding.
“In this latest large US-based observational study, researchers are proposing that it might be the adjuvant that is providing a protective effect, rather than the disease the vaccine is seeking to protect against. This study looked at dementia diagnoses in people who had received vaccines with the AS01 adjuvant and those who had a flu vaccine, which doesn’t contain this component.
“An adjuvant is a substance in the vaccine used to create a boosted immune response, designed to give more effective protection upon exposure to the virus.AS01 is in the shingles vaccine Shingrix, and Arexvy, the vaccine to protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
“They found people who had Shingrix, Arexvy or both of these vaccines were less likely to get a dementia diagnosis within 18 months. They found no difference between the Shingrix or Arexvy in terms of reducing dementia risk.
“One of the strengths of the study is that it adjusted for factors that could influence risk, such as underlying health conditions and some lifestyle and environmental factors. However, as the study is observational and examined past health data, the researchers cannot conclude how the Shingrix and Arexvy vaccines may protect against dementia. We also cannot rule out that the link between vaccine and dementia risk is due to other factors not captured in this study, such as social and lifestyle factors.
“One of the limitations highlighted by the authors was around people not having a dementia diagnosis when they could be living with the condition, which could skew the findings. We do not know if the adjuvant is reducing the risk of dementia or delaying its onset. The follow-up period was only 18 months, so more research is needed to determine the potential long-term effects of the vaccines.
“As we understand more about the biological mechanisms behind any protective effects seen with vaccines, we may be able to investigate new treatment approaches.”
Prof Kevin McConway, Emeritus Professor of Applied Statistics, Open University, said:
“This is an interesting, worthwhile and statistically competent piece of work, but a lot more research needs to be done to make good sense of its possible implications for health care. In fact it’s a good example of how scientific and medical knowledge has to be built up through a series of studies, not just a single piece of work.
“Previous research has provided pretty convincing evidence that vaccination against shingles, in older people, can reduce dementia risk. A recent study (published 2024), by the same research team responsible for the new study, found that the reduction in dementia risk is greater in people who had the shingles vaccine now in most widespread use, including in the UK (it’s called Shingrix), than with the previous vaccine (Zostavax).
“However, that study could not provide direct evidence on the reason for the risk difference between the two shingles vaccines. One possibility is that having shingles might increase dementia risk, and that the new vaccine provides better protection against shingles than the old one did, so reducing dementia risk. Another is that there’s some component in the new vaccine that reduces dementia risk. Or it could be some combination of these possibilities.
“The new Shingrix vaccine differs from the old Zostavax vaccine in several ways, but one difference is Shingrix vaccine contain a substance called AS01, while Zostavax does not. Some previous research has indicated that it’s possible that AS01 somehow provides in itself a reduction in dementia risk. AS01 is not the ingredient of the vaccine that directly incites the immune system to develop immunity against shingles. Instead it is an adjuvant – a substance that is intended to help the immune system to respond to the vaccination.
“AS01 is also used as an adjuvant in another vaccination offered to older people; the vaccination against the respiratory virus infection RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), which is now recommended for people in the UK aged 75-79. One of the vaccines in use against RSV also contains AS01. (There’s another available vaccine that does not contain it.) So the research team responsible for the new study used data from a large set of American electronic health records, to compare dementia risk over a period of 18 months after vaccination for older people who had had various different vaccinations containing AS01 (just the RSV vaccine, just the shingles vaccine, or both). These people were compared with older people who had had a flu vaccine, not containing AS01.
“The researchers found that those who had had either of the two AS01-containing vaccines (against RSV or shingles) had a lower risk of being diagnosed with dementia in the 18 months after vaccination than those who had had the flu vaccine. This pattern of lower risk showed up in people who had had just one of the AS01 vaccines, or both, though there were some relatively small (and statistically uncertain) differences in the average size of the risk reduction, compared to the flu vaccine, for different groups.
“What’s still not known from this study is exactly why these risk differences occur. The researchers mention that, in some way, they could occur because having either RSV or shingles might in itself increase dementia risk, so that having a vaccine that makes it less likely to have one or both of those diseases might reduce dementia risk. Or it could be because of some protective effect of the AS01 adjuvant, which is in these vaccines but not in the flu vaccine. (Or some combination of these possible effects.)
“The researchers give some arguments why they feel AS01 itself is likely to play a protective role against dementia. I don’t have expertise in virology so can’t comment directly on those arguments. But it’s at least a possibility, from all the existing evidence, that AS01 could have a protective effect. This study also doesn’t provide direct evidence on how AS01 might work to reduce dementia risk, but the researchers give some suggestions based on other studies as to what could be happening. Again I can’t comment on those.
“It’s because of this inevitable lack of knowledge about exactly how AS01 might be involved in reducing dementia risk that the researchers are asking for more studies, some of them using other research methods, to find out more. I agree with this recommendation, because in my view the results of this study provide a clear justification for looking further. But we’re not yet anywhere near the stage of using the results of the new study to change clinical practice. Also, the new study can’t make the timescale of risk reduction very clear, because the follow-up period to look for dementia diagnoses was relatively short at 18 months.
“This was an observational study – the people weren’t assigned at random to receive a particular pattern of vaccinations, but just did what they would have done anyway in consultation with health professionals. In any observational study, there can be issues about what is causing what. The basic problem is that people who receive different vaccinations will also differ in terms of many other factors – age, sex, what diseases they have previously had or still have, and many more. Some of these factors may be potential confounders, as they are called – that is, there’s a possibility that they are the cause of differences in dementia risk, and not the actual vaccinations at all.
“The researchers did a very thorough job of allowing for potential confounders, by doing something called propensity score matching. This involves setting up a statistical model that predicts people’s chances of having a dementia outcome, regardless of what vaccines they had had, and then matching people who (for example) had had the RSV vaccine but not the shingles vaccine with people who had had the flu vaccine. In this research the statistical model for the matching involves a very wide range of potential confounders. Then direct comparisons are based on these matched pairs of people. That means one can get a lot closer to comparing like with like groups, who don’t differ (on average) in terms of potential confounding factors.
“The process can’t entirely avoid the possibility that there are confounding factors that couldn’t be dealt with in this way, and that’s why the research paper says clearly that unmeasured confounding can’t be entirely ruled out. So there has to remain doubt about whether the risk differences are caused by the different vaccines. This is in addition to the inevitable doubts about which aspects of the vaccines (AS01 or something else as well) might be causes of the risk differences – if indeed it’s the vaccines that do turn out to cause the differences. These are yet more reasons why this research is nowhere near being the last word.”
Prof Sir Andrew Pollard FMedSci, Ashall Professor of Paediatric Infection and Immunity and Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, University of Oxford, said:
“There are now a number of studies which have shown an association between shingles vaccination in older adults and a reduced rate of dementia in the vaccinated population. The fact that two different vaccine platforms (both live attenuated shingles vaccines and the adjuvanted shingles subcomponent vaccine) saw similar associations supported the idea that the mechanism was as a result of vaccine-prevention of reactivation of the usually dormant shingles virus in the brain. Another virus from the same family, herpes simplex virus (the cold sore virus) has also been associated with dementia raising the possibility that both of these viruses (shingles and herpes simplex) could cause infection, possibly silently and recurrently, in the brain that led eventually to dementia. Unfortunately, there is no licensed vaccine for herpes simplex at this time. However, this latest study published in npj vaccines shows that another vaccine, against the completely unrelated respiratory virus, RSV, is also associated with a reduced rate of dementia. The authors argue that this is because of a non-specific effect of these vaccines on the immune system which generates an environment in our bodies which is somehow protective against dementia, though further studies are needed to confirm this. Such a mechanism could account for the effects driven by both shingles and RSV vaccines. The various studies of the impact of vaccination on dementia are all observational studies which could have a risk of bias, as it can be challenging to adequately control for differences between those who seek vaccination and those who don’t, but the consistent finding across multiple studies makes the observation more convincing. It is premature to be too certain about the mechanism by which vaccines might reduce dementia risk, but these observations provide further incentive for those eligible to turn up for their scheduled vaccination visits to prevent the unpleasant and potentially serious and life-threatening infections for which they were designed, but with the added possible benefit of a longer dementia-free life-span. What’s not to like?”
