Proposals to support pensioners in Scotland this winter.
All pensioners in Scotland with an income of less than £35,000 will receive Pension Age Winter Heating Payments this winter of either £203.40 or £305.10 per household, Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has confirmed. This means pensioners in Scotland will be better off compared to those in the rest of the UK.
Pensioner households with no-one aged 80 or over will receive £203.40, rising to £305.10 for households with someone aged 80 or over.
Following the UK Government’s recent change to winter fuel payments, the Scottish Government will withdraw the current amendment regulations before the Scottish Parliament, which were previously lodged in order to protect pensioners in Scotland against the UK Government’s planned cuts to winter fuel payments.
The move will now see over 720,000 Scottish pensioners benefit.
Ms Somerville said:
“The UK Government’s decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment last winter was a betrayal of millions of pensioners, and their recent U-turn is welcome if belated.
“Following careful consideration of the options available, the Scottish Government will mirror the approach taken by the UK Government. We will bring forward regulations to ensure that, from this winter onwards, all pensioners will receive either £203.40 or £305.10 per household, depending on age.
“We are in discussion with the UK Government to extend the proposed arrangements in England and Wales to recover payments from those pensioners with an individual income of more than £35,000 through the tax system. The intention is that the payment will be recovered automatically, and pensioners will not need to register with HMRC for this or take any further action.
“This approach ensures a higher level of support which those most in need will receive. Over 720,000 Scottish pensioners are estimated to benefit from the higher payment.”
Behind the scenes during filming of Merlin’s Big Adventure at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford
Filmmakers from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) have created a heartwarming video to make visits to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford less daunting for young people.
Starring a talented golden retriever named Merlin, plus a few of his canine friends, the short film aims to ease the anxiety of children ahead of their trip to hospital.
Produced by Senior Lecturer Hans Petch and recent BA (Hons) Film and Television Production graduate James Hartley, the film features Merlin explaining each stage of their visit, from the hospital waiting room through to undergoing anaesthesia.
The idea for the film came after Broomfield doctors saw first-hand the impact that Essex Therapy Dogs, including Merlin, were having when they visited patients at the hospital.
“After witnessing the calming, positive effect of Essex Therapy Dogs in our anaesthetic department, we began to wonder if we could do even more to help ease the theatre journey for our younger patients.
“With the brilliant support of Hans Petch and James Hartley from Anglia Ruskin University, we worked together to write a script and produce this video that shares essential information about what to expect in hospital, in a warm, engaging, and child-friendly way.
“We’re now expanding the project to include additional resources, such as a social story and an easy-read storybook, offering different ways for children to connect with the material in whichever way suits them best.
“Our hope is that this initiative will make a meaningful difference to the experience of young patients preparing for surgery at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.”
Dr Simon Trundle, Consultant in Anaesthesia at Broomfield Hospital
“We set out to make something truly enjoyable and entertaining for young viewers, while incorporating important, educational information. The link to our film is being sent to parents and carers ahead of hospital visits, and knowing that it’s helping to reduce the fears and anxiety of young children is incredibly rewarding.
“I’ve worked with many actors in my career, and I can honestly say that directing Merlin was an absolute delight. Other than the need for regular breaks, he’s also one of the least demanding actors I’ve worked with!”
Hans Petch, Senior Lecturer in Film and Television Production at ARU
“Watching Merlin work his magic is truly inspiring. His wagging tail, unwavering patience, and kind heart create an environment where children and adults feel safe and supported before and after their procedures – both in real life and now on screen.”
Merlin’s owner Mandy Johnson, from Essex Therapy Dogs
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Broomfield Hospital, plan to formally study the video’s impact by surveying children and parents, and ARU and the Trust are exploring the possibility of making additional films, this time using virtual reality technology.
Lancaster City Council has once again been recognised as a leader in climate action, achieving a score of 64% in the 2025 Climate Emergency UK Scorecards – the best of any council in the north west.
2025 climate action scorecard
This marks an increase on the council’s 2023 score (61%), and is also only four percent behind Winchester City Council, which was the highest performing district in the country with 68%.
The council scored higher in the Buildings and Heating category, reflecting continued investment in improving energy efficiency across its estate. This work has included the replacement of gas boilers with heat pumps, installation of secondary glazing and solar panels, along with improved insulation.
The lowest scoring area was Transport, a result that is not a surprise given that Lancaster City Council is not a transport authority and does not have direct control over major transport infrastructure or policy. However, the council continues to work positively with its partners including Lancashire County Council to support improvements in sustainable travel and active transport options.
Councillor Sam Riches, cabinet member for climate action, welcomed the results: “We are proud to have improved our score and this reflects the hard work of our officers and the shared commitment from councillors in taking real action on projects that help to mitigate the effects of climate change.
“At the same time, we know there is still much more to do and our Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) provides a detailed roadmap for decarbonisation. Our plans for the future include further retrofitting of council-owned buildings, expanding solar installations, and looking at opportunities for new green infrastructure projects that benefit both the climate and our communities and can also lead to lower costs.”
The Climate Action Scorecards assess local authorities across seven areas including buildings, transport, planning, governance, biodiversity, waste, and community engagement.
Lancaster’s continued strong performance is attributed to its strategic focus on place-based action, collaboration, and sustainability.
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
The Moscow Oncology Forum 2025 has begun its work in the capital. It was opened by Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development. In her welcoming speech, she spoke about the city’s transition to an electronic format for pathomorphological diagnostics, the completion of the formation of an infrastructural framework for oncological care, and the introduction of robotic systems into the capital’s healthcare system.
“In five years, we have essentially created a high-tech oncology service from scratch: we have modernized the equipment, worked out standards for drug provision, formed client paths and carried out complete digitalization. Now all oncology hospitals have the most modern robotic systems – and not one in each. And all this is provided with the necessary financial resources. Four thousand operations have already been performed, and our annual capacity is more than five thousand operations per year. All our laboratories work exclusively digitally. But the most important thing is, of course, a new level of quality of medical care for our patients. I would like to separately note the team of Moscow oncologists, who are truly the vanguard of the capital’s healthcare. You are pioneers in almost all innovations and processes. I would like to thank each oncologist for your daily, difficult, but very noble work in the conditions of continuous changes,” said Anastasia Rakova.
She added that the unprecedented archive of digital medical data, including oncological data, formed in Moscow is an indisputable competitive advantage. In the context of the development of large generative models of artificial intelligence, this archive opens up a unique opportunity to create projects to identify precursors and patterns of disease development.
According to Anastasia Rakova, the Moscow oncology service today has every opportunity to reach a new level of care and use modern technologies, such as cell therapy, personalized vaccines, isotopes, and minimally invasive surgery. Among the first steps already being implemented in this direction, she noted the creation of a nuclear pharmacy, theranostics, and the successful use of yttrium to treat liver tumors. The deputy mayor expressed hope that successful cases of high-tech care will become a permanent practice available to every Muscovite. To this end, the capital will increase its work with federal centers, scientific organizations, and pharmaceutical companies.
The Deputy Mayor recalled the classic rule of medicine: it is easier to prevent a disease than to treat it, and the capital is actively moving in this direction. Thanks to the opening of endoscopic centers, it was possible to increase the detection rate of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) cancer at an early stage. The plans include opening several more such centers. At the same time, the capital is implementing proactive programs. For example, as part of a pilot project for the prevention of oncological diseases, a referral for a screening endoscopic examination of the GIT was opened automatically for those who have not undergone it for more than three years and fall into the risk group. More than 50 thousand people have already signed up for the checkup. After the opening ceremony, guests will be able to learn more about the latest achievements in the field of treatment and diagnosis of oncological diseases not only during the speakers’ speeches, but also by visiting an interactive exhibition. It presents 14 stands in different areas. For example, these are “Brain and Nervous System Tumors”, “Oncourology”, “Radiation and Radionuclide Therapy” and others.
Visitors to the interactive exhibition will be able to participate in master classes, intellectual games and quizzes, examine objects under a microscope, study video recordings of real operations, and also get a visual representation of the work of the operating room. The stands will show the latest equipment, models of tumors and unique clinical cases.
The largest oncology forum in Russia is taking place from June 18 to 20 at Gostiny Dvor. The event brings together participants from 20 countries. The most pressing aspects of cancer treatment are being discussed by domestic and foreign experts from Singapore, China, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, France, Turkey, the United States, Belgium, Italy and other countries. These are 144 of the best specialists, including academicians and corresponding members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, professors and doctors of science. Together, they will present almost 400 scientific reports on the latest developments in the field of providing medical care to patients with cancer.
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Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
On June 18, the final stage of the annual city competition of professional skills “Moscow Masters” in the direction of “Nurse” was completed in the capital. 24 specialists took part in the final tests, having successfully passed the test of theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
The award ceremony took place at Gostiny Dvor. The prizes — car keys — were presented to the three finalists by Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development.
“I am pleased to sum up the results of the professional competition of Moscow masters in the nomination “Nursing” today. The nursing community of Moscow is multifaceted – 50 thousand nurses and male nurses work in the capital’s healthcare. Your profession is very important and necessary, and the requirements for it are growing from year to year. You accompany the patient, support him along the entire path to recovery – from the admissions department to discharge. This year the competition was very difficult. Both the number of participants and the number of tests increased. You had to go through interviews, tests, demonstrate your skills. All of today’s finalists are already winners. You have proven that you are sincerely devoted to your work, are professionals and are ready to do everything to make life easier for patients. Once again, I congratulate all the finalists! And I would like to move on to presenting awards to the three main winners. This year, the Mayor of Moscow decided that we will present our branded Moskvich cars as a reward. “And all the finalists will go on an internship to China,” Anastasia Rakova congratulated the winners.
The best result in the tests was shown by Alena Sokolova from the V.M. Buyanov City Clinical Hospital. Second place was taken by Yulia Nagaytseva, a nurse of a general practitioner (family doctor) of City Polyclinic No. 66, and third place went to Elvira Uldanova, a district nurse. She works at Children’s City Polyclinic No. 38.
The competition, which has been held in Moscow for the 28th year in a row, not only identifies the best specialists, but also reminds society of the importance of the profession, creating additional motivation for the further development of nursing in the capital.
Before the final, the contestants went through several stages: initially, more than 700 nurses and brothers selected from medical organizations took part in the competition. After computer testing, 80 people remained, who then demonstrated their practical skills. In the final, they solved situational problems, for example, providing assistance in case of respiratory failure due to a foreign body getting into the respiratory tract or preparing a patient for an electrocardiogram.
Based on the results of the tests, 24 finalists were determined – three participants in each of the eight nominations.
The winners of the nominations competed in an interactive game, answering questions about nursing, the history of medicine, anatomy, pharmacology and other areas. In particular, about the discovery of methods for treating the most common diseases that had a significant impact on the development of medical science.
The competition was organized by the Personnel Center of the capital Department of HealthThis year the event became the largest in 28 years of its holding.
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Source: International Marine Contractors Association – IMCA
Headline: Marine contractors’ critical role in European economy, energy transition, and security revealed in new economic impact assessment
● New economic study finds marine contracting sector generates €80bn in GVA and more than 490,000 skilled jobs in Europe.
● However, regulatory certainty is needed to deliver Europe’s ambitious offshore renewable energy targets, International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) warns.
● IMCA calls for recognition as strategic sector by EU and European governments and partnership to unlock investment, training, and regulatory alignment.
The marine contracting sector is a “critical” strategic enabler of Europe’s energy and climate ambitions and plays an essential role in safeguarding Europe’s digital connectivity, a new economic impact assessment authored by PA Consulting has revealed.
The study — covering the Europe, UK, and Norway — finds that the sector is expected to generate more than €45bn in direct gross value added (GVA) in 2025 and support over 220,000 direct jobs, while the GVA-per-worker in marine contracting is more than 2.5 times the European average, highlighting the high-value impact of the sector.
Including indirect and induced impacts, PA Consulting found that the marine contracting sector will contribute more than 490,000 jobs, and €80bn in GVA in 2025.
This is the first comprehensive study of its kind into marine contracting’s economic and strategic role.
The study provides a detailed picture of a sector that remains under-recognised by policymakers — despite being central to Europe’s renewable energy infrastructure — while also highlighting a growing tension around future wind energy targets.
Responding to the research, IMCA said that Europe’s ambition to install 300-400 GW of offshore wind by 2050 cannot be realised without providing investment certainty to the marine contracting sector, given the offshore construction fleet’s essential role in building, installing, and maintaining the infrastructure powering the clean energy transition.
PA Consulting’s report sets out how the marine contracting sector is responsible for installing and maintaining offshore wind turbines and all offshore energy infrastructure, including laying subsea cables, deploying power interconnectors, enabling carbon capture and storage (CCS), decommissioning ageing infrastructure, and safeguarding critical energy assets. Its capabilities go beyond vessels alone — including remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), advanced diving operations, survey and trenching equipment, and highly specialised engineering teams that operate in the world’s most challenging offshore environments.
The sector also plays a critical role in improving energy security by reducing Europe’s reliance on imported fossil fuels. And by protecting European energy supply, interconnector, and telecoms infrastructure, the marine contracting services sector improves European security in an increasingly volatile world, making Europe more resilient to geopolitical and climate threats.
To meet its 2050 offshore wind targets, Europe will need to deploy more than 10,000 offshore wind turbines. The sector has the potential to enable the installation of the turbines required to meet offshore wind capacity targets in the EU, UK, and Norway, with the right commercial and regulatory environment.
However, this will demand investment in heavy-lift vessels, specialist equipment, and trained offshore crews, as well as upgraded port infrastructure. With vessels expected to operate for 20 years or more, companies need long-term policy certainty before committing to major investments.
Between 2025 and 2030, offshore wind installations have the potential to offset up to 3,100 million tonnes of CO₂e — a figure equivalent to removing more than 650 million cars from the road for one year, the report says, citing analysis from the Global Wind Energy Council and US Environmental Protection Agency emissions factors.
“Europe’s energy transition depends on the capabilities of marine contractors — and our members are ready to partner with EU policymakers to deliver it,” said Iain Grainger, CEO of IMCA. “We need joined-up thinking and long-term policy certainty to meet future demand. The sector is ready — but it cannot do this alone.”
“Marine contractors are ready to invest,” said Lee Billingham, IMCA Director of Strategy. “But you can’t greenlight multi-million dollar decisions when regulators are pushing rapid decarbonisation — from the EU emissions trading scheme to the IMO’s net zero framework for shipping — without clarity on which alternative fuels will be available, or where. Port access, fuel infrastructure, and regulatory alignment all need to move in sync. To deliver its targets, the EU and European governments need to work closely with the marine contracting sector to provide the certainty required for long-term investment.”
Alon Carmel, energy transition expert from PA Consulting, said: “Our study finds that the economic contribution of the marine contracting sector to the wider European economy is highly significant. More than 220,000 direct jobs and €45bn in direct GVA a year related to those jobs means there is great economic value in this sector. In addition, the sector plays a critical role installing and maintaining offshore energy infrastructure for net zero investments, as well as telecoms cables vital to our increasingly data-driven economies.”
“Marine contractors are at the frontline of Europe’s green transition,” added Grainger. “Our sector already delivers tens of billions in value and hundreds of thousands of skilled jobs. Yet Europe’s energy security and climate goals demand investment in offshore infrastructure – and fast. To meet that challenge, policymakers must recognise marine contractors as key providers of strategic infrastructure. We need clear, consistent support for new shipyards, cables and crews, or risk falling behind.”
Grainger noted that the industry currently “stands alongside Europe’s largest industries” in economic scale and is “a vital part of our industrial base”.
Headline: Thales and Skydweller join forces to develop an innovative aerial surveillance solution, combining Skydweller’s zero carbon footprint extreme endurance and Thales’ SMART RADAR based on Artificial Intelligence
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Skydweller and Thales are strengthening their collaboration by equipping Skydweller’s unmanned solar powered aircraft (MAPS) with a new solution consisting of the AirMaster S radar, equipped with Artificial Intelligence features allowing optimal and autonomous adaptation to the specific flight conditions.
This innovative solution combines a solar-powered extreme endurance aerial platform with next-generation surveillance intelligence, to set a new standard in autonomous, ultra-persistent maritime surveillance.
The Skydweller MAPS (medium-altitude pseudo-satellite), an autonomous aircraft with an unrivalled payload carrying capacity (up to 400kg unlike all other solar powered aircraft lacking real payload capability) is capable of flights from weeks to months, destroying the tyranny of distance with no carbon emissions. This capability allows for almost continuous maritime coverage, extending the scope of surveillance missions that require both persistence and operational performance.
Thales will equip the MAPS Skydweller with the AirMaster S radar system and its advanced SMART RADAR capabilities, whose intelligent functions have already been proven on board the ATL2 maritime patrol aircraft. Operating in X-band with AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array Antenna) technology, the AirMaster S radar offers significant operational advantages such as immediate and accurate assessment of land, air or sea situation.
The radar also features auto-tuning capabilities based on flight and mission conditions, perfectly suited to the Skydweller drone’s persistence in flight. Its AI-based target classification feature can detect points of interest among a large volume of data and reduce the amount of information that needs to be transmitted to the ground.
Thanks to its ability to fly uninterrupted for weeks to months, the MAPS Skydweller solar powered unmanned aircraft allows a permanent presence in sensitive areas. It complements the resources already available (satellites, other types of drones, aircraft, etc.) and makes it possible to redirect resources according to the missions.
“The combination of Thales’ AirMaster S Smart radar with the MAPS Skydweller will make it possible to change the paradigm for surveillance missions, by offering a unique solution to current sovereignty challenges. We welcome this alliance and think it will be greater to security to NATO, the EU, and allies of western democracies,” Sébastien Renouard, Chief Commercial Officer for Europe Middle East & Africa.