‘Lower risk of dementia with AS01- adjuvanted vaccination against shingles and respiratory syncytial virus infections’ by Maxime Taquet et al. was published in npj vaccines at 10:00 UK time Wednesday June 25th 2025.
DOI: 10.1038/s41541-025-01172-3
Declared interests
Prof Kevin McConway: No conflicts.
For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.
Source: City of Coventry
This week we are marking Shared Lives – a scheme that recruits and approves Carers from all backgrounds and introduces and matches them with individuals assessed as having a social care need.
A Shared Lives celebration event was held recently, bringing carers and families together to share stories and friendships.
Karyn Ross, who manages the Councils Shared Lives scheme, said: “I’ve worked for Shared Lives for a long time now and it’s just a lovely scheme and a natural way for someone to move from one family setting to another.
“It’s important that our families can all get together.”
An afternoon tea was organised, and the families had a great time enjoying a special time together.
Cllr Linda Bigham, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: “It was a fabulous event and great to see how people share everything together – dreams, ambitions and the happy and sad moments in life. We are very lucky in Coventry that we have so many people who are willing to share their lives and care for one another. We are really blessed.”
Shared lives introduces and matching individuals who are assessed as having social care needs with Approved Shared Lives Carers who invite individuals into their family homes to share their lives.
The Council’s Scheme covers Coventry and Warwickshire and is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The Scheme is always recruiting new carers who are offered a full training programme and support during the assessment and approval. Once carers are approved, we match referrals ensuring the Carers skills, abilities and lifestyle will complement the support of an individual placed. Our Carers open their homes and lifestyle to support individuals needing extra support to live fulfilling lives in the heart of their communities. They receive a financial package as part of the scheme.
For more details call 024 7678 5339 or visit coventry.gov.uk/sharedlives
Shared Lives Carer, Lucy was one of those at the celebrations. Lucy first provided respite care for Katie and now provides long term care.
She said: “I want to be the best support that I can – and Katie has supported me in my journey of supporting her.”
Lucy said: “Katie showed me the support she needed. She was the one guiding me.”
Katie added: “Together we make a great team”
To ensure the placement was right, Katie had many visits to Lucy’s home before Katie wanted to move in long term.
Katie has a visual impairment and is someone who relies on people’s voices and always thought Lucy’s voice was very kind.
Katie’s Mum Sue, said: “I am so happy for Katie’s future, it gives me peace of mind, that Katie now has someone who will care for her as I do.”
Katie also added: “Mum can now spend time on herself, I like to know that.”
Everyone at the event wore an ‘I love shared lives’ sticker, which tells you everything about the project.
Hear from Lucy and Katie by watching the video below.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
Two new open-air water recreation areas to appear in park “Moskvoretsky” and in the natural and historical park “Kuzminki-Lyublino”. As in other pools, the duration of sessions will be one and a half to three hours, and the cost is from 550 rubles for adults and 250 rubles for children. For the comfort of guests, awnings and umbrellas are provided, which are already included in the ticket price. More information about the terms of visit can be found at website.
“Pools in
parks of Moscow are becoming increasingly popular among residents and visitors of the city. To make your vacation as comfortable as possible, all swimming areas are equipped with the appropriate infrastructure. For example, sun loungers with umbrellas and storage lockers are provided for visitors. In total, 14 swimming pools will be operating in the parks this season,” said the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Moscow Department of Culture Alexey Fursin.
Each of the new sites has two pools: a large one (1.4 meters deep) and a small one (0.6 meters).
To ensure safety, a water treatment system is used in the pools: the water undergoes round-the-clock multi-stage filtration, purification and constant laboratory monitoring. Technical maintenance is carried out after each session. All swimming areas are equipped with a heating system, which allows maintaining a comfortable water temperature in any weather.
The sites will also have paid rental points where you can rent towels, as well as purchase armbands and disposable slippers.
Project “Summer in Moscow” — the main event of the season. It brings together the most vibrant events of the capital. Every day, charity, cultural and sports events are held in all districts of the city, most of which are free. “Summer in Moscow” is being held for the second time, and this season will be more eventful: new, original and colorful festivals and events will be added to the traditional ones.
Get the latest news quickly official telegram channelthe city of Moscow.
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Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Union Minister and BJP National President J.P. Nadda on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing it of continuing to carry the same “dictatorial mindset” that, according to him, marked the 21-month Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.
Calling the period a “black chapter” in India’s democratic journey, Nadda said the events of that era remain a stark reminder of how democratic institutions were “subverted” under Congress rule.
Recounting the events of June 25, 1975, Nadda said, “India is the oldest and largest democratic country in the world. Some such incidents have also happened in the country where a malicious attempt has been made to tamper with the basic spirit of the Constitution. The country sees it as a black chapter in democracy. On this day, 50 years ago, the then Prime Minister (of Congress), Indira Gandhi, had declared Emergency, which was not just a political event but a direct attack on democracy. It was a blow.”
Referring to the midnight proclamation of Emergency by Indira Gandhi, Nadda alleged, “On the midnight of June 25, 1975, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency on India on the pretext of internal unrest and murdered the Constitution of the country. Even after 50 years, Congress is living with the same mentality. Its intentions are still the same, dictatorial.”
Nadda noted that the Emergency followed a court verdict against Indira Gandhi.
“In 1975, the High Court held Indira Gandhi guilty of violating the code of conduct in the elections and declared her ineligible to hold any elected post for six years. Overnight, the electricity to the press was cut off. The entire opposition was put in jail. Freedom of the press was taken away. Democracy was trampled by misusing Article 352. Parliament and judiciary were paralysed and on the morning of June 26, the dictatorial government of Congress imposed Emergency on the country,” he stated.
Calling the resistance against the Emergency a broader fight for the soul of the nation, Nadda said, “The opposition to the dictatorship of Congress was not merely political. It was a movement to protect the soul of India and the Constitution in which nationalists put their lives at stake. Jai Prakash Narayan and Chaudhary Charan Singh, as well as Atal ji, Advani ji, Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia, Murli Manohar Joshi, and thousands of party workers and ‘Vichar Parivar’ workers were forcibly put in jail by Indira Gandhi’s government.”
He also highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s contribution during that period and said, “Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as a responsible worker, threw dust in the eyes of the dictatorial government and with the help of lakhs of dedicated volunteer workers, took the truth of Congress to every village, every street and every house.”
He mentioned that PM Modi has recorded the “struggles and unheard incidents” of that time in his book ‘The Emergency Diaries, Years that Forced a Leader’.
Reflecting on the current political context, the BJP chief added, “In the 50 years of the murder of the Constitution in the country, it is necessary to remember and remind people of the pain of the Emergency. Because even today, Congress is living with the same dictatorial mindset. We all must read this book to know how Congress had conspired to crush the democracy of the country. How the worshippers of democracy, without caring for their lives, foiled this conspiracy of Congress by highlighting the struggle.”
Nadda criticised the Congress leadership’s approach to governance and press freedom. “Slogans like ‘India is Indira, Indira is India’, reflected the mindset of Congress under which Indira Gandhi had turned the country into a laboratory of individualism and dynasty.”
He said that Congress supports the idea of only one family ruling the country, and that is why it had “placed a super PM above the Prime Minister of its government.”
“Congress is not able to digest the fact that a poor person has become the Prime Minister of the country. The law and order situation in Congress-ruled states is the same today as it was during the Emergency. Suppression of opposition, religious appeasement and arrogance of power are openly visible,” he added.
Referring to the judiciary, Nadda said, “Indira Gandhi did not make an honest judge like Justice H.R. Khanna the Chief Justice, despite him being senior. Because he had made a decision against the government. Congress had ensured that any officer or judge who did not follow their orders should either be removed or transferred. Indira Gandhi changed the basic spirit of the Constitution by making anti-democratic amendments in the Constitution to keep her power safe.”
Highlighting the repression during the Emergency, he added, “During the Emergency, even if a citizen was shot, he did not have the right to go to court. Even today, Rahul and Congress are seen to be lying about the Constitution. During the Emergency, people imprisoned were not even allowed to attend the last rites of their relatives. Congress has never apologised for its actions during the Emergency to date.”
Nadda also cited Congress’ conduct ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when the party had officially issued a list of “boycotted journalists” whose debates the party spokespersons were “forbidden from attending.”
“On one hand, they file cases against journalists during their rule, while on the other hand, they boycott them when they are in the opposition,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Nadda paid tribute to those who resisted the Emergency, stating, “Today, on this occasion, I pay tribute, on my behalf and on behalf of crores of Bharatiya Janata Party workers, to the true soldiers of democracy who risked their lives to free the country from the curse of Emergency, and thank them for protecting the Constitution and the country.”
(IANS)
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 25 — China has initiated a three-year special campaign targeting illegal dumping and disposal of solid waste, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said Wednesday.
The campaign will involve rigorous inspections and enforcement actions against illegal dumping and disposal of solid waste, Pei Xiaofei, spokesperson for the ministry, told a press conference.
The campaign will focus on combating the illegal dumping and landfilling of hazardous waste, industrial solid waste, and construction debris. It will also target unlawful practices in the disposal of scrapped motor vehicles, waste electronic products, retired new energy equipment, and used power batteries.
Pei said that cases involving the illegal discharge, dumping, or disposal of solid waste, which cause severe environmental pollution or result in economic losses to public property and should be prosecuted according to law for criminal liabilities, will be subject to expedited legal investigations and stringent actions.
The spokesperson also encouraged public participation in the campaign, inviting people to report illegal dumping and disposal activities via official websites, phone calls, and email.
Source: Scottish Government
Young people to benefit from schools programme.
Over 5,000 schoolchildren will continue to enjoy free literary events from the Edinburgh International Book Festival over the next three years, thanks to a £300,000 grant from the Scottish Government.
The one-off funding will support the festival’s acclaimed schools programme with more than 60 in-person and livestreamed events, including author talks with How to Train Your Dragon author Cressida Cowell and award-winning storyteller Frank Cottrell-Boyce.
The grant will also maintain travel cost support and free tickets for pupils whose families are unable to cover the cost of ticketed events, ensuring young people of all backgrounds across Edinburgh have an opportunity to participate in the internationally renowned festival. Children attending will receive a free book through the philanthropy of Book Festival donors as well.
This investment comes as part of a record £34 million increase in Scotland’s Culture budget for 2025-26, which includes an increase of £4 million for Scottish Festivals, towards the government’s commitment to invest an additional £100 million annually in the arts and culture by 2028-29.
Creative Scotland has already awarded the Edinburgh International Book Festival £1,880,000 in public multi-year funding for the next three years, more than doubling previous support.
Minister for Business and Employment Richard Lochhead said:
“The Edinburgh International Book Festival is one the country’s most significant cultural institutions. Its schools programme has been crucial in fostering literacy and cultural engagement among young people, with thousands of pupils benefiting annually from free events and resources.
“This funding secures those benefits for young readers across Edinburgh, helping schools that might otherwise struggle with travel costs, and ensuring they have the same opportunity to take part in one of the world’s leading literary festivals.”
Jenny Niven, Festival Director & CEO of Edinburgh International Book Festival said:
“The work the Book Festival does for children and young people is a cornerstone of what we do. Publishing for children and young people has never been more vibrant, and the benefits of reading never better evidenced.
“The Festival is perfectly positioned to help children engage with the amazing range and breadth of stories around them, to support teachers to use books imaginatively and creatively in learning, and to supply older kids with the tools to think critically, and learn to evaluate the deluge of info around them. This aspect of what we do is vital, and we’re delighted to have specific public funding support to develop this work further in the coming years.
“We’ve identified the cost of transport as a key barrier to a wider cohort of schools joining us in August, and are committed to maintaining free access for as many children as possible. We’re delighted that the Scottish Government’s increased support for festivals has delivered public funding to develop this work further in the coming years and we look forward to widening our reach across Scotland and exploring further the digital potential of what we do.”
Background:
About | Edinburgh International Book Festival
Schools Programme – Learning | Edinburgh International Book Festival
Source: United Kingdom – Royal Air Force
The RAF will be equipped with twelve new F-35A fifth-generation aircraft, as part of the Security Defence Review. The procurement of F-35A marks a significant step in delivering a more lethal “Integrated Force”, to maintain operational relevance, which deters, fights, and wins.
The F-35A aircraft will be available to fly NATO’s nuclear mission in a crisis, deepening the UK’s contribution to NATO’s nuclear burden-sharing arrangements, and deter those who would do the UK and our Allies harm. It reintroduces a nuclear role for the RAF for the first time since the UK retired its sovereign air-launched nuclear weapons following the end of the Cold War.
This complements the UK’s own operationally independent nuclear deterrent, strengthens NATO’s nuclear deterrence, and underlines the UK’s unshakeable commitment to NATO and the principle of collective defence under Article V.
As part of the second phase procurement plans of 27 aircraft, we will purchase a combination of twelve F-35A and fifteen F-35B variants, with options on further purchases examined in the Defence Investment Plan. The UK has a declared headmark of 138 aircraft through the life of the F-35 programme.
Day-to-day, the F-35As will be used in a training role on 207 Squadron, the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU). As the F-35A carries more fuel than the F-35B variant, it can stay airborne for longer, extending the available training time in each sortie for student pilots. As F-35As also require fewer maintenance hours, there will be increased aircraft availability on the OCU. These factors combined will improve pilot training and reduce the amount of time for pilots to reach the front-line squadrons.
The F-35A will complement the existing F-35B, offering a family of strike aircraft that significantly reduces life-cycle costs, meets operational requirements, and improves F-35 Force Generation for Carrier Strike operations.
Designed to operate from conventional runways, the F-35A offers increased range, increased payloads, and increased agility. The new fast jets will be based at RAF Marham and support the stand-up of a third front line F-35 Lightning Squadron.
The F-35A is the common variant in Europe making it a force multiplier for NATO. This will strengthen allied deterrence and interoperability, supporting the Alliance for the challenges of today and tomorrow.
“The threat we now face is more serious and less predictable than at any time since the Cold War. We face war in Europe, growing Russian aggression, new nuclear risks, and daily cyber attacks at home. Equipping the RAF with F-35A aircraft demonstrates our unshakeable commitment to our ‘NATO First’ principle, acting as a potent deterrent to those who would do the UK and our Allies harm.”
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton
“For routine day-to-day operations, we have deliberately chosen to home the F-35A on the Operational Conversion Unit, as it can provide greater flying time per sortie and requires less maintenance hours. Consequently, it will reduce the time taken to train new pilots and improve F-35 Force Generation to support Carrier Strike operations around the world.”
Director Capability and Programmes, Air Vice-Marshal Beck
Typhoon will remain a fundamental part of the UK’s Combat Air mix. The synergy between Typhoon and F-35 Lightning forms a powerful, interoperable force, offering a blend of air-to-air dominance, stealth, and versatile air-to-ground capabilities. We will create an RAF with new generation jets including GCAP, F35A, F35B and Typhoon, supported by autonomous wingmen, to defend Britain’s skies and strike anywhere in the world.
| Specification | F-35A Lightning II | F-35B Lightning II |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 51.4 ft / 15.7 m | 51.2 ft / 15.5 m |
| Speed | Mach 1.6 | Mach 1.6 |
| Wingspan | 35 ft / 10.7 m | 35 ft / 10.7 m |
| Wing Area | 460 ft² / 42.7 m² | 460 ft² / 42.7 m² |
| Combat Radius (Internal Fuel) | >590 n.mi / 1,093 km | >450 n.mi / 833 km |
| Range (Internal Fuel) | >1,200 n.mi / 2,200 km | >900 n.mi / 1,667 km |
| Internal Fuel Capacity | 18,250 lb / 8,278 kg | 13,100 lb / 5,942 kg |
| Max G-Rating | 9.0 | 7.0 |
| Weapons Payload | 18,000 lb / 8,160 kg | 15,000 lb / 6,800 kg |
| Propulsion | F135-PW-100 | F135-PW-600 |
| Thrust (Max / Mil) | 40,000 lb / 25,000 lb | 38,000 lb / 26,000 lb (40,500 ib vertical) |
*Maximum Power (Max) = With Afterburn
Military Power (Mil) = Without Afterburn
To view the official government announcement, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-to-purchase-f-35as-and-join-nato-nuclear-mission-as-government-steps-up-national-security-and-delivers-defence-dividend
All imagery is current RAF F-35B variant.