“We are delighted with this collaboration, which demonstrates the value of our Artificial Intelligence capabilities in the field of radars, which, combined with the innovative Skydweller MAPS, represent a real technological breakthrough for surveillance missions,”Philippe Duhamel, Executive Vice President, Defense Mission Systems, Thales
About Skydweller
Skydweller Aero Inc. is an innovative transatlantic aerospace company that develops and manufactures a fleet of solar-powered aircraft capable of perpetual flight with significant payload capacity.
Skydwellers are autonomous aircraft made of carbon fiber, with a wingspan larger than a Boeing 747, which will be used to carry out long-duration missions such as continuous coverage of theaters of operations, surveillance of exclusive economic zones or detection of drug traffickers and pirates at sea. Powered by solar energy, Skydwellers are inexpensive to operate and maintain and have a zero carbon footprint.
Skydweller Aero Inc. is primarily backed by venture capital and private equity, has its global and U.S. headquarters in Oklahoma City and European offices in Spain. For more information about Skydweller, please visit http://www.skydweller.aero
About Thales
Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.
The Group invests more than €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies. Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries.
In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion.
MEPs want to extend EU recovery funding beyond 2026 to ensure the completion of key investments and large-scale projects.
A plenary resolution adopted by 421 votes to 180, and with 55 abstentions highlights the stabilising effect of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) at a time of significant economic uncertainty in Europe.
Strengthening EU resilience and autonomy
MEPs note that the RRF prevented the fragmentation of the EU internal market and promoted recovery. They want RRF funding to respect the principle of additionality and not replace cohesion policy funding. The resolution calls for targeted investment in EU defence, education and skills, and more cross-border and multi-country measures, including high-speed railway. MEPs insist on accelerating investment in social protection and the integration of vulnerable groups. They also encourage member states to amend their national investment plans using REPowerEU to boost EU’s energy autonomy.
RRF expires in 2026
MEPs are concerned that the short timeframe for the implementation of outstanding RRF funding poses challenges to the completion of key reforms, large-scale investments and innovative projects, as well as the 70% of milestones and targets that have still to be reached. They urge the Commission to set up new programmes, which should be flexible and reactive to changing circumstances and guarantee predictability. MEPs also demand an 18-month extension for ongoing mature projects.
Transparency and simplification
The RRF’s long-term benefits to gross domestic product are likely to be between three to six times greater than the money spent, but MEPs are concerned about the total cost of Next Generation EU (NGEU) capital interest repayments. They reiterate the need for a strong auditing and monitoring mechanism for RRF expenditure to prevent misuse, double funding, and duplication with other EU programmes. They demand clearer links between milestones, targets, and the actual implementation of projects, and urge the Commission to take into account European Court of Auditors recommendations for any future performance-based instruments similar to the RRF, in particular in the context of a more targeted MFF.
MEPs value the way the Recovery and Resilience Scoreboard provides citizens with basic information on overall progress on the implementation of national plans. They insist, though, that it should include information on the companies involved, including contractors and sub-contractors, and their ultimate owners. They also call for the urgent simplification of application and reporting requirements, to help smaller applicants and maximise the absorption and impact of funding, while reinforcing the role of local and regional authorities in the design, revision and implementation of national recovery and resilience plans (NRRPs).
Quotes
Victor Negrescu (S&D, RO), co-rapporteur on behalf of the Committee on Budgets, said: “We must ensure that every single euro is spent correctly, transparently and has a positive impact on our citizens and businesses. Unless we act now, critical investments risk being left unfinished after the end of the Facility in August 2026. We need to speed up implementation, reduce the bureaucracy and help the beneficiaries. As Budgets Rapporteur on the file, I pushed for concrete solutions and called for an extension of funding of 18 months for mature projects. I also demanded that unfinished projects can continue under other EU instruments such as the cohesion funds, InvestEU, or a future Competitiveness Fund, and that Member States should be allowed to adjust faster and easier their National Recovery and Resilience Plans in line with the RRF objectives. We do not accept halfway solutions. Today, the Parliament is sending a clear message: we stand by the citizens and fight for the finalisation of essential projects”.
Siegfried Mureşan (EPP, RO), co-rapporteur on behalf of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, said: “We are determined to ensure that the Recovery and Resilience Facility funds deliver tangible benefits to citizens. This is why the Parliament is calling for an 18‑month extension for mature RRF projects. This extension would apply to projects on track for successful completion, provided the extension is granted. At the same time, we are calling for a review of how unspent RRF funds can support Europe’s new strategic priorities, notably strengthening competitiveness and reinforcing our defence capabilities. In the face of rising geopolitical tensions, Europe must act decisively to defend its citizens.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A systematic review published in the Journal for the American Heart Association looks at ocean microplastic pollution and the risk of cardiometabolic disease in US coastline counties.
Prof Oliver Jones, Professor of Chemistry, RMIT University, said:
“I fear this paper will lead to more “plastics cause scary disease X” headlines, but, to my mind, the evidence in this paper is quite weak.
“Firstly, the authors don’t claim that microplastics cause disease, but rather that they found an association between microplastic exposure and type 2 diabetes (T2D), coronary artery disease (CAD), and stroke. An association between two things does not necessarily mean that one caused the other; it is simply an observation. There is also a large amount of overlap in the datasets, even between the very low and very high exposure scenarios, and the authors clearly state in the paper that their “results do not imply causation”.
“Perhaps more importantly, the authors didn’t measure either microplastic exposure or the health factors they studied directly; both were estimates. Microplastic concentrations were estimated from ocean measurements, some of which were taken up to 230 miles offshore and thus may not accurately represent what coastal communities are exposed to. The rates of disease occurrence were estimated from county-level survey data, which does not provide data on individuals. Potential cofounders were limited to those listed in the survey data, meaning some potentially confounding factors could not be controlled for.
“The authors all appear to be medics, rather than chemists or environmental scientists. The paper makes a lot of incorrect generalisations about microplastics, for example, referring to “microplastic compounds like phthalates”. Phthalates are not microplastics, and not all phthalates are the same. They claim that bisphenol A and phthalates promote adverse health outcomes through their endocrine-disrupting properties, which is incorrect. The paper also refers to toxicity studies on polystyrene particles, neglecting the fact that polystyrene is far from the most common type of plastic in the environment.
“So, while the work raises interesting research questions, I do not think the evidence of harm is strong, and people living near the coast don’t need to panic”
Dr Ria Devereux, Environmental Research Fellow, the Sustainable Research Institute, the University of East London, said:
Does the press release accurately reflect the science?
“It is important to note that this research focuses solely on the United States, particularly its coastal counties, and specifically examines marine microplastics. It does not consider other types of microplastics, such as those found in marine sediment, beach sediment, atmospheric microplastics, or microplastics in soil. The title, “Living near an ocean polluted by microplastics may increase cardiometabolic disease risk,” could give the incorrect impression that these findings apply globally, which is not justified by this data.
“Both sizes of plastic particles come from the chemical breakdown (decomposition) of larger plastic waste, including food packaging (like single-use water bottles), synthetic fabrics and personal care products.” This statement is also slightly incorrect. Microplastics can also be found in the form primary microplastics (nurdles) which are made to be a particular size and are not the result of degradation. Plastics are also subjected to mechanical, biological degradation as well as chemical.
Is this good quality research? Are the conclusions backed up by solid data?
“It is very interesting research which does need further research to investigate some of the limitations of the study conducted. One major limitation that is not addressed is that microplastics contain chemicals which have been found to be harmful to human health. There is no mention in this study regarding data on water quality. For example, is there a higher abundance of chemicals found within plastics in the water surrounding these coastal communities which may be a contributing factor.
How does this work fit with the existing evidence?
“The production of plastic and its associated pollution are increasingly recognized for their potential implications on human health. Research conducted on wildlife has demonstrated severe consequences, including choking hazards and hormonal disruptions.
“Recent studies have identified plastics in various human tissues, including the placenta [1],breastmilk [2] and stool [3].
“In addition to the presence of microplastics in the human body, chemicals commonly used in plastic production have been found to pose health risks. Research indicates that exposure to these chemicals can lead to various health issues, including skin irritation, respiratory diseases, hormonal disruptions, and certain cancers [4].
Have the authors accounted for confounders? Are there important limitations to be aware of?
“The dataset from NOAA presents several limitations. It does not account for when the samples were collected—such as during storms—or the duration of the sampling periods. Additionally, there may be a lack of studies in many coastal counties. For instance, most samples from the Gulf of Mexico are concentrated around Tampa and the southern region of Florida, with only two data points near New Orleans. While the authors briefly mention this issue in relation to the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, they do not address it for the Gulf of Mexico. They note that “study design, spatial coverage, and oceanic transport dynamics” may contribute to differences observed in previous studies.
“The authors also acknowledge that theabsence of data on the types of microplastics—such as fragments and fibers—constitutes a limitation. However, this statement should also include the lack of information regarding polymer types and plastic sizes.
“Additionally, it would be relevant to consider how many people in these coastal areas consume seafood and whether it is locally sourced or imported.
“As for the timeframe investigated, How long must someone live near the coast for it potentially to impact their health?
“Regarding groundwater, the authors mention that only “35% of drinking water in the United States is supplied by groundwater.” Is the proportion of coastal residents who drink groundwater higher than that of individuals living in other parts of America?
“Perhaps the most critical issue that the authors have not fully addressed is that almost all plastic production plants in the United States, which are involved in petrochemical and petroleum manufacturing, are located either in coastal counties along the Gulf of Mexico or on the Atlantic Ocean side (according to the Plastics Inventory Map [5]). This study indicates that cases of heart disease and similar health issues are higher in these areas. Many chemicals used in plastic production, such as BPA and phthalates, have been previously linked to these health problems [6]
What are the implications in the real world? Is there any over-speculation?
“This study highlights the need for further investigation into the health impacts of plastics on human well-being throughout their entire lifecycle. While this research primarily focuses on marine microplastics, it is essential to recognize that microplastics are also present in soil, air, and water. Additionally, it is important to understand that the risks associated with plastic do not stop at ingestion or inhalation, the entire lifecycle of plastic poses threats to public health. This includes hazards linked to petroleum extraction, the use of chemicals in production, and the leaching of these substances into our environment during manufacturing and disposal.
“It is important to note that this study cannot establish a cause-and-effect relationship between ocean microplastic levels (which were assessed only in water, not in sediment or fish) and the development of certain diseases due to its limitations in data and design. Further research is needed to determine whether microplastics and associated chemicals are present in higher concentrations near coastlines in soil, water, and air, as well as within the human body, to fully evaluate the potential health implications of living closer to the coast. Additionally, this study should be expanded to explore whether this trend is observed worldwide.
“Unfortunately, many individuals around the globe view plastic pollution solely as an environmental issue, overlooking its potential implications for human health. Studies like this one play a crucial role in raising awareness of these risks.
Extra commentary from Dr Ria Devereux on wider context
“The adverse effects of chemicals used in plastic production are particularly pronounced in the Gulf of Mexico, an area often referred to as “Cancer Alley.” This region experiences a higher-than-average incidence of cancer, diabetes, and respiratory diseases, which are concentrated in particular areas. The reason behind this is the concentration of petrochemical, petroleum and production plants involved in plastic production and an increase in the presence of chemicals used within the plastic production such as BPA and Phthalates [7,8].
“Although the Plastics Treaty acknowledges that human health is a critical factor in regulating plastic production and the associated chemicals, reports indicate that “chemicals of concern in plastic products” are at threat of being excluded from the current treaty text [9,10,11].
“In regards to America, we may find in the future that this types of disparity in human health and microplastics become worse due to Trumps “America first” narrative on top of increasing tariffs which will cause an increase in the plastics industry to align with the needs of the consumer and manufacturers. On top of this Trump has bought plastic straws back to America [12] and has started to dismantle key government institutions such as NOAA ( The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)[13] and the Environmental Protection Agency [14] which will push back Americas efforts to reduce plastic waste.”
‘Marine Microplastic Levels and the Prevalence of Cardiometabolic Diseases in US Coastline Counties’byMakwanaet al.will be published in Journal for the American Heart Association at 10:00UK time on Wednesday 18th June.
DOI:10.1161/JAHA.124.039891
Declared interests
Dr Ria Devereux None
Prof Oliver Jones “I am a Professor of Chemistry at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. I conduct research into environmental pollution and its effects on biological systems. I don’t have any conflicts of interest to declare.”
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
(As prepared for delivery)
I thank the President of the Security Council in allowing me the opportunity today to update you on IAEA activities concerning nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine. I also thank the Council for their continuing support for the IAEA’s efforts.
I have addressed the Council on the situation in Ukraine five times before, on 4 March, 11 August, 6 September, 27 October in 2022, and 30 May last year.
It is now nearly two years since the beginning of the war, and I remind you that it is the first time in history that a war is being fought amid the facilities of a major nuclear power programme.
This includes several of Ukraine’s five nuclear power plants and other facilities that have come under direct shelling. All NPPs have lost off-site power at some point.
Furthermore, one of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, the Zaporizhzhya NPP, has been under Russian operational control with the presence of Russian troops on-site for almost all of that time.
And as you know the IAEA has been closely monitoring the situation and assisting Ukraine every single day since the start of the war.
Shortly after the start of the war, I elaborated the Seven Indispensable Pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict. These are:
The physical integrity of facilities – whether it is the reactors, fuel ponds or radioactive waste stores – must be maintained.
All safety and security systems and equipment must be fully functional at all times.
The operating staff must be able to fulfil their safety and security duties and have the capacity to make decisions free of undue pressure.
There must be a secure off-site power supply from the grid for all nuclear sites.
There must be uninterrupted logistical supply chains and transportation to and from the sites.
There must be effective on-site and off-site radiation monitoring systems, and emergency preparedness and response measures.
There must be reliable communication with the regulator and others.
And in my previous update to the Council on 30 May I reported that, as a result of intensive consultations with the leadership of Ukraine, as well as of the Russian Federation, I had further established five concrete principles for the ZNPP in order to prevent a nuclear accident and ensure the integrity of the plant, namely:
There should be no attack of any kind from or against the plant, in particular targeting the reactors, spent fuel storage, other critical infrastructure, or personnel;
ZNPP should not be used as storage or a base for heavy weapons (i.e. multiple rocket launchers, artillery systems and munitions, and tanks) or military personnel that could be used for an attack from the plant;
Off-site power to the plant should not be put at risk. To that effect, all efforts should be made to ensure that off-site power remains available and secure at all times;
All structures, systems and components essential to the safe and secure operation of ZNPP should be protected from attacks or acts of sabotage;
No action should be taken that undermines these principles.
I said that these commitments are essential to avoid the danger of a catastrophic nuclear incident and I had respectfully and solemnly asked both sides to observe them.
I was pleased that at that meeting last May distinguished Members of the Security Council and Ukraine clearly supported those principles.
Furthermore, I said that the experts on the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhya (ISAMZ), who have been on-site since 1 September 2022, would report to me on the observance of these principles and that I would report publicly on any violations.
Now nine months later, I wish to report today on the nuclear safety security and safeguards situation in Ukraine, and the Agency’s continued activities including the Agency’s assessment against the seven pillars and our monitoring of these five principles.
Mr. President,
Firstly, I wish to report on the scope and extent of our activities over nearly two years,
There has been a total of 102 missions to Ukraine. I have personally led eight of them, including three to ZNPP and I will shortly be leading another one to ZNPP within the next two weeks.
We have the 15th ISAMZ team of our dedicated and courageous international staff at the ZNPP, a plant that is still on the front lines of this war and our staff who still have to cross that front line to undertake this vital work. 37 of our staff have been part of these teams at ZNPP, a number of them more than once.
For a year we have had other dedicated IAEA experts stationed at every other major Ukrainian nuclear site: Rivne NPP, South Ukraine NPP, Khmelnytskyy NPP and at the Chornobyl NPP – their presence allowing us to provide the international community with reliable information on the nuclear safety and security situation at each of those sites as well. More than 100 of our staff have been part of these teams, totalling more than 3662 person-days of our staff in Ukraine.
Since I last addressed you, thanks to the generosity of Member States, the Agency has purchased armoured vehicles and recruited additional staff, security officers and drivers, and now manages our own security for the missions, thereby relieving some of the pressures on the United Nations Departments of Safety and Security and Operational Support.
We continue to facilitate an international assistance package now totalling more than €8.5 million with 34 deliveries of vital equipment to Ukraine, and I again thank Member States for their contributions.
We have developed a proposal for the Agency to provide advice, training, and equipment in the area of the safety and security of radioactive sources in Ukraine.
We have put together a programme of health care assistance including through equipment and psychological support for all Ukrainian nuclear workers.
I also announced the new programme for assistance of the Kherson Oblast aimed at managing the adverse impact associated with the flooding after the Kakhovka dam destruction and we work with Ukraine to identify their immediate needs in this area.
In addition to our work on nuclear safety and security we are also continuing our vital safeguards verification activities across Ukraine, ensuring that there is no diversion of nuclear material for military purposes. Based on these activities the Agency has not found any indication that would give rise to a proliferation concern.
And we are keeping the world informed of the situation at Ukraine’s nuclear sites with now well over 200 web statements and updates, 9 reports and multiple briefings, including to the United Nations General Assembly and to your distinguished selves at the Security Council. Thanks to this, the international community has at its disposal timely, technically sound and objective information, thus avoiding the risks associated with lack of information and misinformation, including misperceptions which might lead to decisions with serious implications.
Mr. President,
The nuclear safety and security situation at the ZNPP – in particular – continues to be extremely fragile.
The plant’s six reactors have been shut down since mid-2022 – five of them in cold shutdown and one in hot shutdown. But the potential dangers of a major nuclear accident remain very real.