Source: City of York
York has the lowest rate of pregnant women smoking in Yorkshire and the Humber at the time of delivery, new figures have revealed.
According to new data published by NHS England Statistics on Women’s Smoking Status at Time of Delivery: Data tables – NHS England Digital only 4.6 per cent (65 women) smoked in York, at the time of their delivery. This shows a significant drop, when compared to figures in 2020, which were 10.4 per cent (167 women).
Many women have been supported to help quit for good through help from the Health Trainers.
Cllr Lucy Steels- Walshaw, Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care at City of York Council, said “Stopping smoking during pregnancy is a positive step you can take for the health of you and your baby.
“Stopping smoking can be challenging, but you do not have to face this alone. The council’s health trainers can offer support tailored to your needs and look at techniques and strategies to keep you motivated on your journey to becoming smoke free”.
The Health Trainers offer an incentive scheme of £170 in shopping vouchers which are offered, if they continue to quit during their pregnancy and quit for good.
Lucy Evans, from Acomb, gave birth at full term to a 7lb 14oz healthy baby girl, Violet, 12 weeks ago. She stopped smoking a week after her first health trainer appointment early in her pregnancy, and received free nicotine gum and patches as well as one-to-one support sessions.
She has just received her final voucher this week, which she plans to spend on clothes for Violet and a treat for herself.
She said: “I wanted to quit to make sure my baby was healthy and would definitely recommend this scheme, you get so much support and help and it makes you want to quit even more.
“I feel a lot healthier, I’m not coughing as much and am breathing better, and I feel like I can handle stress a lot better as I’m not relying on smoking.”
The service offers personalised, individual support and advice, and signing up is really simple.
Visit York Health Trainers and complete the online referral form, call 01904 553377 or email cychealthtrainers@york.gov.uk
Across the region, the Smoking at Time of Delivery (SATOD) data shows that 7.5 per cent (3,901) of pregnant women across Yorkshire and the Humber were recorded as smoking in 2024/25.
This is 1.8 per cent lower than the previous year, when maternal smoking rates were 9.3 per cent across the region. This equates to 642 fewer women smoking compared to last year.
This is the lowest rate of smoking during pregnancy recorded in Yorkshire and the Humber since data began to be collected. This also reflects improvement across England as a whole, where SATOD rates fell to 6.1 per cent from 7.4 per cent last year.
Smoking during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of harm to both mother and baby. It increases the risk of stillbirth, miscarriage, and sudden infant death. Children born to parents who smoke are also more likely to experience respiratory illness, learning difficulties, and diabetes, and are more likely to grow up to be smokers when compared to children born into smoke-free households.
As well as the health harms caused by smoking during pregnancy, it also adds to the cost of living and pushes families further into poverty. The average smoker spends £3,000 per year on tobacco, with younger women from the most deprived areas being the most likely to smoke and be exposed to second-hand smoke during pregnancy.
Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen
A recent review of Additional Support Needs (ASN) spaces across Aberdeen City Council’s School Estate has highlighted a range of good practices, with schools demonstrating creativity and flexibility in how they use space to support pupils with ASN.
The findings were presented today (Tuesday 24 June) to the Education and Children’s Services Committee, where members heard that while many schools are making effective use of available space, there are also significant challenges – both in existing buildings and in the planning and design of future school infrastructure. The full report can be viewed here.
Councillor Martin Greig, convener of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “This review highlights the dedication and creativity of our schools in supporting pupils with additional needs. It’s encouraging to see so many examples of good practice across the city. At the same time, we must acknowledge the challenges that exist and ensure our planning and investment in school buildings reflect the evolving needs of all learners.”
Councillor Jessica Mennie, vice-convener of Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “Providing inclusive and supportive learning environments is a key priority. This review gives us valuable insight into how we can better design and adapt our school spaces to meet the needs of pupils with ASN. I am grateful to all the staff who contributed to this work and who continue to make a difference every day in our schools.”
The review was carried out collaboratively by officers in the Corporate Landlord cluster and colleagues in Education and Lifelong Learning, who assessed current usage of ASN spaces and identified examples of innovative and effective practice.
The work also drew on the Exploration of Learners’ Needs conducted by the Educational Psychology Service (EPS) in November 2024, and considered the findings of Audit Scotland’s February 2025 report on Additional Support for Learning.
While some of the challenges identified may require national-level policy decisions, the committee agreed that there are important local considerations for how the Council plans and manages its school estate moving forward.
As a result, the committee noted the current provision of spaces offered across the whole school estate and instructed the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to:
Source: City of Leeds
Leeds is set to come out to bat as a global sporting city as it prepares to host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup next year.
Following on from hosting England men’s triumph against India in the first Test this week, Headingley stadium will once again be placed firmly on the worldwide cricket stage as it welcomes the landmark women’s tournament in 2026.
The iconic venue is scheduled to host five nail-biting showdowns as the likes of Australia, India, West Indies, Pakistan and England battle it out for the prestigious trophy, currently held by New Zealand.
The action initially kicks off on Friday June 12, 2026, marking the start of a whirlwind month of world-class cricket, with fixtures in Headingley set for:
And from today (Wednesday June 25) for the next 12 days, people in Leeds and beyond will have the opportunity to gain exclusive, priority tickets via an online link.
The access window opened at 10am today and ends at midnight on July 8, to help the city’s fans beat the ballot and secure a seat to watch the action in Leeds and other venues across the country.
The announcement of Headingley as a host venue for the high-profile tournament further bolsters Leeds’s reputation as an all-rounder when it comes to global sporting events.
Recent prominent national and international events hosted by the city include the AJ Bell World Triathlon Championship Series, the Westfield Health British Transplant Games, a number of fixtures for 2022’s Rugby League World Cup and the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019.
As well as raising Leeds’s profile as a sporting heavyweight, such occasions also provide a massive boost to the city’s and regional economy, as evidenced by 2014’s Tour de France Grand Depart bringing in more than £100m in addition to other long-term benefits including increased tourism and trade deals.
The council also works alongside individual organisers to ensure that large-scale events follow robust sustainability strategies that support the city’s net zero ambitions.
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “Hosting the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is great news for Leeds, enhancing our already-impressive track record of staging major events of all kinds.
“It’s a privilege to be among the many iconic venues up and down the country showcasing world-class cricket and propelling the women’s game into the mainstream – and hopefully inspiring new generations to get involved in the sport.
“With the opening today of the priority window to access tickets, now is the chance for fans across Leeds and beyond to snap up the opportunity to enjoy what promises to be thrilling days of cricketing action right here in city.”
Yorkshire CCC Chief Executive Officer Sanjay Patel said: “We are delighted to be hosting five fixtures in the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
“Headingley has an incredible track record of hosting entertaining matches, and I’m sure it’ll be no different next summer.
“The opportunity to host some of the world’s best cricketers is really exciting, and I’m sure the population of Leeds and the surrounding areas will come out in their numbers to support the teams.
“Alongside this, the potential legacy that a tournament like this can have on the game is transformative and we will be working hard with a range of partners to maximise its impact.”
Tournament director Beth Barrett-Wild said: “The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup provides us with an unparalleled opportunity to transform a month of sporting excellence into a movement that will rewrite the narrative about women’s cricket.
“At iconic venues like Headingley, we’ll see incredible, world-class athletes battling it out in front of hundreds of thousands of fans, who with every ball bowled and run scored, will be contributing to lasting change.