Although the plant has not been shelled for a considerable time, significant military activities continue in the region and sometime in the vicinity of the facility, with our staff reporting rockets flying overhead close to the plant, thereby putting at risk the physical integrity of the plant.
The plant needs secure and uninterrupted sources of external cooling water. The destruction of the Kakhovka dam in early June last year, just days after I last reported to the Council, led to a large reduction in the water level of the reservoir. Consequently, the depth of the water in the reservoir was no longer sufficient to supply water and considerable efforts on site were needed, including the drilling of wells on site, to provide sufficient cooling water for the six shutdown reactor units.
The plant has been operating on significantly reduced staff, who are under unprecedented psychological pressure – which despite the reactors being shut-down is not sustainable.
The reduced number of qualified and trained operating personnel and the challenging supply chain has had a negative impact on the maintenance of equipment which is essential for maintaining the safety of the plant.
And there have now been eight occasions when the site lost all off-site power and had to rely on emergency diesel generators, the last line of defence against a nuclear accident, to provide essential cooling of the reactor and spent fuel.
The plant is currently relying on just two lines of external power, and sometimes just one, or for a period the backup power was not properly configured. This demonstrates the highly precarious situation regarding essential off-site power.
There are occasions when the team has not had timely access to some areas of the plant. The IAEA teams need access in order to be able to effectively conduct their assessment of the situation regarding nuclear safety and security at the ZNPP and to reflect on the new developments.
Turning now to the five concrete principles, the Agency has been monitoring observance of these principles, and there have been no indications that the five concrete principles are not being observed. Nevertheless, in line with the evolving situation, the Agency needs to have timely access to all areas of the ZNPP of significance for nuclear safety and security, to monitor that all five concrete principles are being observed at all times.
We also should not forget the other nuclear facilities in Ukraine which are operating, most of the reactor units at full capacity. Although our teams continue to report that nuclear safety and security is maintained, they are also confirming the looming threat of military conflict and at some plants having to take shelter on several occasions. I wish to remind the Council that the availability of off-site power is essential to ensure their safe operation.
Mr. President,
A nuclear accident has not yet happened. This is true. But complacency could still lead us to tragedy. That should not happen. We must do everything in our power to minimize the risk that it does. And I am grateful for the continuing support from Member States – including financial support.
And we must be clear about the nature of the five principles established in this very chamber on 30 May last year. They are not an arms control or armistice agreement. They are not the solution to all the tragic problems this war has brought.
Instead, they are a creative, practical arrangement which has a very defined aim: to save Ukraine, Europe, and the world from a major nuclear accident with significant radiological consequences.
So far, this limited but crucial objective has been achieved. But we should not be complacent – we should take nothing for granted. Utmost restraint is a must, from all sides.
I am asking this Council for continued support for the seven pillars and the five principles, and for the IAEA’s role in monitoring the situation, in the service of the international community.
And I thank the Council, and you Mr President, for inviting me today thereby demonstrating its continuing focus on this critical issue.
The IAEA and myself remain at your disposal for updates, clarifications and action, where so required, to assist this body in its mission to preserve international peace and security.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi
(As prepared for delivery)
I thank the President of the Security Council for allowing me the opportunity to update you on the IAEA’s activities concerning nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine. I also thank the Council for their continuing support of the IAEA’s efforts.
It has been more than two years since the war began, the first ever to be fought amid the facilities of a major nuclear power programme.
The IAEA has been monitoring the situation closely and assisting Ukraine every day since the start of the war. IAEA staff are continuously present, monitoring the situation at all five of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, including at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, which remains under Russian operational control.
Today my statement will focus on the recent grave violations of the five concrete principles that I first established in this very chamber on 30 May. These five concrete principles are there to prevent a nuclear accident and to maintain the integrity of the Zaporizhzhya NPP. Let me remind them what they are:
There should be no attack of any kind from or against the plant, in particular targeting the reactors, spent fuel storage, other critical infrastructure, or personnel;
ZNPP should not be used as storage or a base for heavy weapons (i.e. multiple rocket launchers, artillery systems and munitions, and tanks) or military personnel that could be used for an attack from the plant;
Off-site power to the plant should not be put at risk. To that effect, all efforts should be made to ensure off-site power remains available and secure at all times;
All structures, systems and components essential to the safe and secure operation of ZNPP should be protected from attacks or acts of sabotage;
No action should be taken that undermines these principles.
On 30 May last year I said here that observing these principles was essential to avoid the danger of a catastrophic nuclear incident and that I had respectfully and solemnly asked both sides to commit to them.
At our meeting last May distinguished Members of the Security Council and Ukraine clearly supported those principles.
Nevertheless, Madame President, over the past ten days, the first of these principles has been violated repeatedly in what marks a step-change increase in risk to nuclear safety and security at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant.
On Sunday, 7 April, the International Support and Assistance Mission to ZNPP (ISAMZ) confirmed the first attacks since November 2022 to directly target ZNPP.
The ISAMZ team was able to inspect the location of one direct strike at the apex of the containment dome of the Unit 6 reactor building. Whilst the damage to the structure is superficial, the attack sets a very dangerous precedent of the successful targeting of the reactor containment.
The other two attacks were in close proximity to the main reactor buildings and resulted in at least one casualty.
Agency experts at the site have been informed by ZNPP of a drone strike against the site’s oxygen and nitrogen production facility; two attacks on the training centre located just outside the site perimeter and reports of a drone shot down above the turbine hall of Unit 6.
These reckless attacks must cease immediately. Though, fortunately, they have not led to a radiological incident this time, they significantly increase the risk at Zaporizhzhya NPP, where nuclear safety is already compromised.
I am not only concerned about the attacks themselves, but also the context in which they have occurred. For several months before these direct attacks there had already been an increase in isolated drone incursions in the vicinity of the facility and in the nearby town of Energodar.
In other areas of nuclear safety degradation, the plant is currently relying on just two lines of external power. There have been at least four occasions in the past year when the plant has had only one line of external power supply, with the precarity lasting for periods of up to four months.
Let me put it plainly. Two years of war are weighing heavily on nuclear safety at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. Every one of the IAEA’s 7 pillars of nuclear safety and security have been compromised. We cannot sit by and watch as the final weight tips the finely balanced scale.
Even though the plant’s six reactors are now in cold shutdown, with the final unit shifting into that status two days ago following the IAEA’s recommendation, the potential dangers of a major nuclear accident remain very real.
The Agency will continue closely to follow the operational status of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant and provide technically viable alternatives in a context of rapid changes and challenges.
Our work at this facility remains essential. This has been recognized by all, irrespective of their side in this conflict. But to be effective, the IAEA teams need timely access to assess the condition of the plant and evaluate the cumulative impact that more than 26 months in a war zone have had on nuclear safety.
Madame President,
We are getting dangerously close to a nuclear accident. We must not allow complacency to let a roll of the dice decide what happens tomorrow. We must do everything in our power today to minimize the risk of an accident.
The five principles established in this very chamber one year ago must be adhered to. They are there to prevent a major nuclear accident with potentially significant radiological consequences.
The latest attacks represent a flagrant violation of these crucial principles and must stop.
I am asking this Council for its steadfast support for the five principles and the IAEA’s seven pillars of nuclear safety and security which they help to underpin. And I am asking for your continued support of the IAEA’s role monitoring the situation, in the service of the international community.
Despite huge challenges, the IAEA has kept open the indispensable lines of communication and will continue doing so. The support of your nations and of the Council as a whole is a necessity.
I thank the Council for inviting me today, thereby demonstrating your continuing commitment to this critical issue.
The IAEA and myself remain at your disposal to assist this body in its mission to preserve international peace and security.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
When we met the last time, at ICONS 2020, many of us could not have imagined the momentous change we would experience between then and today, change that would affect billions of people, international peace and security, and nuclear security. A global pandemic was in the making and a war – in Ukraine – for first time soon would be fought among the facilities of one of Europe’s biggest nuclear power programmes.
Meanwhile, profound technological advances have been made. Assessing their impact on nuclear security is a crucial task. Artificial Intelligence, and unmanned vehicles pose both a threat to nuclear security and offer new tools with which to enhance it. In the nuclear field itself, Small Modular Reactors promise new opportunities for applications such as desalination and power brought to remote communities via barge, but also require us to consider new security elements.
The use of nuclear science and technology, often facilitated by the IAEA, has come on in leaps and bounds. Climate change and the drive for energy security are fuelling a desire for nuclear power. At this past Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP28, world leaders – those whose states use nuclear power and those whose do not – for the first time in nearly 30 years of COP meetings agreed nuclear power must be part of the transition to net zero. More than 20 countries have signed a pledge towards tripling nuclear power capacity and at the IAEA’s Nuclear Energy Summit in March heads of state agreed on the urgent need for conducive financial conditions.
Nuclear security is relevant throughout all the steps of the nuclear fuel cycle and is part of the social contract that underpins the existence and growth of nuclear power. Nuclear power programmes require national nuclear security threat assessments and “security by design”. Nurturing relevant research and a strong security culture are key, not only in countries with NPPs.
The use of life-saving and life-affirming applications of nuclear science and technology is growing, from cancer patients gaining access to radiotherapy to farmers benefiting from new crop varieties developed with the help of irradiation. IAEA initiative such as Rays of Hope: Cancer care for all; Nutec Plastics; Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC); and Atoms4Food are key vehicles facilitating wider access.
All these opportunities to use nuclear and radioactive material depend on a strong and adaptive global nuclear security regime. For countries new to using nuclear and radioactive material, this means building up legal infrastructure, practices and culture that bolster nuclear security. Nationally and across borders, collaboration and laser-focused vigilance are key to preventing groups with malicious intent from using nuclear and radioactive material to cause panic and harm.
The threats to nuclear and other radioactive material and associated facilities are real and varied. The international nuclear security threat landscape keeps evolving. Today, anyone can type a few words into a computer and generative AI can create images of nuclear Armageddon, meaning it is now possible to spread panic about radiation fallout without a nuclear device. Risk scenarios include theft of nuclear and other radioactive material for use in improvised devices and sabotage at nuclear installations or during transport of nuclear and radioactive material. The risk of cyber-attacks requires the implementation of computer security programmes by those who use nuclear power and those who don’t. Risks come from outsiders and from those within the fold who are disgruntled or have been corrupted.
Nuclear security is the national responsibility of individual states, but it also benefits enormously from close collaboration and the enabling role of the IAEA. ICONS, which started in 2013, has been the place for ministers, policymakers, senior officials, and experts to gather to assesses current priorities, prepare for new challenges, and engage in scenario-based policy discussions. ICONS 2024, presided over by the co-presidents, HE Tim Watts, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia and HE Sungat Yessimkhanov, Vice-Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, covers the themes of policy, law and regulation; technology and infrastructure for prevention, detection and response; capacity building; and cross-cutting areas, such as the interface between nuclear security and nuclear safety. ICONS is the most important high-level international meeting on nuclear security. At this time of heightened tensions, it is imperative that there remains a unity of purpose and that nuclear security does not become a political football.
This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Security. The IAEA is at the forefront of adapting nuclear security to new challenges, including war. The seven indispensable pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security have broad international support. They have brought crucial clarity at a time of war and are testament to the adaptiveness of the IAEA and the security regime.
Those seven pillars are backed up by an enormous ongoing effort by the IAEA to support Ukraine, including through the continuous presence of IAEA experts at all of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, including Zaporizhzhya NPP on the front lines of the war. When there were allegations of nuclear security breaches, the IAEA was there to investigate with impartiality and science. We set the facts straight that no nuclear material had been diverted, cutting through the fog of war, and diffusing a tense situation.
Not all our efforts require quite as much courage as our experts have shown in Ukraine, nor do they make international headlines. But every day, the IAEA – the Secretariat and the Member States – work together fastidiously to underpin nuclear security, never resting, always learning.
Radioactive sources are extensively used in many domains, including medicine, industry, agriculture and research. An incident in one State can have far-reaching consequences for others, so security for one is security for all. That means supporting States with no, or less developed nuclear security infrastructure makes everyone safer. That support, which often comes via the IAEA, includes making lawmakers aware of their responsibilities.
Nuclear Security requires the implementation of appropriate and robust legislative regulatory frameworks. In 2022, the first Conference of the Parties to the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (A/CPPNM) was held under the auspices of the IAEA. Reflecting the global importance of the legal framework and of nuclear security, parties managed to agree an outcome document and for the IAEA convene a subsequent conference. Since 2020, 14 new parties have joined the A/CPPNM bringing the total to 136. Five new Parties joined the CPPNM, bringing that total to 164. In addition to the A/CPPNM, political commitment to legally non-binding instruments, like the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources and its supplementary guidance, is a strong indication of radiation safety and nuclear security culture.
But legal frameworks are just the beginning. They must be implemented. The IAEA plays a central role in assisting its Members States so they are able to do that. Last year we inaugurated the most visible symbol of our collaboration: the Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre (NSTDC). This first-of-its-kind space, made possible by 15 donors, is a cornerstone for capacity building amid the growing need for sophisticated hands-on nuclear security training using advanced, specialized equipment. The NSTDC is part of a wide range of services offered by the IAEA, including peer reviews, such as the International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS), of which there have now been more than 100, and Advisory Missions on Regulatory Infrastructure for Radiation Safety and Nuclear Security (RISS), a service we launched in 2022. Our Incident and Trafficking Database (ITDB) now has 145 members and has enabled the reporting of more than 600 incidents in which nuclear or radioactive material went out of regulatory control. Almost 8,000 people have benefited from our training in nuclear security, and we continue to work very hard to remove barriers that prevent talent from entering the field. In March 2021, we launched the Women in Nuclear Security Initiative (WINSI) to support the achievement of gender equality in nuclear security. Meanwhile, the IAEA’s Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellowship Programme financially supports women pursuing a master’s degree in nuclear subjects and offers them internships, while our Lise Meitner offers women in the early and middle part of their career enriching opportunities within the field.
As the use of nuclear and other radioactive material around the world increases, more and more States are needing to increase their level of nuclear security. Nuclear security is as important as nuclear safety – we must put it on equal footing in terms of reliability of funding and the robustness of implementation.
At ICONS 2024 we are – as the name of the conference indicates – “shaping the future”, not only of nuclear security, but of the world our children will inherit. That is because nuclear security is about more than preventing nuclear terrorism. It is an enabler to providing, through nuclear science and technology, the clean energy; cutting-edge medicine; nutritious food and hope for a better tomorrow.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
Nobel’s spotlight on our perilous path and how we change course
I want to start by congratulating Nihon Hidankyō and the hibakusha for their Nobel Peace Prize.
As a young diplomat almost 40 years ago, I was fortunate to be part of a UN disarmament fellowship programme and to visit Hiroshima. There, fellows had an opportunity to meet the hibakusha and I had a conversation with an ailing victim. I have carried to every meeting, to every negotiation, and to every posting, the memory this woman’s silent testimony. When I asked her about that morning in 1945, she struggled to express the horror in words. She tried to articulate some words but stayed silent. Looking at me, right into my eyes. The look in her eyes has stayed with me ever since, like a powerful reminder, a secret mandate, to work so that her suffering is never repeated.
For decades after the Second World War, the international community has been dealing with this unique dilemma: we built robust norms and passed nonproliferation and disarmament treaties. Instead of dozens of countries armed with nuclear weapons, as was the concern in the 1960s, there are less than ten. Stockpiles of nuclear weapons have shrunk from tens of thousands to thousands.
But on its journey through the perils of the atomic age, the world has come to a crucial crossroads. Our deep psychological connection caused by collectively seeing the horror of the consequences of nuclear war seems to be evaporating, taking with it our joint resolve to do everything possible to prevent a repetition.
Like a giant spotlight, this year’s Nobel Peace Prize has lit up our path ahead. It has done it, by reminding us of the past, and of the consequences of ignoring the perils of nuclear weapons use.
Context of conflicts
To understand the important challenges we face, we must look at the global context, at what is happening around the world.
War has returned to Europe, and it directly involves a nuclear weapon state. The conflict in Ukraine is also an indirect confrontation between the world’s biggest nuclear weapon states, the first since the end of the Cold War. But nuclear exercises and open references to the use of nuclear weapons in the theatre of this war are increasing the risks and can not be ignored.
In the Middle East, the conflict of the past year has ignited smoldering tensions between Israel and Iran and led to the unprecedented step of direct exchanges and attacks between the two. Here there is also a nuclear weapons dimension. On one side, the assumed presence of nuclear weapons looms in the background. On the other, the very real potential of nuclear proliferation is raising the stakes.
We find ourselves in a harmful loop: the erosion of the restraints around nuclear weapons is making these conflicts more dangerous. Meanwhile, these conflicts are contributing to the erosion of the restraints. The vicious circle dynamic is in motion.
An unfortunate change of direction
Doctrines regarding the use of nuclear weapons are being revised or reinterpreted. The quantity and quality of nuclear weapon stockpiles are being increased.
And in some non-nuclear weapon states – states that are important in their region – leaders are asking “why not us?”. And they are asking this openly!
At the start of the nuclear arms race, J Robert Oppenheimer described the USSR and the US as “two scorpions in a bottle” each capable of killing the other, but only by risking their own life.
Oppenheimer’s blunt statement would later be developed and elaborated under the roof of deterrence and the more sophisticated concept of “Mutual Assured Destruction,” or MAD.
Today, independent of the vantage point of the observer, there is widespread concern that the risk of mutual destruction through nuclear war is higher than it has been for more than a generation.