“It’s our opportunity to give women’s cricket the stage it deserves, and to inspire fans across Leeds to get involved!”
To access tickets via the priority window, visit: https://tickets.womens.t20worldcup.com/list/partnerAdvantage?code=PQENvVsvPs.
ENDS
For media enquiries please contact:
Leeds City Council communications and marketing,
Email: communicationsteam@leeds.gov.uk
Tel: 0113 378 6007
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
This year, specialists from the city’s municipal services complex have renovated and laid more than 175 kilometers of water and sewer networks. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Housing and Public Utilities and Improvement Petr Biryukov.
“Today, Moscow occupies a leading position among other regions in upgrading utility lines. The systematic work being carried out allows us to fully ensure the safety and reliability of network operation. This year, it is planned to build, upgrade and reconstruct over 260 kilometers of water and sewer networks; at present, work has been completed on over 175 kilometers,” said Pyotr Biryukov.
Such events are held in all administrative districts. Modern technologies and equipment are used.
Networks that need updating are identified during telediagnostics using a robotic complex. After inspecting the internal condition of the pipeline, a decision is made on the need for repair. More than 90 percent of the work is performed using trenchless technologies, such as pulling a new pipeline in an existing pipe, restoring it with polymer sleeves, and horizontal directional drilling.
The use of new technologies allows us to minimize discomfort for residents, and the looped nature of the Moscow central water supply system makes it possible to carry out routine and repair work without disconnecting consumers.
The measures implemented in the capital to develop and modernize utility networks correspond to the goals and objectives of the national project “Infrastructure for life”.
Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.
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Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, announces the listing of Humanity Protocol (H) on June 25, 2025 (UTC). To celebrate the listing, MEXC is launching a special event for new and existing users, featuring a total prize pool of $90,000 in H and 50,000 USDT.
Humanity Protocol is a decentralized identity network that enables users to prove their authentic humanness through palm scan technology while maintaining complete privacy. Built on zero-knowledge cryptography, the protocol creates a Sybil-resistant identity system that works seamlessly across digital and physical environments. Humanity Protocol utilizes H tokens as the native utility token for governance, staking, and verification services, with a total supply of 10 billion H tokens.
The Airdrop+ event runs from June 24, 2025, 10:00 (UTC) to July 3, 2025, 10:00 (UTC) and includes the following benefits:
MEXC has established itself as an industry leader by consistently providing users with early access to promising crypto projects. According to the TokenInsight report , MEXC leads the industry with the highest number of spot listings and fastest listing speed, maintaining high-frequency launches within bi-weekly cycles and demonstrating its ability to quickly capture market trends. To date, MEXC has listed more than 3,000 digital assets.
With exceptional trading depth, competitive trading fees, and robust security measures, MEXC delivers a superior trading experience for users. Moving forward, MEXC will continue to maintain its industry-leading listing efficiency, innovate continuously, and expand its product offerings, ensuring users can access the best opportunities in the ever-evolving crypto landscape.
For full event details and participation rules, please visit here.
About MEXC
Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto.” Serving over 40 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, everyday airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.
MEXC Official Website｜X｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC
Risk Disclaimer:
The information provided in this article regarding cryptocurrencies does not constitute investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully assess market fluctuations, the fundamentals of projects, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/358d3620-cb53-48c1-82f8-e482df5c1e8f
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, announces the listing of Humanity Protocol (H) on June 25, 2025 (UTC). To celebrate the listing, MEXC is launching a special event for new and existing users, featuring a total prize pool of $90,000 in H and 50,000 USDT.
Humanity Protocol is a decentralized identity network that enables users to prove their authentic humanness through palm scan technology while maintaining complete privacy. Built on zero-knowledge cryptography, the protocol creates a Sybil-resistant identity system that works seamlessly across digital and physical environments. Humanity Protocol utilizes H tokens as the native utility token for governance, staking, and verification services, with a total supply of 10 billion H tokens.
The Airdrop+ event runs from June 24, 2025, 10:00 (UTC) to July 3, 2025, 10:00 (UTC) and includes the following benefits:
MEXC has established itself as an industry leader by consistently providing users with early access to promising crypto projects. According to the TokenInsight report , MEXC leads the industry with the highest number of spot listings and fastest listing speed, maintaining high-frequency launches within bi-weekly cycles and demonstrating its ability to quickly capture market trends. To date, MEXC has listed more than 3,000 digital assets.
With exceptional trading depth, competitive trading fees, and robust security measures, MEXC delivers a superior trading experience for users. Moving forward, MEXC will continue to maintain its industry-leading listing efficiency, innovate continuously, and expand its product offerings, ensuring users can access the best opportunities in the ever-evolving crypto landscape.
For full event details and participation rules, please visit here.
About MEXC
Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto.” Serving over 40 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, everyday airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.
MEXC Official Website｜X｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC
Risk Disclaimer:
The information provided in this article regarding cryptocurrencies does not constitute investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully assess market fluctuations, the fundamentals of projects, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/358d3620-cb53-48c1-82f8-e482df5c1e8f
Source: Government of Qatar
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Peace and God’s mercy, and blessings be upon you all.
Firstly, I would like to extend a warm welcome to my dear brother and friend, His Excellency Dr. Nawaf Salam, Prime Minister of the sisterly Lebanese Republic, on his visit to the State of Qatar.
I also wish to offer our sincere apologies to His Excellency for the disruption to air traffic last night. The delay was a necessary precaution to ensure his safety and the safety of all air travel. We understand he had just concluded a visit to our brothers in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and we regret any inconvenience caused.
The discussion session between the Prime Minister and I followed his meeting with His Highness the Amir. We reviewed the bilateral relations and avenues of cooperation between our two countries. Naturally, we also explored ways in which we can work together to support our brothers in Lebanon and help maintain stability there. One of the key topics we addressed was the energy sector—specifically, how we can jointly develop and rehabilitate Lebanon’s energy infrastructure. There were important discussions held between the energy ministers of both countries, and, God willing, this will be followed by a concrete action plan in the coming months, as we pledged to the Prime Minister. We also discussed the urgent need to provide energy support to Lebanon during the summer, and, God willing, this matter will be further addressed with the Qatar Fund for Development and QatarEnergy to deliver as much support as possible.
We also explored avenues for support and cooperation in transportation and air navigation. The Ministers of Transport of Qatar and of the sisterly Lebanese Republic held substantive talks on potential joint initiatives, including the reconstruction of infrastructure—particularly in areas damaged by the Israeli occupation forces.
We also took the opportunity to review regional developments and ongoing events. I must unequivocally condemn Israel’s violations of the ceasefire agreement and its continued breaches of our brotherly Lebanon’s sovereignty. Such actions are unacceptable and deserve the strongest possible denunciation. We call on the UN Security Council to fulfill its responsibilities and bring an end to these irresponsible measures in the region.
We also discussed regional developments more broadly, including progress in Lebanese–Syrian relations, for which we hope, God willing, a better future lies ahead. We noted the Prime Minister’s keen interest in deepening ties with sister Arab states, particularly neighboring countries such as Syria. The State of Qatar fully supports these endeavors.
Today, the region is facing challenges that we have not faced for a long time. Recently, the sovereignty of the State of Qatar was violated by an attack on Al Udeid Air Base carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. We condemn this act in the strongest terms and denounce such behavior by a neighboring country with which Qatar has traditionally maintained good-neighborly, transparent relations. At the same time, Qatar remains committed to its policy of good neighborliness: from the outset, we have also condemned Israeli strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran and the harm inflicted on the Iranian people. Ultimately, the Iranian people are our neighbors, and we wish them peace, growth, and development. However, any attack on the State of Qatar is unacceptable. Prior to this incident, Qatar undertook significant diplomatic efforts with regional and international partners to defuse tensions, but we were nonetheless taken by surprise by this assault on the base of a sister country.
I would like to commend the pivotal role of the armed forces under the leadership of His Highness the Amir, who remained fully informed and vigilant from the moment intelligence was received about a potential attack on bases hosting U.S. forces in the region until the threat was successfully repelled. In particular, the Qatari armed forces demonstrated exceptional bravery in defending against these attacks. As highlighted in yesterday’s press conference, thanks to God, the Qatari air defenses intercepted all incoming missiles except for one, which landed harmlessly in an open area.
I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to our sisterly and friendly countries for their solidarity with Qatar and their clear rejection of this aggression—especially our brothers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), who promptly stood by us and offered their support. Today, at the request of the Council Presidency, held by Kuwait, an emergency ministerial meeting will take place in Doha, God willing, and I will receive my fellow GCC foreign ministers to discuss this serious development in our region. I must take this opportunity to emphasize a few key points: foremost among them is the need to approach regional events with responsibility and wisdom. The recent reckless Israeli attacks on multiple countries in the region, including the Islamic Republic of Iran—alongside the aggression against us—demonstrate how such uncalculated actions only fuel instability and could have pushed the region into a far more dangerous situation.
Following the attack, the Armed Forces—under the directives of His Highness the Commander-in-Chief—carefully studied possible response scenarios. However, the State of Qatar has always prioritized diplomacy and wisdom, placing the greater good of the region above all else. The key message we aim to convey is that, thanks be to God, Qatar has demonstrated—through its capabilities and the strength of its Armed Forces—that it is fully capable of defending itself, its citizens, and its residents, united as one people. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, there were swift communications with His Highness the Amir, including a significant conversation with the President of the United States to discuss the situation, its consequences, and possible responses. This exchange opened the door to a complete ceasefire across all fronts. At the request of our American partners, Qatar contacted the Iranian side to assess their willingness to commit to such a ceasefire, which led to the announcement made by the U.S. President—a step we welcome. Despite some violations observed today, we remain hopeful that the ceasefire will hold and that efforts will return to a diplomatic path. We call on all parties to honor the agreement and urge both the American and Iranian sides to resume nuclear negotiations without delay. Qatar continues to advocate for a region free of nuclear weapons, achieved through a comprehensive agreement that ensures collective security, protects everyone’s interests, and respects Iran’s rights as our neighbor.
A short while ago, His Highness the Amir received a call from the President of Iran, during which the Iranian President expressed his regret over the incident, acknowledging that the State of Qatar was the target. We made it clear to him that Qatar, as a neighboring country, has always based its relationship with Iran on the principles of good neighborliness and did not expect such an action—especially in light of ongoing efforts to escalate the situation. While Qatar will continue to handle matters with wisdom and restraint, the violation of its sovereignty is entirely unacceptable. All necessary diplomatic and legal measures will be pursued in response. We sincerely hope the situation will be contained swiftly and that this difficult chapter be closed soon.
We must remember that the current developments in the region are a direct extension of the conflict in Gaza and the brutal aggression faced by our Palestinian brothers there. Since the beginning, the State of Qatar has worked tirelessly to prevent the escalation of this conflict and to halt the bombing of innocent civilians. In coordination with the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States, Qatar continues its efforts to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Despite the region’s challenging circumstances, our efforts never ceased. Our aim remains clear: to end the war, lift the injustice inflicted upon the people of Gaza, and bring peace to the region. It is time for the international community to take a unified stand, to stop Israel’s irresponsible actions, and to end both the aggression in Gaza and the use of humanitarian aid as a means of political provocation.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone here, and especially to the Prime Minister for honoring us with his visit during this sensitive time. We deeply appreciate the difficult circumstances our brotherly country, Lebanon, is facing, and we sincerely wish them all the best and a brighter future, God willing.
Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister.
Source: South Africa News Agency
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
A cold front is expected to make landfall on Wednesday in the Eastern Cape, according to South African Weather Service (SAWS).
“Ahead of the frontal system, strong to gale force winds are expected over the interior of the Eastern Cape on Wednesday and Thursday, 26 June 2025,” SAWS said.
As the cold front passes through the Eastern Cape on Thursday, the surface high pressure system will extend its ridge behind it, resulting in cold to very cold conditions in places across the province from Thursday to Friday.
“Snowfalls of between 1 to 5 cm accumulation can be expected over the northern high-lying areas on Thursday. Very rough seas, with wave heights reaching 6m, and strong to gale force winds can also be expected in places along the Eastern Cape coast on Thursday into Friday,” the weather service said.
The SAWS has issued the following impact-based warnings:
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday welcomed the successful launch of the space mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland, and the United States. He also extended his best wishes to Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is set to become the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station (ISS).
PM Modi said on X: “We welcome the successful launch of the Space Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US. The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is on the way to become the first Indian to go to International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Wish him and other astronauts all the success!”
The Axiom 4 Mission (AX-4) was launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 2:31 am Eastern Time (12:01pm IST).
“Liftoff for #Ax4. The #Ax4 crew is on its way to the space station,” said the US-based Axiom Space, which has, in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX, organised the mission.
“Liftoff of Ax-4!” added SpaceX.
The lift-off comes after being deferred at least six times.
In his remarks from onboard the Dragon spacecraft, Shukla said, “Namaskar, my dear countrymen, what a ride. We are back in the space once again after 41 years. It’s an amazing ride. We are revolving around the Earth at a speed of 7.5 kilometres per second. The Tiranga embossed on my shoulders tells me that I am with all of you. This journey of mine is not a beginning to the International Space Station (ISS) but to India’s Human Space Programme. I want all of you to be part of this journey. Your chest, too, should swell with pride. You all also show excitement. Together, let’s initiate India’s Human Space Programme. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!”
“India is returning to space, Jai Hind,” Shukla wrote on X, just before the launch of the mission.
“After 41 years, India’s flag will fly in space again,” he added.
Earlier, Shukla also penned an emotional note for his wife.
“Special thanks to Kamna for being the wonderful partner that you are. Without you none of this was possible but more importantly none of this would matter,” said Shukla, in a post on Instagram.
He shared a photograph that shows them saying goodbye through opposite sides of a glass wall.
Shukla also thanked people “involved in this mission for their support”.
For Group Captain Shukla, this will be an opportunity to emulate fellow Indian Air Force Officer Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984 as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme. Sharma spent seven days in space on board the Salyut 7 space station.
This is the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. The crew is travelling to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The targeted docking time is approximately 7 am Eastern Time (4 pm IST) on Thursday, June 26.
(With agency inputs)
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) will commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26. A central event will be held at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, with Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, B.L. Verma, attending as the Chief Guest.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), the nodal agency for drug demand reduction in India, has been spearheading efforts to prevent drug abuse, assess the extent of substance use, and provide treatment and rehabilitation services. As part of its ongoing mission, the Ministry is implementing the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), an ambitious nationwide campaign to spread awareness about the harmful effects of substance abuse.
The NMBA, currently operational across all districts of India, focuses particularly on youth, with outreach efforts targeting universities, colleges, schools, and communities. The objective is to transform the campaign into a Jan Andolan—a people’s movement—through active community involvement and ownership.
As of June 2025, over 15.78 crore people have been sensitized through NMBA activities, including 5.26 crore youth and 3.31 crore women. More than 4.31 lakh educational institutions have participated in spreading awareness. Additionally, over 20,000 trained Master Volunteers have been deployed to lead these efforts at the grassroots level.
To support digital outreach, the NMBA maintains active social media accounts and has developed a mobile application available on the Google Play Store. This app allows districts and volunteers to upload real-time data, feeding into a national NMBA dashboard. The official NMBA website (http://nmba.dosje.gov.in) provides comprehensive information, including an e-pledge, online forums, and detailed reports on the campaign’s impact.
A notable achievement under NMBA has been the National Online Pledge initiative, where more than 1.67 crore students from nearly one lakh educational institutions have pledged to live a drug-free life. The Ministry has also hosted a series of engagement programs such as Nashe se Azaadi – A National Youth and Students Interaction Programme, Naya Bharat, Nasha Mukt Bharat, and special interactions with NCC cadets.