Lessons from history
But it does not have to be this way. We can do better. History has shown that effective dialogue among superpowers has, more often than not, led to confidence and, as a result, also to arms limitation and even disarmament. At certain moments in history, world leaders took the right decisions, to tone down, or, to use today’s parlance, to de-escalate. Let’s see:
The end of the Cuban Missile Crisis happened thanks to the direct engagement of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and US President John F Kennedy. Decades later, at the Geneva Summit of 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev and President Ronald Reagan agreed a crucial axiom: “Nuclear war cannot be won and should never be fought.” They met again the next year in Reykjavik and significant reductions in nuclear arsenals followed. Nuclear weapon reductions and the elimination of a whole category of weapon, through the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces, or INF, Treaty, were agreed. These steps towards rapprochement took leadership and courage. They often happened despite skepticism and voices against them.
Diplomacy and dialogue (and the duty of nuclear weapon states)
A return to diplomacy and dialogue is urgently needed, and this, not only in things nuclear. Shutting the other side out has never solved a problem and almost certainly aggravates it. Top leadership involvement is simply indispensable when nuclear weapons are involved. President Trump took the initiative and talked to Kim Jong Un. More of this is needed. Some have said these talks were ill prepared. I say, this is important. Nuclear weapon policy and limitations does not work bottom up. It is of course the other way around.
We must be proactive in building the trust and protections that lower the risk of close calls and of brinkmanship, especially during today’s tensions. Not taking active steps means we rely on luck – or the assumption that the other side will show restraint – to save us from nuclear war. The longer you rely on luck, the more likely it is to run out.
Conflict and tensions compel nations to arm themselves. Diplomacy and compromise create conditions in which they can disarm.
The road to a nuclear weapon-free world is long and winding. The disarmament landscape is complex, and it’s worth acknowledging that. This does not diminish the responsibility nuclear weapons states have to make progress. After all, they committed themselves to this goal back in 1968, through the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Steps can be taken to decrease the reliance on nuclear weapons, both in their production and the scenarios for their use.
Nuclear weapon states, through their actions at home and on the world stage, have a responsibility to avoid a scenario in which more countries seek nuclear weapons. Pushing ahead with increases in arsenals leads to despair, cynicism, and a growing skepticism about the value of past commitments. Disengagement and unilateralism fuel sentiments of vulnerability in other countries, and with that, the notion nuclear weapons could be the ultimate protection against outside threats.
Engagement among the five permanent members of the Security Council is indispensable. Such engagement can take many different shapes, starting with direct contact among themselves, bilaterally or as a group. This dialogue, which still exists, has been reduced to a very low level, virtually without real impact. Perhaps its revival could be assisted by an international organization, or facilitated with the support of a respected, impartial leader. Therefore, it’s essential that the United Nations, other international organizations, and their leaders work effectively to ensure their continued relevance amid the changing needs of their stakeholders.
Do not make things worse (by falling for the siren call of proliferation)
The IAEA has played its indispensable technical role during past attempts of nuclear proliferation, particularly in the Middle East. As the difficult experiences in Iraq, Libya and Syria remind us, the draw of nuclear weapons is real and so is the geopolitical and military response.
Today’s tensions are prompting even leaders of important counties that, so far, are in good standing with the NPT to ask: “Why shouldn’t we have a nuclear weapon too?”
To this, I would say, “Do not make things worse.” Acquiring a nuclear weapon will not increase national security, it will do the opposite. Other countries will follow. And this will contribute to the unravelling of a nonproliferation regime that has had its ups and downs – and it still has its limitations – but none-the-less it has served humanity extraordinarily well. The problem and challenge to the NPT regime may come from those nuclear armed but also those who, while not having nuclear weapons, may feel the NPT has failed as a catalyst to disarmament.
Weakening the non-proliferation treaty under the argument that progress on nuclear disarmament has been slow and more drastic approaches are required, would be totally misguided and may make us throw away existing international measures committing nuclear weapon states and non-nuclear weapon states in this field.
I come from a non-nuclear weapon state. I understand the frustration that some people feel about the “haves” and “have-nots” of nuclear weapons. But I have also seen the legacy of peace and prosperity left by leaders who resisted that siren call. In the 1980s, vision, resolve and dialogue meant Brazil and Argentina changed course and did not go down the path to nuclear arms. Today, Latin America is a nuclear weapon free zone.
Multilateral leaders: step up by stepping in
Many wonder whether there’s still a role for multilateralism in guiding us through this maze of conflicting interests. Yes, there is. During difficult times in the past, international organizations have had a big impact on peace and security. But it only happens when leaders of these organizations get off the side lines and use their mandate and their own good offices effectively.
We prove our relevance in extraordinary times.
Each organization has different tools, a different mandate, a different membership, and each of their leaders will determine how to act. I can speak for the IAEA. We have nuclear science at our core, and we are the world’s nuclear weapons watchdog. Let me give you an example:
For almost three years, Ukraine, the world and the IAEA have been confronted with a completely unprecedented situation – never before has a military conflict involved the seizure of a nuclear power plant and been fought among the facilities of a major nuclear power programme.
At the beginning of the war, Ukraine’s biggest nuclear power plant – the biggest nuclear power plant in Europe, with nearly 6 gigawatts of installed capacity – was taken by Russia. This established a hotspot in the middle of a combat zone. The chance of an incident – or accident – causing terrible radiological consequences became real.
Observing this from the outside was never, in my mind, an option. Staying on the sidelines and later reflecting on “lessons learned” may have been the more traditional – or expected – path for an international organization. But to me this would have been a dereliction of duty. So, we leaned into our core mission, crossed the front lines of war, and established a permanent presence of IAEA experts at all Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. That makes us the only international organization operating independently in occupied territory. We are informing the world of what’s going on and reducing the chance that a radiological incident enflames the conflict and causes even more devastation.
We did the same by going to Kursk when a Russian nuclear reactor was at risk of coming into the line of fire. I am in constant communication with both sides.
I have been meeting with President Zelenskyy, and President Putin regularly. Nuclear safety and security during this conflict must have the buy-in and continued involvement of both leaders. Talking to only one of them would not achieve this important goal. At the same time, I am keeping an open dialogue with leaders on all continents and briefing the UN Security Council. When it comes to nuclear safety in Ukraine it has been possible to build a level of agreement that is rare during the divisions of this conflict. Where there is agreement, there is hope for more agreement.
Ukraine is not our only hotspot.
In Iran, the IAEA’s job is to verify the exclusively peaceful nature of a growing nuclear programme. Iran has now enriched uranium to a level that is hard to justify. It has not yet answered the IAEA’s questions completely and it has made our work more difficult by taking away some of our cameras and blocking some of our most experienced safeguards inspectors from going into the country. This has caused concern and led to a pattern of mistrust and recriminations. In diplomacy, progress often requires prompting, catalyzing, and suggesting ways forward. This presents a role for an impartial, honest and effective broker. It is a role I, in my capacity as the IAEA’s Director General, have been playing. In fact, I returned from my latest visit to Tehran just a few weeks ago where I presented alternatives and ideas to reduce the growing tensions, and hopefully to retain Iran within the NPT and the non-proliferation norms.
The danger of playing it safe
When it comes to working on behalf of peace and security, playing it safe is dangerous.
Silence and indifference can be deadly.
Dag Hammerskjold, the second Secretary General of the United Nations, said: “It is when we all play safe that we create a world of utmost insecurity.”
A new path
This week, the Norwegian Nobel Committee looked beyond today’s conflicts. In its own way, it did not play it safe. Instead, it shined a light on the horrors of nuclear war and the people who have been warning us about them for many decades.
In doing that, the Nobel Committee, Nihon Hidankyō and the hibakusha have illuminated the danger of the path we are now on.
We have to make a new path.
First, the leaders of the nuclear weapon states must recognize the need for a responsible management of their nuclear arsenals. Experiences from the past confirm that even at times of crisis and conflict it has been possible to recognize the unique terminal power of these weapons and the responsibility that comes with it. What Kennedy, Khrushchev, Reagan, Gorbachev, or Trump did by reaching out to a nuclear-armed adversary, sets a precedent, a useful one. Such contacts, either bilateral or at the P5 level could possibly be facilitated by a competent broker. These are the first steps to bringing down the tone so that nuclear sabre rattling recedes and the commitments to the unequivocal undertakings to move towards a nuclear free world can be fulfilled.
Secondly, an iron-clad resolve to observe and strengthen the global non-proliferation regime needs to be adopted. Nuclear weapon and nuclear non-weapon states must work together to ensure the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We need to walk through perilous times by recognizing limitations and keeping our eyes on our common objectives.
Nuclear disarmament cannot be imposed on the nuclear armed.
Realism is not defeatism. Diplomacy is not weakness.
Difficult times call for enlightened leadership, at the national level, and at the international level as well.
Putting the international system back on track is within our reach. World leaders, including those at the top of the multilateral system, have a duty and an irrevocable responsibility to work towards this.
Personally, I am convinced. Perhaps, because the secret mandate I received that day in Hiroshima from a hibakusha burns in me, stronger than ever. Thank you.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
The IAEA team based at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) today heard repeated rounds of gunfire that appeared to be aimed at drones reportedly attacking the site’s training centre, followed by the sound of multiple explosions, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
It was the fourth time this year that the training centre, located just outside the site perimeter, was reportedly targeted by unmanned aerial vehicles.
“Drones flying close to nuclear power plants could threaten their safety and security, with potentially serious consequences. As I have stated repeatedly during the war, such incidents must stop immediately,” Director General Grossi said.
The IAEA team on site reported hearing at least five explosions between 11:30am and 13:45pm local time, each preceded by gunfire. Additional gunfire was heard around 14:00pm. The ZNPP told the IAEA team that all incidents involved “drone neutralization” near the training centre premises. There were no immediate reports of any damage to the centre.
Last month, the IAEA team also heard bursts of gunfire, coinciding with a purported drone attack on the same training centre. In mid-April this year, a drone was reportedly shot down and crashed near the ZNPP’s training centre, just over three months after another reported drone attack on the centre.
Drones are also frequently detected near Ukraine’s other nuclear sites.
In February, a drone severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl plant in northern Ukraine, built to prevent any radioactive release from the reactor unit 4 destroyed in the 1986 accident and to protect it from external hazards.
Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) – Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine – also regularly report of drones being detected near the respective sites.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
The IAEA’s Annual Report and the Technical Cooperation Report for 2024 were presented to the Board, showcasing the Agency’s work in science, international cooperation and innovation.
The 2025 Rays of Hope Forum will be held in Ethiopia at the end of June and provides an opportunity to take stock of what has been achieved over the past three years, as well as to foster collaboration and further mobilize resources. Rays of Hope aims to expand access to affordable cancer care where it is needed most; supporting countries in providing life-saving radiotherapy and building the capacities of radiation medicine professionals. More than 90 countries have requested support under the initiative.
The IAEA will continue to work with partners on Atoms4Food, its joint initiative with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization to fight world hunger, Mr Grossi said. Part of the initiative, the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture supports the use of nuclear technologies to boost global food security and sustainable agricultural development.
Speaking about NUTEC Plastics, the IAEA initiative to combat plastic pollution, Mr Grossi said: “At this week’s UN Ocean Conference, we are showing what we are doing in very concrete terms to fight plastic pollution through new technology.”
The IAEA is harnessing the power of nuclear technologies involving radiation to improve recycling and create bio-based plastics, which offer a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastic products.
With support from the NUTEC Plastics initiative, 104 Member States now use nuclear technologies to monitor microplastics, while 52 are collaborating with the IAEA on upcycling efforts.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
The experiments detailed in the paper were carried out at Lawrence Livermore’s National Laboratory (LLNL). For the last six decades, this laboratory, home to the world’s most powerful laser, has worked to achieve the challenging goal of fusion ignition – producing more fusion energy than the amount of laser energy delivered to the target source. The lab’s ‘National Ignition Facility’ (NIF) uses a method called inertial confinement fusion, which involves smashing a fuel pellet with lasers, as opposed to magnetic confinement fusion, which uses powerful magnets to trap a cloud of atoms, called plasma, in a reactor.
“For over a year and a half after the initial experimental success, […] polar direct drive was the most efficient way to convert laser energy input into fusion output,” Yeamans said.
Heather Whitley, associate programme director for High Energy Density Science at LLNL, developed the initial design for a large diameter polar direct drive (PDD) capsule with Steve Craxton and Emma Garcia of the University of Rochester. She said: “The polar direct drive configuration provides excellent diagnostic access for other high temperature plasma physics experiments.”
Following the PDD experiment, in December 2022 NIF conducted the first controlled fusion experiment to produce a net energy gain with the indirect drive method, a major scientific breakthrough which attracted global attention.
Yeaman’s co-authors are Elijah Kemp, Zach Walters, Heather Whitley and Brent Blue from the Lawrence Livermore Nuclear Laboratory, and Steve Craxton, Patrick McKenty, Emma Garcia and Yujia Yang from the Laboratory for Laser Energetics at the University of Rochester.
The prize ceremony for the 2024 award and the upcoming 2025 award will take place in October during the IAEA Fusion Energy Conference in Chengdu China.
Find out more about the Nuclear Fusion journal, and how to prepare and submit an article here.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
Momentum for nuclear energy as a key driver toward net-zero is stronger than ever. Now is the time to turn last year’s historic consensus in Dubai into action, advancing nuclear solutions to ensure energy security, achieve climate targets and promote sustainable development.
This year’s COP has climate finance at the top of the agenda. Building on the back of the historic inclusion of nuclear in the COP28 Global Stocktake and the first ever Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels, Director General Grossi will attend COP29 with a call to increase climate finance for nuclear. At the Financing Low Carbon Technology, Including Nuclear Energy event on 13 November at 16:00, Director General Grossi, as well as the COP29 presidency, ministers, heads of international organizations, multilateral development banks and the private sector will discuss scaling up the financing necessary to expand all low carbon energy technologies, including nuclear power.
In recently published projections, the IAEA increased its forecast for nuclear power generation for the fourth consecutive year. In its high-case scenario, global nuclear capacity by 2050 could reach two and a half times today’s levels, with small modular reactors (SMRs) contributing a quarter of this expansion. The United States Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy, John Podesta, and Director General Grossi will host an event on Accelerating Early Deployment of Small Modular Reactors at 12:45 on 13 November.
Throughout the two-week conference, which runs from 11 to 22 November, the IAEA will also promote the use of nuclear science and technologies for climate change adaptation and monitoring to achieve sustainable water management, protect coastal and marine ecosystems and provide food security.
Millions worldwide still face hunger, and transforming agrifood systems through science and technology is essential to address this challenge amid changing climate conditions. An event on the joint IAEA/FAO Atoms4Food initiative will take place at the China Pavilion on 12 November to present achievements in agriculture and food security in the context of national climate adaptation efforts.
The Atoms4Climate pavilion will be hosted by the IAEA in the Blue Zone at COP and will showcase nuclear power, science and technology solutions for climate change mitigation, adaptation and monitoring.
The IAEA will host and participate in more than 50 events focusing on four thematic areas: energy, food, the ocean and water.
See the IAEA COP29 page for the complete list of IAEA and partner events. Check the individual event pages for updates on livestreaming opportunities.
Nuclear security measures
For the third time, the IAEA is supporting the COP host country to implement nuclear security measures during the two-week conference. In October, the Agency trained more than 100 national first responders and staff from security enforcement bodies, including through hands-on equipment training conducted at the Baku Stadium, the venue for the COP. The Agency has also supplied over 100 radiation detection devices to support the nuclear security measures throughout COP, which is expected to draw around 40 000 participants. Similar assistance was provided by the IAEA at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, and COP28 in Dubai, UAE, as part of the IAEA’s two decades worth of support offered to countries, upon their request, for nuclear security at major public events.
IAEA media team contacts
IAEA experts in climate change mitigation, adaptation and monitoring will be available for interviews at COP29.
For interview requests and other media-related questions, please contact Fredrik Dahl, IAEA Spokesperson, at Fredrik.Dahl@iaea.org and copy press@iaea.org.
The IAEA video team will be present at COP29. B-roll footage is available here. For additional requests of B-roll of the Director General, the IAEA pavilion or specific events, please contact multimedia.contact-point@iaea.org and copy press@iaea.org.
Registration
To attend IAEA events in person, you must register for COP29. For media accreditation and all other details concerning the attendance of COP29, please refer to the UNFCCCC online registration page. The IAEA cannot assist with accreditation to COP29.
Media kit
The COP29 media kit provides information on the four key areas highlighted at the #Atoms4Climate pavilion — energy, food, the ocean and water — along with recent reports and further background information.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Delia Ramirez – Illinois (3rd District)
The selected projects respond to years of local advocacy to address safety concerns in the region, expand affordable housing, and improve infrastructure in our communities.
Chicago, IL—Today,Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), local leaders, and regional organizationsannounced they are advocating to bring more than $31.1 millionfor the development of 15 community projects in IL-03. When allocated in the FY26 appropriations, the dedicated funding would increase the number of affordable housing units, expand safe outdoor spaces for students and communities, enhance infrastructure and road safety, and support workforce development in IL-03.
“I’m excited to announce that our community came together to identify and submit the maximum number of projects allowed in the FY26 appropriations process. Thanks to the support of community leaders and local officials, we are ready to champion $31.1 million for critical, transformative projects across IL-03,” said Congresswoman Ramirez.“From Wayne Township to Wheaton to Albany Park, these funds will guarantee that we are investing in critical projects in our district and improving the conditions that keep our communities healthy and thriving.”
“Now, we need to get this urgent funding and protect the programs and services our communities and working people rely on! We cannot allow the same partisan politics that delayed the appropriations process last year and held up the funds for our communities to continue. I will continue to fight for critical safety net programs that help working families across the country and to bring resources back to IL-03,” added Rep. Ramirez.
During the public announcement, Congresswoman Ramirez said she was “particularly proud” of the projects selected because they respond to the immediate needs of the communities and years of advocacy.