In collaboration with spiritual and social organizations—including The Art of Living, Brahma Kumaris, Sant Nirankari Mission, Ram Chandra Mission (Daaji), ISKCON, and All World Gayatri Parivaar—the Ministry has expanded the campaign’s reach through mass awareness events.
To enhance public access to services, all government-supported de-addiction centers have been geo-tagged.
Substance use and dependence remain critical public health challenges that impact not just individuals but also families and communities. The misuse of psychoactive substances often leads to serious health conditions including neuropsychiatric disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and increased risk of accidents, suicides, and violence. The Ministry emphasizes that substance use should be approached as a psycho-social-medical issue requiring coordinated and compassionate intervention.
To mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, all States and Union Territories, along with NGOs and Voluntary Organizations supported under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), have been directed to organize awareness programmes from June 1 to June 26.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
Strategy for the development of Moscow healthcare involves a comprehensive upgrade of the medical infrastructure. This was stated in his blog Sergei Sobyanin.
In the last five years alone, hospitals with a total area of over two million square meters have been reconstructed and built in the capital. And large-scale modernization of healthcare facilities is not slowing down: this year it will cover about 100 thousand square meters on hospital grounds.
“In 2025, we will modernize 15 buildings of Moscow medical institutions in the hospitals named after F.I. Inozemtsev, No. 15 named after O.M. Filatov, named after V.V. Veresaev, No. 1 named after N.I. Pirogov, No. 67 named after L.A. Vorokhobov, named after A.K. Yeramishantsev and the Moscow Multidisciplinary Scientific and Clinical Center named after S.P. Botkin, the Research Clinical Institute of Otolaryngology named after L.I. Sverzhevsky, the Morozov Children’s City Clinical Hospital and the Moscow Multidisciplinary Center for Palliative Care,” the Moscow Mayor shared.
The work is being carried out in such a way that it has virtually no impact on the current activities of the hospitals. Upon completion of the reconstruction, the buildings will meet modern standards of Moscow medicine. They will have the latest high-tech equipment for diagnostics and treatment. The conditions for patients and doctors will also become much more comfortable.
Sobyanin: Healthcare system undergoing its largest modernization
Building No. 8 of the Moscow Multidisciplinary Scientific and Clinical Center named after S.P. Botkin is in the final stage of work. This building is a cultural heritage site, so the work there was carried out in restoration mode. Specialists reinforced the structures, updated the facade and restored historical details, replaced the roof covering, repaired the rafter system and roof sheathing, and reconstructed utility networks. Window and door units were replaced, returning them to their historical appearance.
The therapeutic department will continue to operate in the renovated building, becoming more comfortable and functional for patients and medical staff.
At the same time, the landscaping of the Botkin Hospital territory was completed. Here, the sidewalks and driveways were renovated, energy-saving lamps, benches and urns were installed, and landscaping was done (almost 140 adult lindens, firs, pines, thujas, rowans and ornamental apple trees were planted). Two new fountains were installed in the front yard. In addition, five security posts – checkpoints – were put in order.
Much attention was paid to the issue of organizing traffic on the hospital grounds. For this purpose, the driveways were widened and priority traffic for ambulances was organized. Separate entrances were made for visitors’ personal transport, as well as convenient guest parking equipped with signs and markings.
A new navigation system was also developed. Now it is a modern, convenient and informative system of signs that helps visitors find the necessary building.
Sobyanin spoke about the first year of work of the new centers of the Botkin Hospital
“In early June, we completed the reconstruction of building No. 2 of the palliative care center, and along with that, the comprehensive modernization of the framework of Moscow’s palliative care service, which took several years,” wrote Sergei Sobyanin.
The seven-story building now offers the most comfortable conditions for patients, relatives and medical workers. The building has a barrier-free environment, wards with specialized interiors and equipment, and a small operating room for minimally invasive surgical procedures and manipulations.
The area adjacent to the building was also updated: comfortable sidewalks were installed, lanterns and benches were installed, a small parking lot was organized, and landscaping was done. The building will soon be able to accept patients.
In early June, the City Clinical Hospital (CCH) named after F.I. Inozemtsev completed a major overhaul of the seven-story building No. 1 with an area of 10.3 thousand square meters. It housed a consultative and diagnostic department, a short-stay hospital, an ophthalmology center, specialized departments, an operating block, and other units.
The new equipment has expanded the possibilities of diagnostic research. The operating rooms here are also equipped with the latest technology and meet all modern requirements.
The building has created the most comfortable atmosphere. Patients are accommodated in small wards with functional beds, showers and toilets. There are comfortable waiting areas with comfortable furniture. You can enter the building not only from the street, but also through a heated underground passage that connects treatment building No. 1 with other hospital buildings.
Sergei Sobyanin opened the renovated building of the Inozemtsev Hospital
The modernization of the seven-story medical building at the L.I. Sverzhevsky Research Clinical Institute of Otolaryngology has reached its final stage. It will unite adult and children’s audiology centers, which are currently located on the first floors of residential buildings.
The renovated building will be equipped with functional diagnostics, computer tomography and specialized electrophysiological diagnostics rooms, a day hospital and other departments. This will significantly expand the possibilities of medical care and improve patient routing.
A unique method for surgical hearing restoration has been developed in Moscow
Building No. 12 of City Clinical Hospital No. 1 named after N.I. Pirogov will house an inter-district rheumatology center. It will include a consultative and diagnostic department, a day hospital, an inpatient department, rooms for genetic engineering biological therapy, a department of radiation diagnostics and other units. Thus, patients will be able to receive all the necessary specialized care within a single institution – from a comprehensive examination to effective therapy and observation.
By the end of the year, the obstetrics and gynecology cluster at the V.V. Veresaev City Clinical Hospital will be completed. A modern women’s health center and a new maternity hospital will be opened there. The buildings, which will be built in the same style as the already renovated buildings, will use the latest equipment.
Moscow Mayor: Veresaev Hospital Will Provide Full Range of Medical Care for Women
The six-story therapeutic building No. 4 of City Clinical Hospital No. 15 named after O. M. Filatov will house the key departments of the medical institution. One of the most important functions of the therapeutic building will be to ensure continuity in the treatment of emergency patients referred from the flagship center. The comprehensive modernization of the institution will improve the effectiveness of emergency and planned treatment.
Moscow Mayor Talks About Comprehensive Modernization of Filatov Hospital No. 15
The modernization of Building A in City Clinical Hospital No. 67 named after L.A. Vorokhobov is underway. It will house departments of surgery, endoscopy, proctology, anesthesiology and resuscitation, an operating unit and diagnostic rooms, which will allow for the organization of planned and emergency medical care at the level of flagship centers. In addition to the renovation of the building, the improvement of the adjacent territory is also planned.
The updated buildings will be part of the unified digital circuit of Moscow healthcare, which will allow the transition to a paperless work format. Doctors will have access to the digital clinic management system – a dashboard, the Digital Resuscitation service. Patients will use the already familiar digital certificates and extracts, chat bots and SMS services.
The Digital Resuscitation Service is Operating in 23 Hospitals in the Capital — Moscow Mayor
“Modernization of healthcare facilities provides long-term and systemic results for decades to come. Modern, well-equipped digital hospitals will serve many generations of Muscovites,” concluded Sergei Sobyanin.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect
HTTPS: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12974050/
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Tashkent, June 25 /Xinhua/ — The meeting of the leaders of Uzbekistan and China, as well as the successful holding of the China-Central Asia summit, clearly demonstrated the high level and quality of current regional cooperation, Professor of the Nordic International University in Uzbekistan, Doctor of Economics Akram Khashimov said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua about relations between China and Central Asian countries.
According to him, based on the statements of the heads of state, it can be concluded that the countries of Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, highly appreciate the responsibility and constructive position of China in promoting regional cooperation. As the expert emphasized, the meeting was not only an important milestone in the political dialogue, but also another confirmation of strategic trust between the parties.
A. Khashimov noted that following the talks, the leaders of Uzbekistan and China reached a number of key agreements covering a wide range of areas – from economics and trade to transport, green energy, education and humanitarian exchanges. “For Uzbekistan, China is not only an important trade and economic partner, but also a key ally on the path to modernization of the country,” the expert emphasized, adding that the meeting gave additional confidence and outlined clear guidelines for further cooperation.