“The Chicago Department of Housing is honored to have been submitted by Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez for funding consideration by the House Committee on Appropriations. At a time when our nation is facing an unprecedented housing crisis, the need for bold, community-driven solutions has never been greater. Funding for Encuentro Phase II is not just an investment in safe, stable housing for working families in Chicago—it’s an investment in economic opportunity. This project will empower families to thrive, support local businesses, and remain in their communities without being burdened by skyrocketing rents. Building on the success of Phase I, Encuentro Phase II is a critical step toward making Logan Square a more equitable and inclusive neighborhood. We are deeply grateful for Congresswoman Ramirez’s commitment to housing justice and her support of this transformative project,” said Chicago Department of Housing Managing Deputy Commissioner Tamra Collins, requesting $10,000,000 for the construction of a new 98-unit housing development.
“DuPage and Chicago South Suburbs Habitat for Humanity is honored to have been selected alongside the DuPage Housing Authority, who is a proud partner in this endeavor, for Community Project Funding through our partners in the fight for affordable housing in the IL-03, Congresswoman Ramirez’s office. This infusion of federally directed dollars is a testament of what can happen when we all come together to address a critical need in our local community. A 12-unit townhome development in West Chicago will help in continuing our success of addressing the lack of housing stock within the neighborhoods we serve,” said DuPage Housing Authority Interim CEO Dorian Jenkins, requesting $2,200,000 to facilitate the pre-development of a 12-unit single-family townhome community.
“This bridge improvement study will identify key infrastructure needs to support potential Metra O’Hare Express service, serving a growing future market for air travelers and other trips,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski, requesting $1,500,000 to study viability of infrastructure improvements along the Milwaukee District North and North Central Service Metra lines.
“As Northeastern Illinois University embarks upon our next strategic plan, the Board of Trustees and I believe that the MSNEP program confers broad societal benefit, which is both economic and social, and is therefore positioned as one of our highest priorities,” said the President of Northeastern Illinois University, Katrina E. Bell-Jordan, Ph.D, requesting $1,283,976 to develop modern classrooms and a dedicated Simulation Lab at the campus.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support of U.S. Congresswoman Delia Ramirez as we work to modernize manufacturing education for students in DuPage County. With more than 1,200 manufacturing companies and over 80,000 job opportunities, DuPage plays a vital role in supporting our local workforce and opening doors for students to pursue high-demand, high-skill, and high-wage careers. Partnering with state legislators helps us create a clear, coordinated path from the classroom to the workplace—ensuring students are well-prepared to succeed in our region’s thriving manufacturing sector,” said DuPage Regional Advanced Manufacturing HubExecutive Director, Michael Fumagalli, requesting $500,000 to upgrade equipment at the Manufacturing Lab and drive economic growth.
“With this critical funding secured, Goethe Elementary School will finally complete its long-awaited outdoor renovation project – transforming the space into a safe, durable, and enriching environment for students and families alike. These improvements will not only enhance daily learning and play for Goethe students but also create a vibrant community resource accessible to all residents in the neighborhood. This investment ensures that every child in and around the Goethe community has access to an outdoor space that encourages physical well-being, supports healthy development, and promotes overall well-being,” said Goethe Elementary School Principal, Nader Elmasri, requesting $1,100,000 for enhancement against flooding of the outdoor playspace at Goethe Elementary School.
“On behalf of the Park District and the residents of the Montclare community, I’d like to extend my sincerest appreciation to Congresswoman Delia Ramirez for working to secure $3 million in funding for a new fieldhouse at Bell Park. A new fieldhouse at Bell Park to replace the existing facility would bring transformative change to the neighboring children and families by expanding recreational offerings that contribute to overall health and quality of life,” said Chicago Park District General Superintendent & CEO, Ramirez-Rosa, requesting $3,000,000 for the construction of a community field house.
“This project is necessary to provide flood relief in this area of the County, it will also improve water quality and replace aging infrastructure,” said DuPage County Board Chair, Deb Conroy, requesting $4,125,000 for the upgrade of outdated storm sewer systems.
“Every one of our school communities deserves a safe and enriching space for activities such as sporting events and gatherings. The new turf surface at Hanson Park Stadium is environmentally-sound and accessible while benefiting the larger school community. Thanks to Congresswoman Delia Ramirez and our community partners for making this amazing space a reality,” said CPS Chief Operating Officer Charles Mayfield, requesting $1,000,000 for the rehabilitation of the Hanson Park Stadium.
“This project was student voice in action. Our students have worked tirelessly for years presenting to Chicago Public Schools officials, elected officials, and other members of the community to advocate for this turf field,” said Dever Elementary SchoolPrincipal Jason Major, requesting $1,100,000 to rehabilitate Dever Elementary School’s field.
“We are deeply grateful for this investment in our students’ future. This funding marks an exciting step forward, enabling us to modernize our athletic facilities for a safer and more functional environment while simultaneously creating a dynamic new STEM lab in previously underutilized space. This dual investment underscores our commitment to the holistic development of our students, fostering both their physical well-being and their readiness for STEM fields,” said Von Steuben High School Principal Jennifer M. Sutton, requesting $1,000,000 to renovate outdated locker room facilities.
“Patrick Henry Elementary School is a neighborhood school in the Albany Park area that is a central location for families within the community. We do not have a green space within a 1 mile radius of the school and we are in need of major renovations within the playground and the surrounding area. I am thankful for the opportunity for our school and the community to have a space for families and students to enjoy,” said Patrick Henry Elementary School Principal, Mary Ann Reynolds, requesting $1,250,00 to enhance Patrick Henry Elementary School’s playground and outdoor facilities
“This high-impact project represents a significant milestone in our efforts to address flood-related challenges in our community. Not only will it directly prevent overland flooding into 27 homes, but by lowering the street, an additional 10 homes will be able to reduce the occurrences of flooding. Over the course of 30 years, this initiative is projected to save homeowners an estimated $19 million in damages currently incurred due to flooding. The project will make a tangible difference in the lives of residents impacted by flooding events, enhance the resilience of our neighborhoods and protect our residents’ properties,” said Wheaton City Manager, Mike Dzugan, requesting $1,200,000 for improvements on a flood-prone area.
“We are excited about the project as it will make an immediate and lasting impact on our students and communities. This initiative will provide increased opportunities for physical activity, fostering a stronger focus on the whole child’s development and well being. Ultimately, we believe this project will create a more connected and active place for our entire community to engage,” said Marvin Camras Children’s Engineering Elementary School Principal, Clariza Dominici, requesting $1,000,000 to improve safety at the outdoor space.
“Wayne Township is grateful to Congresswoman Ramirez for helping reduce the tax burden on our community by securing funding for much-needed safety improvements to Powis Rd. Partnerships like this show what’s possible when government agencies work together to improve infrastructure and quality of life for all residents,” said Wayne Township Highway Commissioner Martin McManamon, requesting $854 to repair the main entry road at Pratt Wayne Woods Forest Preserve.
For the recording of the public announcement, CLICK HERE.
For photos and videos, CLICK HERE.
BACKGROUND
In her first term, Congresswoman Ramirez secured $14.1 MILLION in Community Project Funding for the Illinois Third Congressional District. The funding for 15 local community projects helped secure safe, affordable housing, expand food security efforts, and make important infrastructure improvements.
During the FY25 Appropriation Process, Congresswoman Ramirez fought for $34.5 million in federal funding for 15 community projects. The funding would have increased affordable housing units, expanded safe green spaces for students and communities, strengthened climate change resilience infrastructure and road safety, and supported workforce development in IL-03. Unfortunately, the Continuing Resolution passed by Congress did not include Community Project Funding for FY25.
Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari said that Israel’s attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran represents an uncalculated escalation with serious consequences for regional security, which is already strained and cannot handle further crises.
During the Ministry’s weekly press briefing, Al Ansari highlighted the State of Qatar’s deep concern over the situation, describing it as a new chapter in an ongoing pattern of provocations. He pointed out that, while countries across the region are making efforts to de-escalate various tensions, one regional actor continues to be the main source of instability and is undermining every peace effort.
He strongly criticized what he described as an uncalculated attack on nuclear and energy infrastructure, warning that this move could have far-reaching impacts on both global energy markets and regional security. He particularly highlighted the strategic significance of Gulf waters, not only as a local water source but also as a crucial artery for the world’s energy supply.
Al Ansari mentioned that, for the first time in over seven years, the region was witnessing real diplomatic momentum in talks between Iran and the United States, momentum that the State of Qatar and other countries were supporting. However, he cautioned that the current escalation could derail these efforts. He reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s commitment to working with both regional and international partners to help return to dialogue and avoid an unpredictable regional war.
He explained the region’s importance by citing that nearly 30% of the world’s exports of oil and fertilizers, and about 25% of its natural gas, pass through this area and the Strait of Hormuz.
He expressed confidence in the State of Qatar’s economy, highlighting that things remain very stable. He also noted that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change announced yesterday that it had not detected any pollution in the water. He added that the government is monitoring the situation closely and, for now, water safety is intact and maritime movement in the Strait of Hormuz is normal, with energy exports proceeding without disruption.
When asked about contingency plans, he said that the State of Qatar has them in place and for various scenarios covering both the energy sector and public safety. He noted that the State of Qatar has consistently demonstrated readiness and resilience during past regional crises.
Despite the current calm in shipping and energy flow, he warned that any continued escalation could trigger dangerous and unforeseen consequences.
He also highlighted that the State of Qatar is in constant contact with its regional and international allies, aiming to end the crisis and facilitate dialogue. According to him, the country is actively engaged in mediation efforts to bring all sides closer together and reach a peaceful resolution to this dangerous escalation.
Al Ansari stressed that the region’s most urgent challenge now is escalation. He warned that if these tensions are not curbed, the consequences could be increasingly negative. That’s why, he added, all efforts must focus on crisis prevention.
Regarding Israel’s strike on Iran’s side of the South Pars gas field, He described the strike as a serious concern. He noted that many international companies operate in these energy fields and employ people from various countries. He said that, despite the State of Qatar’s energy infrastructure remaining unaffected and exports continuing normally, the targeting of the field has raised legitimate fears across the region about global energy supply security.
On Gaza, he confirmed that the State of Qatar’s mediation efforts toward a ceasefire were still underway. But he acknowledged that regional escalations, especially the latest confrontation between Iran and Israel, were severely hampering progress on multiple diplomatic fronts, including Gaza.
He raised alarm regarding the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying that the situation has been deteriorating since early March. Of particular concern, he noted, is the repeated targeting of civilians seeking humanitarian aid. He stressed that the only way to address this crisis is to allow the unconditional entry of aid into Gaza and enable international organizations to distribute it. Al-Ansari dismissed justifications for blocking aid as weak and disconnected from the reality on the ground.
Spokesperson Al Ansari addressed the recent diplomatic outreach conducted by HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. He noted that since last Friday and up to Monday, His Excellency made numerous phone calls with his counterparts, including Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abbas Araghchi. During that call, HE the Prime Minister extended the State of Qatar’s condolences to the families of the victims and emphasized that the State of Qatar would work with both regional and international partners to urgently halt the aggression against Iran and spare the region from its potentially disastrous consequences.
He also highlighted that HE the Prime Minister held conversations with several high-level officials, including UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Dr. Badr Abdelatty; Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ayman Safadi, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al-Saud, Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani; Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand; and Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis.
He also highlighted HE the Prime Minister’s expressing the State of Qatar’s condemnation of the repeated Israeli violations and attacks in the region during these conversations, stressing that such actions undermine peace efforts. He called for unified regional and international efforts to de-escalate tensions and resolve disputes through diplomacy.
The Spokesperson added that HE the Prime Minister hosted German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Saturday in Doha. Their meeting focused on regional developments and enhancing international peace and security.
In a related development, He said that Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi held a phone call with Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to discuss the recent Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and the need to bolster nuclear site security. Dr. Al Khulaifi stressed during the call that targeting such facilities poses a serious threat to regional and global peace, reaffirming that Qatar is working actively with its partners to return to dialogue and promote lasting security and stability.
Al Ansari also noted that last Thursday marked the opening of the third Qatar-France Strategic Dialogue, held in Paris. The session was co-chaired by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot. One of the key outcomes of the meeting was mutual appreciation for the progress made since HH the Amir’s state visit to France in February last year, which paved the way for new cooperation initiatives across multiple sectors. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening strategic partnerships.
On the sidelines of the dialogue, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and addressed regional developments, particularly the ongoing challenges surrounding the Gaza Strip.
He further noted that Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad met today with Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA (the UN agency for Palestinian refugees). Their meeting focused on enhancing the collaboration between Qatar and UNRWA.
Additionally, on Monday, Minister Al Misnad also met with Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Tasos Hadjivassiliou to discuss bilateral cooperation
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​Following is a question by the Hon Yung Hoi-yan and a reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (June 18):
Question:
The earlier fresh water quality incidents at Queen’s Hill Estate and Shan Lai Court, as well as the water mains burst incident in Tuen Mun, have aroused public concern about the condition of water mains. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the staff establishment and work details of the working group established in connection with the water quality incidents at Queen’s Hill Estate and Shan Lai Court, including the estimated number of times that the water tanks will be cleansed and the water quality will be tested, as well as the expenditures involved; whether the group will investigate if the incidents involved human negligence; of the total number of enquiries or requests for assistance from residents on water quality problems received by the offices of the two housing estates/housing courts so far;
(2) as the Water Supplies Department has indicated that it will replace all pipes in Hong Kong which are still coated with bitumen, of the distribution of the pipes concerned in various districts in Hong Kong at present, the names of the housing estates/housing courts involved, as well as the timetable for the relevant pipe replacement work; whether it has plans to inspect the fresh water supply systems of all housing estates/housing courts in Hong Kong to ascertain that they will not accumulate bitumen, resin or other impurities; if so, of the details (including the timetable, the manpower and the expenditure involved); if not, the reasons for that, and the measures in place to prevent similar incidents; and
(3) whether it has plans to enhance the application of technology and artificial intelligence to conduct 24-hour continuous monitoring and analysis of the conditions of water mains and water quality, so as to identify abnormalities in water mains at an early stage and carry out repairs; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
My reply to the questions raised by the Hon Yung Hoi-yan is as follows:
(1) The Government is highly concerned about the incident of bitumen sediments found in the fresh water at Queen’s Hill Estate and Shan Lai Court. After receiving reports of black spots in the water at the end of May, the Water Supplies Department (WSD) and the Housing Department (HD) immediately formed a joint working group to conduct a joint investigation on the incident and formulate measures to resolve the issue. The working group is co-led by the Director of Water Supplies and the Deputy Director (Estate Management) of the HD, with members including 11 staff such as in-service engineers and property management professionals responsible for the operation of the water supply facilities and estate management in that area. The WSD has cleaned 11 times for the water mains under its management and maintenance, while the HD has conducted six and three times of cleaning of the water pipes and water tanks under its management respectively. The HD has also installed 22 screen filters at the water inlet of each building and the estates. The WSD continues to collect water samples from the estates for testing. So far, all samples have complied with the Hong Kong Drinking Water Standards.
Since the establishment with promotion of the 24-hour hotline on June 7, the Government has received a total of about 700 enquiries. In addition, the WSD has received over 1 500 requests for flushing water meters through various channels, including street counters and home visits organised by the members of District Council, the three district committees and the Care Teams, and the WSD has completed the flushing of water meters within one to two days. Currently, most of the residents reported an improvement in water quality and follow-up action is not required.
The WSD believes that the black sediments in the fresh water originated from a 400-metre-long steel water main at the upstream water supply network at Ping Che Road. This water main uses bitumen as an inner lining serving as a protective coating, and the sediment is likely residue that was flushed into the inside service of the estates before the installation of screen filters at the WSD’s water mains by the end of 2022. We have set up an expert group consisting of the Chairman and two members of the Drinking Water Safety Advisory Committee (DWSAC) to assist with the traceability work. The expert group believes that the above assessment is reasonable. The WSD will submit an investigation report of the incident to the DWSAC for review in the near term.
Learning from this experience, we should be able to make improvement in the aspects of the explanation process and handling time. We are now working at full steam on the various tasks and the expenditure involved is part of the expenditure of relevant departments in providing service, making it difficult to be separated out for the time being.
(2) Similar to Hong Kong, water mains with bitumen lining as protection still exist in the water supply systems of some advanced cities. The material is prone to peeling after prolonged use. The WSD has ceased applying bitumen lining on fresh water mains since 2005. At present, we have conducted further classification of water pipes that still contain this type of lining. Only about 230 km are fresh water distribution mains, representing roughly 3.9 per cent of Hong Kong’s total fresh water distribution mains. The distribution of their locations is set out at Annex of the reply.
While the bitumen used in water supplies facilities is inert and insoluble in water, any peeled tiny particles in the water supply can still cause worries among the public. To address this situation, the WSD has installed over 1 000 screen filters in the related water supply network taking into account the amount of peeling, complaint cases and population supplied with the water, etc. These filters effectively prevent peeling materials from entering the inside service of the buildings. The WSD is reviewing the necessity of installing additional screen filters at suitable locations, and revising the guidelines to advise property management companies on the methods to maintain water mains and screen filters.
To expedite the decommissioning of the water mains with bitumen lining at Ping Che Road related to Queen’s Hill incident, the WSD has explored to adopt an out-of-the-box approach over the past week by using exposed temporary water mains. They, together with the Development Bureau (DEVB) and the contractor, collaborate with the Transport Department, the Hong Kong Police Force and the North District Office on inter-departmental and collaborative basis to formulate traffic arrangements. Despite busy traffic conditions and narrow work space of the site, through collective efforts, the WSD will immediately commence the project and work around the clock to complete the temporary water mains by early July. In other words, this section of bitumen lining steel water mains will decommission from early July onwards. The WSD will also strive to replace the exposed temporary water mains with a permanent underground water mains by the end of this year.
Last year, the WSD obtained funding approval from the Legislative Council for replacing or rehabilitating about 20 km (Note) of steel mains with bitumen lining on the inner wall. In response to this incident and ageing water mains burst, the WSD will submit short and medium term proposals for water mains replacement to the DEVB for review. We expect to discuss this at the meeting of the Panel on Development next month.
(3) The WSD will expand the monitoring area of Water Intelligent Network (WIN) to include fresh water trunk mains and all fresh water distribution mains. The sensors used for monitoring the water flow and pressure will also be upgraded to expedite the identification and repair of water mains with potential burst risk. The entire project is expected to be completed in 2027. We have asked the WSD to explore the possibility of early completion.
The WSD will collaborate with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to set up the joint laboratory of “In-line Robot” this August to conduct high-precision inspections of water mains.
As regards the monitoring of water quality, the WSD has installed 24-hour online water quality monitoring systems in some key reservoirs and water treatment works. In addition, the WSD randomly collects water samples from some 28 000 consumers’ taps in Hong Kong for testing every year. The sampling ratio, testing methods, and parameters covered adhere to international standards. The WSD has also commenced a study since 2023 to construct more water quality monitoring points in the water supply network in the following few years to enhance the alert capability. The study is expected to be completed within this year.
Thank you, President.
Note: Distributed in Sai Kung, Tuen Mun, Eastern and Sham Shui Po
Othmane Benafan is a NASA engineer whose work is literally reshaping how we use aerospace materials — he creates metals that can shape shift. Benafan, a materials research engineer at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, creates metals called shape memory alloys that are custom-made to solve some of the most pressing challenges of space exploration and aviation. “A shape memory alloy starts off just like any other metal, except it has this wonderful property: it can remember shapes,” Benafan says. “You can bend it, you can deform it out of shape, and once you heat it, it returns to its shape.”
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An alloy is a metal that’s created by combining two or more metallic elements. Shape memory alloys are functional metals. Unlike structural metals, which are fixed metal shapes used for construction or holding heavy objects, functional metals are valued for unique properties that enable them to carry out specific actions. NASA often needs materials with special capabilities for use in aircraft and spacecraft components, spacesuits, and hardware designed for low-Earth orbit, the Moon, or Mars. But sometimes, the ideal material doesn’t exist. That’s where engineers like Benafan come in. “We have requirements, and we come up with new materials to fulfill that function,” he said. The whole process begins with pen and paper, theories, and research to determine exactly what properties are needed and how those properties might be created. Then he and his teammates are ready to start making a new metal. “It’s like a cooking show,” Benafan says. “We collect all the ingredients — in my case, the metals would be elements from the periodic table, like nickel, titanium, gold, copper, etc. — and we mix them together in quantities that satisfy the formula we came up with. And then we cook it.”
These elemental ingredients are melted in a container called a crucible, then poured into the required shape, such as a cylinder, plate, or tube. From there, it’s subjected to temperatures and pressures that shape and train the metal to change the way its atoms are arranged every time it’s heated or cooled. Shape memory alloys created by Benafan and his colleagues have already proven useful in several applications. For example, the Shape Memory Alloy Reconfigurable Technology Vortex Generator (SMART VG) being tested on Boeing aircraft uses the torque generated by a heat-induced twisting motion to raise and lower a small, narrow piece of hardware installed on aircraft wings, resulting in reduced drag during cruise conditions. In space, the 2018 Advanced eLectrical Bus (ALBus) CubeSat technology demonstration mission included the use of a shape memory alloy to deploy the small satellite’s solar arrays and antennas. And Glenn’s Shape Memory Alloy Rock Splitters technology benefits mining and geothermal applications on Earth by breaking apart rocks without harming the surrounding environment. The shape memory alloy device is wrapped in a heater and inserted into a predrilled hole in the rock, and when the heater is activated, the alloy expands, creating intense pressure that drives the rock apart. Benafan’s fascination with shape memory alloys started after he immigrated to the United States from Morocco at age 19. He began attending night classes at the Valencia Community College (now Valencia College), then went on to graduate from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. A professor did a demonstration on shape memory alloys and that changed Benafan’s life forever. Now, Benafan enjoys helping others understand related topics. “Outside of work, one of the things I like to do most is make technology approachable to someone who may be interested but may not be experienced with it just yet. I do a lot of community outreach through camps or lectures in schools,” he said. He believes a mentality of curiosity and a willingness to fail and learn are essential for aspiring engineers and encourages others to pursue their ideas and keep trying. “You know, we grow up with that mindset of falling and standing up and trying again, and that same thing applies here,” Benafan said. “The idea is to be a problem solver. What are you trying to contribute? What problem do you want to solve to help humanity, to help Earth?”
To learn more about the wide variety of exciting and unexpected jobs at NASA, check out the Surprisingly STEM video series.
NASA uses satellite lidar technology to study Earth’s forests, key carbon sinks.
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NASA uses satellite lidar technology to study Earth’s forests, key carbon sinks. The GEDI mission maps forest height and biomass from the International Space Station, while ICESat-2 fills polar data gaps. Together, they enable a first-of-its-kind global biomass map, guiding smarter forest conservation and carbon tracking.
READY KEIKI TO OPEN 50 PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS
25 Opening This August, Marking Hawai‘i’s 100th Public Pre-K Classroom
HONOLULU — Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke today announced the next phase of preschool classroom openings under the Executive Office on Early Learning’s (EOEL) Public Pre-Kindergarten Program, a key part of the Ready Keiki initiative — the state’s plan to provide universal access to pre-kindergarten for all Hawaiʻi families by 2032.
The announcement was made at Kalihi Elementary School alongside EOEL, the Department of Education, and Ready Keiki partners.
Over the next two years, 50 additional public pre-K classrooms will open statewide. Of those, 25 are scheduled to open for the 2025–26 school year, adding approximately 1,000 new seats and bringing the statewide total to more than 2,700 by August 2026.
“Ready Keiki continues to commit to Hawaiʻi’s youngest learners and their families,” said Lt. Gov. Luke. “Expanding public pre-K is a key part of that vision. By opening more free preschool classrooms across our islands, we’re giving families greater access and more options while ensuring every child has the opportunity to start school ready to learn and thrive.”
This next phase prioritizes areas with high workforce demand and rural communities on Oʻahu, helping more working families access free, high-quality preschool close to home.
Among the new classrooms is EOEL’s 100th public pre-K classroom, a major milestone in the state’s early learning efforts. “With 117 classrooms across 89 locations statewide, this is a transformative moment for early learning in Hawaiʻi,” stated Yuuko Arikawa-Cross, Director of the Executive Office on Early Learning. “We’re especially pleased that this expansion will ensure more equitable access to quality preschool for families in rural Oʻahu and our neighbor islands.”
Expansion Highlights:
21 of the 25 new classrooms will open at Title I schools.
Two Hawaiian language public pre-K classrooms will open at Hāna High & Elementary on Maui and Hauʻula Elementary on Oʻahu.
Kapolei will welcome its first public preschool classroom at Barbers Point Elementary.
Seven sites— Hāhaʻione, Hāna, Kaʻala, Kāhala, Keaʻau, Linapuni, and Solomon — will add additional classrooms due to continued interest from families.
With the addition of Kaumualiʻi Elementary, more than half of Kauaʻi’s elementary campuses will now host a public pre-K classroom.
Each classroom renovation was completed under budget, with costs averaging between $291,000 and $320,000 — well below the budgeted $1 million per site, reflecting the state’s commitment to a cost-effective early learning expansion.
Each classroom will serve up to 20 students ages 3 and 4, with priority given to children in the following categories:
Children in foster care
Children experiencing homelessness or unstable housing
Children from families earning no more than 300% of the federal poverty level
Children in other at-risk situations that may impact development and learning
Children eligible for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), whose least restrictive environment is general education
Dual or multi-language learners
Applications for EOEL’s Public Pre-Kindergarten Program are open and accepted on a rolling basis at earlylearning.ehawaii.gov.
For more information, families can contact EOEL at (808) 784-5350.
25 New Public Pre-K Classrooms Opening in August 2025:
Hawaiʻi Island
Kalaniʻanaʻole Elementary & Intermediate
Keaʻau Elementary
Keaukaha Elementary
Kauaʻi Kaumualiʻi Elementary
Maui Hāna High and Elementary *
Oʻahu
Barbers Point Elementary
Hāhaʻione Elementary
Hauʻula Elementary * **
Heʻeia Elementary
Helemano Elementary
Kaʻala Elementary
Kāhala Elementary **
Kaʻiulani Elementary
Kalihi Elementary
Linapuni Elementary
Lehua Elementary
Lunalilo Elementary **
Maʻili Elementary
Mākaha Elementary
Maunawili Elementary
Royal Elementary
Solomon Elementary
*Hawaiian language classroom **Multiple classrooms opening
Question for written answer E-002392/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Nicolás González Casares (S&D)
Against a backdrop in which many European countries are increasing restrictions on alternative ways of marketing tobacco such as e-cigarettes or vapes – 15 of which have requested that the Tobacco Taxation Directive be revised, pointing specifically to the impact of the new marketing routes – and in which statistical information – such as the recent figures provided by an Irish study on the impact of vapes on young people – suggests that three quarters of young people who use e-cigarettes or vapes had never smoked traditional tobacco:
1.Does the Commission know how many preventable cancer cases could arise as a result of the delay in proposing a new Tobacco Directive?
2.Does the Commission intend to respond to the Member States’ request to revise the Tobacco Directive by coming up with a proposal that incorporates the new marketing routes?
3.Is the Commission carrying out any studies on consumption patterns for e-cigarettes and vapes among young people?
2. Combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material and replacing Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA (recast) ***I (debate)
Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material and replacing Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA (recast) [COM(2024)0060 – C9-0028/2024 – 2024/0035(COD)] – Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. Rapporteur: Jeroen Lenaers (A10-0097/2025)
Jeroen Lenaers introduced the report.
The following spoke: Magnus Brunner (Member of the Commission).
The following spoke: Heléne Fritzon (rapporteur for the opinion of the FEMM Committee), Javier Zarzalejos, on behalf of the PPE Group, Marina Kaljurand, on behalf of the S&D Group, Susanna Ceccardi, on behalf of the PfE Group, Assita Kanko, on behalf of the ECR Group, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, on behalf of the Renew Group, Saskia Bricmont, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Irene Montero, on behalf of The Left Group, Mary Khan, on behalf of the ESN Group, Michał Wawrykiewicz, Alex Agius Saliba, Anders Vistisen, who also answered a blue-card question from Jeroen Lenaers, Paolo Inselvini, Laurence Farreng, Alice Kuhnke, Nikos Pappas, Zsuzsanna Borvendég, Monika Beňová, Lukas Sieper, on comments made by some of the previous speakers (the President took note), Ewa Kopacz, Maria Guzenina, Margarita de la Pisa Carrión, Georgiana Teodorescu, Moritz Körner, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Anja Arndt, who also declined to take a blue-card question from Moritz Körner, Malika Sorel, Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Mathilde Androuët, Gheorghe Piperea, Ana Miguel Pedro, who also answered a blue-card question from João Oliveira, Laura Ballarín Cereza, Elisabeth Dieringer, Chiara Gemma, Péter Magyar, who also answered a blue-card question from Jorge Buxadé Villalba, Jaak Madison, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Lara Magoni and François-Xavier Bellamy, who also answered a blue-card question from Petras Gražulis.
The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Eleonora Meleti, Maria Grapini, Viktória Ferenc, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Nina Carberry, Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Annamária Vicsek, João Oliveira and Alessandra Moretti.
IN THE CHAIR: Pina PICIERNO Vice-President
The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Sunčana Glavak and Lukas Sieper.
The following spoke: Magnus Brunner and Jeroen Lenaers.
The debate closed.
Vote: 17 June 2025.
3. European Ocean Pact (debate)
Commission statement: European Ocean Pact (2025/2744(RSP))
Costas Kadis (Member of the Commission) made the statement.
The following spoke: Isabelle Le Callennec, on behalf of the PPE Group, Christophe Clergeau, on behalf of the S&D Group, Silvia Sardone, on behalf of the PfE Group, Bert-Jan Ruissen, on behalf of the ECR Group, Stéphanie Yon-Courtin, on behalf of the Renew Group, Isabella Lövin, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Emma Fourreau, on behalf of The Left Group, Siegbert Frank Droese, on behalf of the ESN Group, Carmen Crespo Díaz, André Rodrigues, António Tânger Corrêa, Nora Junco García, Ana Vasconcelos, Rasmus Nordqvist, Nikolas Farantouris, Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral, who also answered a blue-card question from João Oliveira, Antonio Decaro, André Rougé, who also answered a blue-card question from Christophe Clergeau, Michal Wiezik, Mélissa Camara, Catarina Martins, Željana Zovko, Sofie Eriksson, France Jamet, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Sebastian Everding, Francisco José Millán Mon, Thomas Bajada, who also answered a blue-card question from Lukas Sieper, Yvan Verougstraete, Luke Ming Flanagan, Sander Smit, Nicolás González Casares, Billy Kelleher, Fredis Beleris, Sakis Arnaoutoglou, Salvatore De Meo, Giuseppe Lupo, César Luena and Idoia Mendia.
The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Ingeborg Ter Laak, Sebastian Tynkkynen and João Oliveira.
The following spoke: Costas Kadis.
The debate closed.
(The sitting was suspended at 11:57.)
IN THE CHAIR: Roberta METSOLA President
4. Resumption of the sitting
The sitting resumed at 12:06.
5. Formal sitting – Address by His Majesty King Abdullah II, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
The President made an address to welcome His Majesty Abdullah II, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
King Abdullah II addressed the House.
(The sitting was suspended for a few moments.)
IN THE CHAIR: Antonella SBERNA Vice-President
6. Resumption of the sitting
The sitting resumed at 12:33.
***
The following spoke: Fernand Kartheiser on the response time for written questions (the President provided some clarifications) and Alexander Jungbluth (the President cut him off as remarks did not constitute a point of order).
7. Voting time
For detailed results of the votes, see also ‘Results of votes’ and ‘Results of roll-call votes’.
7.1. Amending Regulation (EU) No 228/2013 as regards additional assistance and further flexibility to outermost regions affected by severe natural disasters and in the context of cyclone Chido devastating Mayotte ***I (vote)
Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 228/2013 as regards additional assistance and further flexibility to outermost regions affected by severe natural disasters and in the context of cyclone Chido devastating Mayotte (COM(2025)0190 – C10-0071/2025 – 2025/0104(COD)) –Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
(Majority of the votes cast)
COMMISSION PROPOSAL
Approved(P10_TA(2025)0115)
Detailed voting results
7.2. Combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material and replacing Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA (recast)***I(vote)
Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material and replacing Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA (recast) [COM(2024)0060 – C9-0028/2024 – 2024/0035(COD)] – Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. Rapporteur: Jeroen Lenaers (A10-0097/2025)
(Majority of the votes cast)
COMMISSION PROPOSAL and AMENDMENTS
Approved (P10_TA(2025)0116)
REQUEST FOR REFERRAL BACK TO COMMITTEE
Approved
The following had spoken:
Jeroen Lenaers (rapporteur), after the vote on the Commission proposal, to request that the matter be referred back to the committee responsible, for interinstitutional negotiations in accordance with Rule 60(4).
Detailed voting results
7.3. Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine amending the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road of 29 June 2022***(vote)
Recommendation on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine amending the Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road of 29 June 2022 [16072/2024 – C10-0226/2024 – 2024/0290(NLE)] – Committee on Transport and Tourism. Rapporteur: Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi (A10-0102/2025)
(Majority of the votes cast)
DRAFT COUNCIL DECISION
Approved (P10_TA(2025)0117)
Parliament consented to the conclusion of the agreement.
Detailed voting results
7.4. Termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement governance and trade in timber and derived products to the Union***(vote)
Recommendation on the draft Council decision on the termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the Union [05673/2025 – C10-0012/2025 – 2024/0245(NLE)] – Committee on International Trade. Rapporteur: Karin Karlsbro (A10-0089/2025)
(Majority of the votes cast)
DRAFT COUNCIL DECISION
Approved (P10_TA(2025)0118)
Parliament consented to the termination of the agreement.
Detailed voting results
7.5. Termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement governance and trade in timber and derived products to the Union (Resolution) (vote)
Report containing a motion for a non-legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council decision on the termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the Union [2024/0245M(NLE)] – Committee on International Trade. Rapporteur: Karin Karlsbro (A10-0094/2025)
(Majority of the votes cast)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
Adopted by single vote (P10_TA(2025)0119)
Detailed voting results
7.6. Electoral rights of mobile Union citizens in European Parliament elections * (vote)
Report on the proposal for a Council directive laying down detailed arrangements for the exercise of the right to vote and stand as a candidate in elections to the European Parliament for Union citizens residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals (recast) [09789/2024 – C10-0001/2024 – 2021/0372(CNS)] – Committee on Constitutional Affairs. Rapporteur: Sven Simon (A10-0090/2025)
(Majority of the votes cast)
COUNCIL DRAFT
Approved(P10_TA(2025)0120)
Detailed voting results
7.7. Amendments to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure concerning the declaration of input (Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure) (vote)
Report on amendments to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure concerning the declaration of input (Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure) [2025/2067(REG)] – Committee on Constitutional Affairs. Rapporteur: Sven Simon (A10-0086/2025)
(Majority of Parliament’s component Members required)
PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION
Adopted (P10_TA(2025)0121)
This amendment would enter into force on the first day of the following part-session.
The following had spoken:
Sven Simon (rapporteur), before the vote, to make a statement on the basis of Rule 165(1).
Detailed voting results
7.8. Strengthening rural areas in the EU through cohesion policy (vote)
Report on strengthening rural areas in the EU through cohesion policy [2024/2105(INI)] – Committee on Regional Development. Rapporteur: Denis Nesci (A10-0092/2025)
The debate had taken place on 16 June 2025 (minutes of 16.6.2025, item 22).