At the regional level, according to the Uzbek analyst, the China-Central Asia summit clearly demonstrated to the world that cooperation between the countries of the region and China is based on the principles of equality, mutual trust and mutual benefit. The very creation of a mechanism of this format, according to the expert, testifies to the growing commitment of the Central Asian countries to the principles of sovereignty and strategic autonomy, as well as their readiness to jointly respond to challenges and share development opportunities on a fair basis.
Particular attention was paid to the concept of a community with a common destiny put forward by China. A. Khashimov noted that this initiative is fully consistent with Uzbekistan’s foreign policy priorities: good neighborliness, pragmatic partnership and mutual benefit. In the context of an increasingly complex international situation, in his opinion, cooperation mechanisms between Uzbekistan, China and the Central Asian countries are becoming the most important source of peace, development and stability, representing a sustainable and future-oriented model of regional governance.
The expert expressed confidence that in the future, the China-Central Asia summit mechanism will become a central platform for coordinating regional cooperation. Uzbekistan, he stressed, is ready to continue to act as an active participant, consistently implementing the agreements reached at the highest level, deepening practical cooperation and contributing to the formation of a closer community with a common future between China and Central Asia for the sake of sustainable peace and common prosperity. –0–
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
URUMQI, June 25 (Xinhua) — The Horgos border crossing in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region handled a total of 18.175 million tonnes of import and export cargo in the first five months of this year, up 3.7 percent year on year, according to Horgos Customs.
The range of goods imported through the said checkpoint during the reporting period mainly consisted of electromechanical products, unprocessed copper and copper materials, agricultural products, food products, metal ore, concentrate, etc. At the same time, exports were mainly represented by new energy vehicles, electromechanical and high-tech products, clothing and other goods.
According to Liu Xingwen, CEO of the local Yifan Export and Import Trading Company, his organization currently imports about 20 categories of goods, including safflower oil, honey, chocolate, dry camel milk, etc. These goods are imported to China from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Poland and other countries.
“From January to May 2025, our company’s import volume was more than 1,000 tons, with a total value of over 20 million yuan,” Liu Xingwen said.
Let us recall that Khorgos is located near the border with Kazakhstan and is the country’s first-class land port with the longest history and the largest total volume of transportation in the western region of China. -0-
Source: New South Wales Community and Justice
Police investigating serious crash at Cambridge
Wednesday, 25 June 2025 – 6:55 pm.
A 36-year-old man is in hospital following a two-vehicle crash on Cambridge Road at Cambridge about 2pm today (Wednesday).The man was driving what was believed to be a stolen vehicle, a white Mitsubishi Express van, when he was observed by police.Police attempted to intercept the vehicle, activating their lights.The driver then allegedly evaded police, driving dangerously before crashing, rolling the van, and colliding with another vehicle.The man, who was the sole occupant of the van, was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital.The female driver, and sole occupant of the second vehicle, was not physically injured in the crash.Cambridge Road was closed for about 4.5 hours while the scene was examined. As at 6.35pm, the road was clear.As is normal practice, a Professional Standards investigation will be conducted into the incident to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.Police are calling for witnesses of the crash or any person who observed a white Mitsubishi Express van being driven around the time of the crash to come forward.Anyone with dash cam footage or information should contact Police on 131 444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.au. Please quote OR778445.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
More planning appeals will be processed via a faster, simplified procedure under new regulations.
Simplified planning appeal procedures will be rolled out to the majority of planning appeals decided via written representations following a Ministerial decision to change regulation.
Expected to begin by the end of 2025, the reform is about streamlining processes to ensure planning appeal decisions can be made more quickly, benefiting developers, local authorities and communities alike.
Under the new process the majority of written representation appeals will accept only the evidence put before the local planning authority during application. This will not only speed up appeals but will also importantly, encourage a full body of evidence to be provided at application stage, giving local planning authorities the information they need to make decisions – aligning with universal planning principles of keeping decisions local.
Paul Morrison, Planning Inspectorate CEO, explains:
Every delayed planning decision represents potential delays to development and uncertainty for local communities. This change is a common-sense approach to planning that benefits us all by removing unnecessary administrative burdens and focusing on what matters: well-informed, timely decisions based on high-quality applications from the start.
The simplified appeals process will deliver:
A faster, more efficient planning appeals process that benefits everyone
Keeping planning decisions local and reducing unnecessary bureaucracy
Submit once, submit right – providing the complete picture at application stage
Initial estimates anticipate changes to regulation being made by the end of the year. From this date, applications to local planning authorities become eligible for the simplified appeals process.
More detail on the changes is available via dedicated guidance. We will update our procedural guide once we receive a final draft of the changed regulations.
The Planning Inspectorate remains committed to maintaining a fair planning system where all appeals are carefully considered against local and national planning policies.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The Regulator of Social Housing has downgraded Anchor’s governance grading to G3 in a regulatory judgement published today (Wednesday 25 June), after an investigation found issues of serious regulatory concern.
RSH found insufficient evidence that Anchor has an appropriate, robust and prudent risk and control framework and that it has adequately managed and addressed key risks relating to landlord health and safety.
There is also insufficient assurance that Anchor’s data is robust and that systems and processes are adequate to ensure key information is monitored and accurately reported.
Anchor has identified that there have been errors in its landlord health and safety compliance performance reporting and is undertaking a review of its data, which is ongoing.
Anchor received a C3 consumer grading in February after RSH found serious failings in its delivery of the consumer standards. Anchor was then placed on the gradings –under review list while RSH investigated further issues relating to governance.
RSH also published a range of other regulatory judgements today, including a C3 grading for Slough Borough Council.
Following an inspection, RSH found that Slough Borough Council:
Lacked meaningful tenant engagement and provided limited performance information for tenants
Could not demonstrate how homes were allocated in a fair and transparent way
First Garden Cities Homes and Southway Housing Trust were both downgraded to a G2 governance grading and were regraded to V2 for viability. Both received C2 gradings.
Pickering and Ferens Homes received C1/G1/V1 gradings and Tuntum Housing Association Limited received C2/G1/V2 gradings.
Kate Dodsworth, Chief of Regulatory Engagement at RSH, said:
Good governance is critical for delivering good services and keeping tenants safe in their homes. All landlords need to make sure they have strong governance and controls in place in order to have a better grasp of strategic risks.
Equally, delivering the outcomes of the new consumer standards is vital for tenants’ health and safety and making sure their voices are heard. Our programme of proactive inspections is helping bring issues to light so they can be put right as soon as possible.
RSH regulates housing associations and other private registered providers against its full set of standards. Councils are regulated against the consumer and rent standards only.
More information about RSH’s responsive engagement, programmed inspections and consumer gradings is also available on its website.
RSH promotes a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver more and better social homes. It does this by setting standards and carrying out robust regulation focusing on driving improvement in social landlords, including local authorities, and ensuring that housing associations are well-governed, financially viable and offer value for money. It takes appropriate action if the outcomes of the standards are not being delivered.
| Provider | Consumer grade | Governance grade | Viability grade | Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor Hanover Group | C3 (based on previous assessment) | G3 (downgrade) | V1 (based on previous assessment) | Responsive Engagement |
| First Garden Cities Homes Limited | C2 | G2 (downgrade) | V2 (Regrade from V1) | Inspection and Responsive Engagement |
| Pickering and Ferens Homes | C1 | G1 | V1 | Inspection |
| Slough Borough Council | C3 | N/A | N/A | Inspection |
| Southway Housing Trust (Manchester) Limited | C2 | G2 (downgrade) | V2 (Regrade from V1) | Inspection |
| The Housing Plus Group Limited | G1 | V2 | Interim RJ (Merger/ Acquisition) | |
| Tuntum Housing Association Limited | C2 | G1 | V2 | Inspection |
For general enquiries email enquiries@rsh.gov.uk. For media enquiries please see our Media Enquiries page.