(Majority of the votes cast)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
Adopted by single vote (P10_TA(2025)0122)
Detailed voting results
7.9. Financing for development – ahead of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville (vote)
Report on financing for development – ahead of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville [2025/2004(INI)] – Committee on Development. Rapporteur: Charles Goerens (A10-0101/2025)
(Majority of the votes cast)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
Rejected
The following had spoken:
Charles Goerens (rapporteur), before the vote, to make a statement under Rule 165(4), and after the vote on the resolution as a whole.
Detailed voting results
9
(The sitting was suspended for a few moments.)
8. Resumption of the sitting
The sitting resumed at 12:57.
9. Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting
The following spoke: Marion Maréchal, to make a personal statement in the light of the comments made by Benedetta Scuderi during the previous day’s sitting, before the adoption of the agenda (minutes of 16.6.2025, item 16).
The minutes of the previous sitting were approved.
10. Implementation report on the Recovery and Resilience Facility (debate)
Report on the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility [2024/2085(INI)] – Committee on Budgets – Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Rapporteurs: Victor Negrescu and Siegfried Mureşan (A10-0098/2025)
Victor Negrescu and Siegfried Mureşan introduced the report.
The following spoke: Raffaele Fitto (Executive Vice-President of the Commission).
The following spoke: Carla Tavares (rapporteur for the opinion of the BUDG Committee), Marie-Pierre Vedrenne (rapporteur for the opinion of the EMPL Committee), Jonas Sjöstedt (rapporteur for the opinion of the ENVI Committee), Giuseppe Lupo (rapporteur for the opinion of the TRAN Committee), Markus Ferber, on behalf of the PPE Group, Jean-Marc Germain, on behalf of the S&D Group, Enikő Győri, on behalf of the PfE Group, Denis Nesci, on behalf of the ECR Group, and Ľudovít Ódor, on behalf of the Renew Group.
IN THE CHAIR: Sabine VERHEYEN Vice-President
The following spoke: Nikolas Farantouris on behalf of The Left Group, Rada Laykova, on behalf of the ESN Group, Karlo Ressler, who also answered a blue-card question from João Oliveira, Jonás Fernández, Julien Sanchez, who also answered a blue-card question from Lukas Sieper, Ruggero Razza, Rasmus Andresen, Jussi Saramo, Alexander Jungbluth, who also answered a blue-card question from Radan Kanev, Thomas Geisel, Dirk Gotink, Costas Mavrides, Klara Dostalova, Bogdan Rzońca, Gordan Bosanac, who also answered a blue-card question from Sunčana Glavak, Milan Mazurek, Danuše Nerudová, Pierre Pimpie, Aurelijus Veryga, Radan Kanev, Alex Agius Saliba, Tomasz Buczek, Dick Erixon, Gheorghe Falcă, Idoia Mendia, Angéline Furet, Giovanni Crosetto, Georgios Aftias, Nils Ušakovs, Marlena Maląg, Kinga Kollár, who also answered a blue-card question from Enikő Győri, Evelyn Regner, Marion Maréchal, Angelika Winzig, Eero Heinäluoma, Adrian-George Axinia, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, Sandra Gómez López, Jacek Ozdoba, Adnan Dibrani, César Luena and Damian Boeselager.
The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Nikolina Brnjac, Maria Grapini, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă and Hélder Sousa Silva.
The following spoke: Raffaele Fitto, Victor Negrescu and Siegfried Mureşan.
The debate closed.
Vote: 18 June 2025.
11. The Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law report (debate)
Report on The Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law report [2024/2078(INI)] – Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. Rapporteur: Ana Catarina Mendes (A10-0100/2025)
Ana Catarina Mendes introduced the report.
The following spoke: Michael McGrath (Member of the Commission).
IN THE CHAIR: Christel SCHALDEMOSE Vice-President
The following spoke: Isabel Wiseler-Lima (rapporteur for the opinion of the AFET Committee), Ilhan Kyuchyuk (rapporteur for the opinion of the JURI Committee), Michał Wawrykiewicz, on behalf of the PPE Group, Birgit Sippel, on behalf of the S&D Group, Jorge Buxadé Villalba, on behalf of the PfE Group, Alessandro Ciriani, on behalf of the ECR Group, Moritz Körner, on behalf of the Renew Group, Daniel Freund, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Gaetano Pedulla’, on behalf of The Left Group, Milan Uhrík, on behalf of the ESN Group, Dolors Montserrat, who also declined to take a blue-card question from Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Marco Tarquinio, Fabrice Leggeri, Mariusz Kamiński, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Mary Khan, Ondřej Dostál, Javier Zarzalejos, Chloé Ridel, András László, who also answered a blue-card question from Gabriella Gerzsenyi, Patryk Jaki (the President reminded the House of the rules on conduct), Irena Joveva, Marcin Sypniewski, who also answered a blue-card question from Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Zoltán Tarr, Alessandro Zan, Marieke Ehlers, Nicolas Bay, Nikola Minchev, Sven Simon, Marc Angel, Gilles Pennelle, Dainius Žalimas, Paulo Cunha, who also answered a blue-card question from João Oliveira, Matjaž Nemec, Csaba Dömötör, David Casa, Katarina Barley, who also answered a blue-card question from Patryk Jaki, and Loucas Fourlas.
The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Gabriella Gerzsenyi, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Katrin Langensiepen, Petras Gražulis and Maria Zacharia.
The following spoke: Michael McGrath and Ana Catarina Mendes.
The debate closed.
Vote: 18 June 2025.
12. 2023 and 2024 reports on Montenegro (debate)
Report on the 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Montenegro [2025/2020(INI)] – Committee on Foreign Affairs. Rapporteur: Marjan Šarec (A10-0093/2025)
Marjan Šarec introduced the report.
The following spoke: Marta Kos (Member of the Commission).
The following spoke: Reinhold Lopatka, on behalf of the PPE Group, Costas Mavrides, on behalf of the S&D Group, Jaroslav Bžoch, on behalf of the PfE Group, and Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza, on behalf of the ECR Group.
IN THE CHAIR: Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ Vice-President
The following spoke: Vladimir Prebilič, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Giorgos Georgiou, on behalf of The Left Group, Davor Ivo Stier, Matjaž Nemec, Matthieu Valet, Carlo Ciccioli, Thomas Waitz, who also answered a blue-card question from Tomislav Sokol, Katarína Roth Neveďalová, Željana Zovko, Tonino Picula, Annamária Vicsek, Stephen Nikola Bartulica, Sunčana Glavak, Carla Tavares, Liudas Mažylis and Tomislav Sokol.
The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis and Lukas Sieper.
The following spoke: Marta Kos and Marjan Šarec.
The debate closed.
Vote: 18 June 2025.
13. 2023 and 2024 reports on Moldova (debate)
Report on 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Moldova [2025/2025(INI)] – Committee on Foreign Affairs. Rapporteur: Sven Mikser (A10-0096/2025)
Sven Mikser introduced the report.
The following spoke: Marta Kos (Member of the Commission).
The following spoke: Andrzej Halicki, on behalf of the PPE Group, Marta Temido, on behalf of the S&D Group, Cristian Terheş, on behalf of the ECR Group, Dan Barna, on behalf of the Renew Group, Virginijus Sinkevičius, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Jonas Sjöstedt, on behalf of The Left Group, Alexander Sell, on behalf of the ESN Group, Andrey Kovatchev, Victor Negrescu, Eugen Tomac, Davor Ivo Stier, Marcos Ros Sempere, Karin Karlsbro, Mika Aaltola, Kristian Vigenin and Krzysztof Brejza.
The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Maria Grapini, Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis and Lukas Sieper.
The following spoke: Marta Kos and Sven Mikser.
The debate closed.
Vote: 18 June 2025.
14. Two years since the devastating Tempi rail accident (debate)
Commission statement: Two years since the devastating Tempi rail accident (2025/2698(RSP))
The President provided some procedural clarifications.
Apostolos Tzitzikostas (Member of the Commission) made the statement.
IN THE CHAIR: Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS Vice-President
The following spoke: Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi, on behalf of the PPE Group, Yannis Maniatis, on behalf of the S&D Group, Afroditi Latinopoulou, on behalf of the PfE Group, Emmanouil Fragkos, on behalf of the ECR Group, Sandro Gozi, on behalf of the Renew Group, Virginijus Sinkevičius, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Konstantinos Arvanitis, on behalf of The Left Group, and Siegbert Frank Droese, on behalf of the ESN Group.
The following spoke: Apostolos Tzitzikostas.
The debate closed.
15. Corrigenda (Rule 251) (action taken)
Corrigendum P9_TA(2024)0348(COR02) had been announced on 16 June 2025 (minutes of 16.6.2025, item 15).
As no requests for a vote had been made in accordance with Rule 251(4), the corrigendum was deemed approved.
16. Delegated acts (Rule 114(6)) (action taken)
The recommendation from the AGRI Committee to raise no objections to a delegated act had been announced in plenary on 16 June 2025(minutes of 16.6.2025, item 14).
As no objections to the recommendation had been raised in accordance with Rule 114(6), the recommendation was deemed approved.
17. Interpretations of the Rules of Procedure (action taken)
The AFCO Committee had provided interpretations of Article 3(5), first subparagraph, of Annex I and Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure. The interpretations had been announced in plenary on 16 June 2025(minutes of 16.6.2025, item 11).
As they had not been contested by a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold in accordance with Rule 242(4), the interpretations were appended to the Rules (P10_TA(2025)0123).
18. EU framework conditions for competitive, efficient and sustainable public transport services at all levels (debate)
Commission statement: EU framework conditions for competitive, efficient and sustainable public transport services at all levels (2025/2742(RSP))
Apostolos Tzitzikostas (Member of the Commission) made the statement.
The following spoke: Dariusz Joński, on behalf of the PPE Group, Johan Danielsson, on behalf of the S&D Group, Roman Haider, on behalf of the PfE Group, Antonella Sberna, on behalf of the ECR Group, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, on behalf of the Renew Group, Lena Schilling, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Elena Kountoura, on behalf of The Left Group, Milan Uhrík, on behalf of the ESN Group, Nina Carberry, François Kalfon, Annamária Vicsek, Kosma Złotowski, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, Kai Tegethoff, Kostas Papadakis, Elena Nevado del Campo, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Julien Leonardelli, Péter Magyar, who also answered a blue-card question from Annamária Vicsek, Sérgio Gonçalves, who also answered a blue-card question from João Oliveira, Sérgio Humberto, who also answered a blue-card question from João Oliveira, Matteo Ricci, Nikolina Brnjac and Regina Doherty.
The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Sebastian Tynkkynen, Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos, Maria Zacharia and Lukas Sieper.
The following spoke: Apostolos Tzitzikostas.
The debate closed.
(The sitting was suspended for a few moments.)
IN THE CHAIR: Sabine VERHEYEN Vice-President
19. Resumption of the sitting
The sitting resumed at 19:33.
20. Latest developments on the revision of the air passenger rights and airline liability regulations (debate)
Council and Commission statements: Latest developments on the revision of the air passenger rights and airline liability regulations (2025/2743(RSP))
Adam Szłapka (President-in-Office of the Council) and Apostolos Tzitzikostas (Member of the Commission) made the statements.
The following spoke: Andrey Novakov, on behalf of the PPE Group, Matteo Ricci, on behalf of the S&D Group, Roman Haider, on behalf of the PfE Group, Kosma Złotowski, on behalf of the ECR Group, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, on behalf of the Renew Group, Vicent Marzà Ibáñez, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Arash Saeidi, on behalf of The Left Group, Stanislav Stoyanov, on behalf of the ESN Group, Jens Gieseke, Johan Danielsson, Julien Leonardelli, Michele Picaro, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Nina Carberry, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Annamária Vicsek, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, Borja Giménez Larraz, François Kalfon, Ernő Schaller-Baross, Nikolina Brnjac, Sérgio Gonçalves, Barbara Bonte, Sophia Kircher, Isabella Tovaglieri, Markus Ferber and Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska.
The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Sérgio Humberto, Ana Miranda Paz, Elena Kountoura and Magdalena Adamowicz.
The following spoke: Apostolos Tzitzikostas and Adam Szłapka.
The debate closed.
21. Situation in the Middle East (joint debate)
Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: Risk of further instability in the Middle East following the Israel-Iran military escalation (2025/2770(RSP))
Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: Review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza (2025/2747(RSP))
Kaja Kallas (Vice President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy) made the statements.
The following spoke: Michael Gahler, on behalf of the PPE Group, Iratxe García Pérez, on behalf of the S&D Group, Sebastiaan Stöteler, on behalf of the PfE Group, Bert-Jan Ruissen, on behalf of the ECR Group, Bart Groothuis, on behalf of the Renew Group, Hannah Neumann, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Rima Hassan, on behalf of The Left Group, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Yannis Maniatis and Elena Donazzan.
IN THE CHAIR: Younous OMARJEE Vice-President
The following spoke: Bernard Guetta, Mounir Satouri, Marc Botenga, Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos, Hildegard Bentele, Kathleen Van Brempt, Rihards Kols, Barry Andrews, Villy Søvndal, Kathleen Funchion, Ruth Firmenich, Reinhold Lopatka, Ana Catarina Mendes, Alexandr Vondra, Irena Joveva, Catarina Vieira, Catarina Martins, Erik Kaliňák, Wouter Beke, Leire Pajín, Alberico Gambino, Abir Al-Sahlani, Saskia Bricmont, João Oliveira, Maria Zacharia, Nicolás Pascual de la Parte, who also answered a blue-card question from Ana Miranda Paz, Marta Temido, Geadis Geadi, Leoluca Orlando, Luke Ming Flanagan, Fidias Panayiotou, Maria Walsh, Thijs Reuten, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, Alice Kuhnke, Danilo Della Valle, David Casa, Chloé Ridel, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Majdouline Sbai, Céline Imart, Vasile Dîncu, Michael McNamara, Anna Strolenberg, Michał Szczerba, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Evin Incir and Regina Doherty.
The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Ana Miranda Paz, Jaume Asens Llodrà, Lukas Sieper and Katarína Roth Neveďalová.
The following spoke: Kaja Kallas.
The debate closed.
22. Assassination attempt on Senator Miguel Uribe and the threat to the democratic process and peace in Colombia (debate)
Statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: Assassination attempt on Senator Miguel Uribe and the threat to the democratic process and peace in Colombia (2025/2749(RSP))
Kaja Kallas (Vice President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy) made the statement.
The following spoke: Davor Ivo Stier, on behalf of the PPE Group, Leire Pajín, on behalf of the S&D Group, Sebastian Kruis, on behalf of the PfE Group, Carlo Fidanza, on behalf of the ECR Group, Cristina Guarda, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Anthony Smith, on behalf of The Left Group, Francisco José Millán Mon, Javi López, Jorge Martín Frías, Reinhold Lopatka, Julien Sanchez and Rody Tolassy.
The following spoke under the catch-the-eye procedure: Sebastian Tynkkynen.
The following spoke: Kaja Kallas.
The debate closed.
23. Oral explanations of votes (Rule 201)
23.1. Combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material and replacing Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA (recast) (A10-0097/2025) Cristian Terheş
23.2. Strengthening rural areas in the EU through cohesion policy (A10-0092/2025) Cristian Terheş,Kathleen Funchion
24. Explanations of votes in writing (Rule 201)
Explanations of votes given in writing would appear on the Members’ pages on Parliament’s website
25. Agenda of the next sitting
The next sitting would be held the following day, 18 June 2025, starting at 09:00. The agenda was available on Parliament’s website.
26. Approval of the minutes of the sitting
In accordance with Rule 208(3), the minutes of the sitting would be put to the House for approval at the beginning of the afternoon of the next sitting.
27. Closure of the sitting
The sitting closed at 22:52.
LIST OF DOCUMENTS SERVING AS A BASIS FOR THE DEBATES AND DECISIONS OF PARLIAMENT
I. Documents received
The following documents had been received from committees:
– ***I Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability (COM(2023)0769 – C9-0443/2023 – 2023/0447(COD)) – AGRI Committee – Rapporteur: Veronika Vrecionová (A10-0104/2025)
A total of €270 million will address various EIB Group policy objectives, including financing the green transition of SMEs and mid-caps and fostering women entrepreneurship.
An additional €100 million will be earmarked exclusively for financing projects in the agricultural sector.
The operation contributes to the EIB Group strategic priority of strengthening the European agriculture and bioeconomy sectors, to the competitiveness of European SMEs and mid-caps.
The EIB Group – made up of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF) – has signed a new €250 million securitisation operation with Santander to boost investment by small businesses (SMEs) and mid-caps companies in Spain and to support the agricultural sector and women entrepreneurship in the country. This investment will allow Santander to mobilise up to €370 million to improve access to financing for companies in strategic sectors, boost agricultural development, and support economic cohesion across regions.
Under the operation, the European Investment Fund (EIF) commits €200 million through a bilateral guarantee with ING, while the European Investment Bank (EIB) invests €50 million. The entire EIB Group investment is being made through a single securitisation in which other private investors have also participated.
The EIF €200 million investment will unlock €270 million of additional financing, covering a broad spectrum of EIB Group policy objectives like supporting SMEs and mid-caps green transition, foster women’s entrepreneurship and extend green loans to private individuals.
The EIB €50 million investment will mobilize €100 million to finance projects in the agricultural sector carried out by SMEs and midcaps operating in Spain. Investments are expected to cover a broad range of activities, such as sustainable and regenerative agriculture, working capital for climate resilience and adaptation crops varieties, infrastructure improvements and water management systems. Approximately 10% of the financing will specifically benefit young and newly installed farmers with the EIB enabling eligibility for financing the acquisition of agricultural land. The investment takes place under the Pan-European Agricultural Programme, an €3 billion package launched by the EIB in 2024 to support agricultural businesses, with a particular focus on businesses led by young entrepreneurs.
This operation is one more demonstration of the EIB Group’s role of promoting financial instruments like securitisations that help unlock capital for green projects, reduce the risk borne by sponsoring financial institutions and strengthen the EU capital markets union.
The agreement with Santander contributes to the eight strategic priorities of the EIB Group, specifically to strengthen agriculture and the bioeconomy sectors in Europe, support climate action, encourage women’s entrepreneurship, promote economic, social and territorial cohesion and foster the EU capital markets union.
Background information
About the EIB Group
The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.
The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.
All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.
In Spain, the EIB Group signed €12.3 billion of new financing for more than 100 high-impact projects in 2024, helping power the country’s green and digital transition and promote economic growth, competitiveness and better services for its people.
High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.
About Santander
Banco Santander (SAN SM) is a leading commercial bank, founded in 1857 and headquartered in Spain and one of the largest banks in the world by market capitalization. The group’s activities are consolidated into five global businesses: Retail & Commercial Banking, Digital Consumer Bank, Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB), Wealth Management & Insurance and Payments (PagoNxt and Cards). This operating model allows the bank to better leverage its unique combination of global scale and local leadership. Santander aims to be the best open financial services platform providing services to individuals, SMEs, corporates, financial institutions and governments. The bank’s purpose is to help people and businesses prosper in a simple, personal and fair way. Santander is building a more responsible bank and has made a number of commitments to support this objective, including raising €220 billion in green financing between 2019 and 2030. In the first quarter of 2025, Banco Santander had €1.4 trillion in total funds, 175 million customers, 7,900 branches and 207,000 employees.
Question for written answer E-002283/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (Renew)
The Dutch Board for the Authorisation of Plant Protection Products and Biocides (Ctgb) recently informed the Dutch agriculture minister that the cancer risk has been incorrectly assessed for years in the pesticide authorisation process, including for glyphosate. Instead of a one-sided test specifically aimed at determining cancer risks, a less accurate two-sided test has been the norm.
1.Can the Commission urge the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as soon as possible to tighten the guidelines for assessing cancer risks in the pesticide authorisation process, and to make the more accurate one-sided test the norm?
2.The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) states that glyphosate is probably carcinogenic, while EFSA’s risk assessment states that exposure to glyphosate is ‘unlikely’ to lead to cancer in humans. To what extent was the EFSA assessment based on the less accurate two-sided test?
3.Is the Commission willing to encourage EFSA and the authorisation authorities in the Member States to have pesticides that have been approved in the past based on the two-sided test re-evaluated using the more accurate one-sided method, which also takes stacking effects and cocktail effects into account?
Adds domestically manufactured engineered foundations and fixed-tilt solutions to product portfolio, expanding addressable market by nearly 40%
Enables integrated tracker + foundation system to address challenging soil conditions, which does not require specialized equipment to install
Expands U.S. manufacturing capabilities with new Ohio manufacturing facility
Transaction enterprise value of approximately $179 million represents a multiple of 7.6x APA’s trailing 12 months EBITDAexcluding45X credits
Expected to be high-single-digit percentage accretive to Adjusted EPS in year onebeforesynergies
Closing expected in the third quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ARRAY Technologies (NASDAQ: ARRY) (“ARRAY” or the “Company”), a leading global provider of solar tracking technology products, software, and services for utility-scale solar energy projects, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire APA Solar, LLC (“APA”), a leading provider of engineered foundation solutions and fixed-tilt mounting systems for solar projects. APA’s products are manufactured in Ohio and are eligible for incentives tied to domestic content. APA generated approximately $129 million of revenue and $25 million of EBITDA excluding 45X credits in 2024. The acquisition of APA is expected to be accretive to ARRAY’s Adjusted EPS in year one before synergies.
Following the closing of the acquisition, ARRAY will begin offering an integrated tracker + foundation system, leveraging ARRAY’s advanced solar tracking technology and APA’s innovative foundation solutions. The integrated product offering will provide EPCs and developers a domestically manufactured, easy to install solution for the hard, mixed, and frost heave soil conditions that are increasingly prevalent in new solar projects. ARRAY will also continue to offer APA’s foundation solutions for other tracker systems as well as the company’s fixed-tilt racking products which are widely used in commercial and industrial solar projects in the Northeast and Midwest.
“We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of APA, a strategic move that strengthens our capabilities and expands the value we deliver to our customers. Demand for engineered foundations is growing rapidly because of their ability to make projects in areas with more challenging soil conditions economically viable. APA has a proven foundation system that performs in the toughest soil conditions, and is more efficient and less costly to install than competitors’ offerings,” commented Kevin G. Hostetler, Chief Executive Officer of Array. Mr. Hostetler added, “The market has been asking for an integrated tracker plus foundation platform – with this acquisition, ARRAY will be in a position to deliver it. We have a shared vision with APA for what our combined technologies can achieve for customers and I’m incredibly excited about the new opportunities we will be able to unlock together.”
Josh Von Deylen, Chief Executive Officer of APA, said “Joining forces with ARRAY is a tremendous opportunity for our team and our customers. With our shared commitment to innovation and excellence, we’re excited to combine our strengths to drive even greater value for our solar industry partners. This acquisition marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our business.”
Joe Von Deylen, Chief Operations Officer of APA, added “This is a pivotal moment for the APA team. With ARRAY, we gain access to expanded resources, additional expertise, and a global commercial platform to scale our business. We’re confident this partnership will enhance our ability to serve customers in the utility scale segment and further drive our operational excellence.”
The transaction values APA at approximately $179 million or 7.6x trailing 12 months EBITDA excluding 45X credits, comprised of $168 million of upfront cash consideration, and $42 million of deferred consideration less $31 million of net present value of tax benefits generated as a result of the transaction. The deferred consideration is payable in two equal installments on the first and second anniversary of the closing, each conditioned on the continued employment of Josh and Joe Von Deylen; and may be paid in cash or stock at ARRAY’s option. The final amount of upfront cash consideration and deferred consideration will be determined at closing subject to customary purchase price adjustments. The sellers of APA are also eligible for a performance based earnout with an initial value of $40 million of ARRAY common stock based upon APA’s achievement of certain EBITDA targets during the three-year period following the closing.
Josh Von Deylen and Joe Von Deylen, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operations Officer of APA, respectively, as well as the rest of the company’s senior management team, will remain with APA following the closing of the acquisition and lead the new “Foundation Solutions Business” of ARRAY. APA’s headquarters and principal manufacturing operations will continue to be located in Ridgeville Corners, Ohio.
Transaction Approvals and Closing Conditions The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, subject to receiving any required regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. Jefferies LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis acted as legal advisor to ARRAY in connection with the transaction. Donelly Penman & Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor, and Rupp, Hagans & Bohmer, LLP and Eastman & Smith as legal advisors to APA.
Additional information regarding the transaction will be included in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by ARRAY with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
Transaction Conference Call ARRAY will conduct a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. EDT to discuss the transaction. A live webcast of the event will be available on the investor relations section of ARRAY’s website at ir.arraytechinc.com. A replay of the webcast will be available for all stakeholders on the investor relations website following the conclusion of the event.
Additional Resources Associated presentation materials regarding the transaction are available on the investor relations section of ARRAY’s website.
About ARRAY Technologies, Inc. ARRAY Technologies (NASDAQ: ARRY) is a leading global provider of solar tracking technology to utility-scale and distributed generation customers who construct, develop, and operate solar PV sites. With solutions engineered to withstand the harshest weather conditions, ARRAY’s high-quality solar trackers, software platforms and field services combine to maximize energy production and deliver value to our customers for the entire lifecycle of a project. Founded and headquartered in the United States, ARRAY is rooted in manufacturing and driven by technology – relying on its domestic manufacturing, diversified global supply chain, and customer-centric approach to design, deliver, commission, train, and support solar energy deployment around the world. For more news and information on ARRAY, please visit arraytechinc.com.
Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Forward-looking statements include statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipates,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “designed to” or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the proposed acquisition of APA, the anticipated benefits (including synergies) of the proposed transaction, the anticipated impact of the proposed transaction on the Company’s business and future financial and operating results, the expected timing of the proposed transaction, including the expected closing date of the acquisition and the timing of expected synergies and returns from the proposed transaction, and the Company’s future financial position, business strategy, revenues, earnings, free cash flow, costs, capital expenditures and debt levels of the combined company, and plans and objectives of management for future operations. Actual results and the timing of events could materially differ from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, including without limitation: the ability to complete the proposed transaction on anticipated terms and timetable; ARRAY’s ability to integrate APA’s operations in a successful manner and in the expected time period; the Company’s ability to achieve the strategic and other objectives relating to the proposed transaction; the possibility that various closing conditions for the proposed transaction may not be satisfied or waived; and risks relating to any unforeseen liabilities of APA; Forward-looking statements should be evaluated together with the risks and uncertainties that affect our business and operations, particularly those described in more detail in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports and other documents on file with the SEC, each of which can be found on our website, www.arraytechinc.com. The forward-looking statements included in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
Non-GAAP Financial Information
This press release includes certain financial measures that are not presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), including EBITDA.
“EBITDA” means, with reference to any historical period of APA Solar, net income (loss) to common shareholders plus interest expense, income tax expense (benefit), depreciation, and amortization.
We believe that the presentation of EBITDA enhances the reader’s understanding of past financial performance and future prospects. Our management team uses EBITDA in assessing performance, as well as in planning and forecasting future periods. The non-GAAP financial information is presented for supplemental informational purposes only and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP.
EBITDA, as used in this press release, may be different from, and thus may not be comparable to, similarly titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies.
In the case of non-GAAP financial measures presented for future periods, the Company advises that it is unable to provide reconciliations of such measures without unreasonable effort. Accordingly, such measures should be considered in light of the fact that no GAAP measure of performance or liquidity is available as a point of comparison to such non-GAAP measures.
Headline: Huawei Showcases 5G-A Development and Value of Scenario-based AI
[Shanghai, China, June 18, 2025] During MWC Shanghai 2025, Huawei is showcasing new developments in 5G Advanced (5G-A) experience monetization and scenario-based services powered by AI agents. The company’s exhibition at this year’s event has been titled “Accelerating the Intelligent World” as they intend to meet with global carriers, industry partners, and opinion leaders to discuss new paths for carrier development that focus on creating value using AI.
Huawei’s showcase is focusing on their latest innovations in three areas:
Services: Huawei is expected to announce the success of a number of 5G-A experience monetization and scenario-based AI application (AI-to-X) projects they have carried out in collaboration with China’s three major carriers.
Infrastructure: Huawei is hosting presentations by their carrier partners on their recent experience in building AI-centric networks, and will discuss how to create AI computing hubs that can enable business success with AI. The company will also launch a new comprehensive AI Ultra-Broadband (AI UBB) solution that covers all network layers from home broadband to transport networks. The solution will come with end-to-end built-in computing power and comprehensive performance enhancements aimed at accelerating network evolution towards higher-level autonomy, which will in turn improve AI application experience and enable business growth.
Operations: Huawei and China’s three major carriers will jointly share their latest best practices and achievements in intelligent wireless network operations and intelligent home broadband operations, as well as AI computing services for training and inference. These practices help carriers build, maintain, and utilize computing power.
Commercial 5G-A adoption is expected to accelerate in a number of regions in 2025, including China, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. Carriers in these regions are actively exploring experience monetization models.
Eric Xu, Huawei’s Deputy Chairman and Rotating Chairman, gave a keynote on pathways for driving growth in the telecoms industry. Xu began his speech by sharing observations about the current status of the telecoms industry: “After nearly four decades of rapid growth, the industry has entered a period of steady development, while facing some challenges to new growth.”
He proceeded to expand on four potential pathways to growth:
Ramping up for changes in user needs and meeting new demands with high growth potential
Boosting HD video supply and consumption through coordinated effort across the ecosystem
Bringing 5G to every car for new growth in intelligent connected vehicles
Bringing FTTR to micro and small businesses to make the most of opportunities in AI
“Of course, every carrier is different,” concluded Xu. “Their markets are different, their business environment is different – and so is their competitive landscape. So the pathways to growth are different too. We’re ready and willing to work together, helping carriers explore opportunities unique to them and carve out the right pathways to long-term, sustainable growth.”
Huawei’s booths in Hall N1 at MWC Shanghai 2025
China has emerged as a global pioneer in 5G-A, with 5G-A already available in over 300 of its cities. Carriers now offer 5G-A mobile plans in more than 30 Chinese provinces and the country currently has over 10 million 5G-A users. Carriers in China, the Middle East, and other regions are also exploring the new value framework for experience monetization by introducing premium upgrade initiatives. 5G-A offers users ultra-fast networks and fuels intelligent transformation in multiple sectors, including smart living, transportation, and manufacturing.
The communications industry is facing significant disruption thanks to AI-driven innovation. The success of new experience monetization models also indicates the industry will soon enter a new era of growth. These changes are expected to reshape the way people interact with each other, with organizations, and with society.
Carriers are uniquely positioned to embrace this surge in AI and explore new AI applications because of their inherent strengths in cloud, network, intelligence, and computing. They are using AI to transform their services, infrastructure, and operations, which is unlocking new drivers for business growth.
Many carriers are rebranding themselves as providers of personalized, integrated, and high-quality AI agents that are accessible to consumers anytime and anywhere. Within the smart home market, they are upgrading existing services by enabling coordination between various smart devices to enhance smart home companionship. Carriers are also moving into the in-vehicle services market by integrating AI agents with vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies to create smart, mobile third spaces that deliver new experiences for monetization. For businesses, they are upgrading their capabilities by enhancing computing-network services and model-based services that will deeply empower production and operations.
MWC Shanghai 2025 will be held from June 18 to June 20 in Shanghai, China. During the event, Huawei will showcase its latest products and solutions in Hall N1 of the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC).
The commercial adoption of 5G-Advanced is accelerating in 2025. Huawei collaborates with global carriers, industry experts, and opinion leaders to explore how innovations in AI can be used to reshape telecom services, infrastructure, and operations to generate new revenue sources and accelerate the transition towards an intelligent world.
For more information, please visit: https://carrier.huawei.com/en/events/mwcs2025
When 35-year-old Oscar Escobar completed his term as the youngest elected mayor in his Colombian hometown in 2023, he was accepted into a program at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government tailored to aspiring global leaders like him.
If the Trump administration gets its way, Escobar may be among the last foreign students for the foreseeable future to attend the Kennedy School, widely considered one of the world’s best schools for preparing future policymakers.
Last month, the Department of Homeland Security sought to revoke Harvard’s ability to enroll international students and force those who are there to transfer or lose their legal status. It accused the university of “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.”
In early June, President Donald Trump doubled-down by issuing a proclamation to bar U.S. entry for foreign nationals planning to study at Harvard and directed the State Department to consider revoking visas for those already enrolled. Trump argued that Harvard has tolerated crime on campus and that its relationships with China threatened national security.
Harvard said the orders – which affect thousands of students – were illegal and amounted to retaliation for rejecting government’s demands to control its governance and curriculum among other things. It said it was addressing concerns about antisemitism and campus threats.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked both orders while the courts review legal challenges, but if allowed to stand, they would represent a huge blow to Harvard, and the Kennedy School in particular.
Over the past five years, 52% of Kennedy students have come from outside the United States, the school’s media office said. With students from more than 100 countries, it is “the most global” school at Harvard.
The large foreign contingent is a big part of why the school has been so successful as a training ground for future leaders, including Americans, said Nicholas Burns, a Kennedy School professor and a former U.S. diplomat.
“It’s by design,” Burns said in an interview, referring to the number of international students. “It’s a decision that the Kennedy School leadership made because it replicates the world as it is.”
Kennedy counts an impressive list of foreign leaders among its alumni, including former Mexican President Felipe Calderon and former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
Another is Maia Sandu, who was elected president of Moldova in 2020 after she graduated. She has since emerged as an important regional voice against Russian influence, spearheading the country’s drive to join the European Union and taking a stand against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“At Harvard I met interesting people from all over the world, everyone with his or her own story,” Sandu said in a 2022 address to Kennedy School graduates. “And, very quickly, I realized that my country was not the only one which had been struggling for decades. I realized that development takes time.”
‘SOFT POWER’
For the school’s defenders, foreign students bring more benefits than risks. They say educating future world leaders means boosting U.S. “soft power,” a concept coined in the 1980s by Harvard political scientist Joseph Nye, later a Kennedy School dean, to refer to non-coercive ways to promote U.S. values such as democracy and human rights.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, a Kennedy School graduate who must now navigate the rivalry between the United States and China in Southeast Asia, has acknowledged the influence of American culture on him.
He says he decided to study in the U.S. in part because his favorite musicians were Americans. Last year, Wong posted a TikTok video of himself playing Taylor Swift’s “Love Song” on acoustic guitar, dedicating the performance to teachers.
To be sure, the Kennedy School has courted its share of controversies – including criticism over who it accepts into its programs and who it invites to teach and speak to its students.
A notable example came in 2022 when Kennedy’s Carr Center for Human Rights Policy offered a fellowship to Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, and then rescinded it. Roth said at the time he believed the school caved to pressure from supporters of Israel who believed HRW had an anti-Israel bias. Kennedy denied that, but eventually reversed course amid widespread criticism that it was limiting debate.
Smiling as he posed for graduation photos with his family in May, Escobar said it was a bittersweet moment to complete his studies at Kennedy.
“If this university cannot receive international students anymore, of course we are missing an opportunity,” said Escobar, who has since returned to Colombia to work on the presidential campaign of leftist politician Claudia Lopez, also a former Harvard fellow.
“If what President Donald Trump wants is to make America great again, it will be a mistake.”