SOTEU 2025: EU’s Affordable Housing Plan

Source: European Commission (video statements)

In her State of the European Union speech (SOTEU 2025), President Ursula von Der Leyen addresses the housing crisis and she is putting affordable housing as a clear goal for Europe’s future.

This year, the European Commission will present the first European Affordable Housing Plan that will make homes more affordable, sustainable, and accessible across Europe. From revising state aid rules to supporting student housing and tackling short-term rentals, this plan aims to turn housing into a social right for all.

#SOTEU2025

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Bmwum7h-gP0

Development of Analytical Methods for Measuring Δ9 THC in Cannabis Products

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

With the passage of the 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act (Farm Bill), forensic laboratories have been tasked with differentiating seized cannabis samples as either hemp or marijuana. The new legislation declassified hemp as a Schedule 1 drug substance and defined it as cannabis containing 0.3 % or less of decarboxylated-Δ9-THC (total Δ9-THC). The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been working to help forensic laboratories with these challenging measurements through the development of extraction protocols and analytical methods. This webinar provides a summary of the method development studies and screening of cannabis plant and cannabis-derived finished products commercially available.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on June 27, 2023.

(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxOm-qKlLtU

Labeling with Love or Lethal Consequences for CBD Containing Products

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

The reauthorization of hemp due to the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Farm Bill) has caused a proliferation of products that contain cannabidiol (CBD). While CBD is considered ‘legal’ under the Farm-Bill, there are concerns that the labeling of CBD products is inaccurate, and that the products may contain other cannabinoids, including Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound in marijuana. Other concerns include the potential for conversion of CBD to other cannabinoids during analysis of biological matrices and in acidic foods and beverages. Incorrect labeling and/or conversion can lead to false positives during analysis and unintentional ingestion of THC, which may result in impairment and/or positive drug tests. In this presentation, Dr. Lawrance Mullen provides a landscape of the public health impact of CBD, the importance of proper analytical technique to prevent false positive drug tests, and the results of a study conducted on acidic foods and beverages.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on May 18, 2023.

(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54-IFCC-7XA

President Lagarde presents the latest monetary policy decisions – 11 September 2025

Source: European Central Bank (video statements)

Today our Governing Council decided on monetary policy.

Listen to President Christine Lagarde present today’s decisions. The statement also covers:

• how the economy is performing
• how we expect prices to develop
• the risks to the economic outlook
• the dynamics behind financial and monetary conditions

Published and recorded during our press conference on 11 September 2025.

Our monetary policy statement at a glance, 11 September 2025
www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conf…eptember.en.html

Christine Lagarde, Luis de Guindos: Monetary policy statement, 11 September 2025
www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conf…3675b834.en.html

Monetary policy decisions, 11 September 2025
www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/20…fb7a9490.en.html

Combined monetary policy decisions and statement, 11 September 2025
www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conf…f624f06ba.en.pdf

Macroeconomic projections, 11 September 2025
www.ecb.europa.eu/press/projection…da697d54.en.html

European Central Bank
www.ecb.europa.eu/home/html/index.en.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbW8Mz8MBG0

Low Prosecution Rates in Sexual Assault Cases: Can We Make Sustainable Improvements?

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

Dr. Julie L. Valentine provides background information on the challenges in tracking prosecution outcomes in sexual assault cases of adult victims. Research utilizing the National Institute of Justice Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Practitioner Toolkit in two Utah counties is presented. Variables predicting prosecution are be explored. Participants are invited to consider societal, structural, and legislative barriers to prosecution of adult sexual assault cases faced in their jurisdiction to encourage multidisciplinary collaboration.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on April 24, 2023.

(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UNRgPFn4dY

Touch DNA Evidence Collection in Sexual Assault Cases

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHXxV5yM6L0

Exploring the Link Between Dating Apps and Sexual Assault

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

Dr. Julie Valentine shares background information on dating app usage and user demographics to provide context for research findings on dating apps and sexual assault. Research findings are presented on sexual assaults committed at the first in-person meeting when the victim and assailant met on a dating app compared to other sexual assaults not associated with dating apps. Practice and policy recommendations are shared to improve dating app safety.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on April 4, 2023.

(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAVNOG5YOzg

How to Recruit and Retain Quality Employees

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

One of the biggest challenges that Forensic Laboratories face is hiring and retaining great employees. The loss of one person has a domino effect on the operations of the laboratory and has a direct impact on the departments they serve. This presentation outlines some of the ways that the Mesa Forensic Services Laboratory and the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Laboratory Division have been able to hire and retain great employees.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on March 14, 2023.

(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZlEXspl08g

South Africa Government: Deputy President Mashatile responds to Questions for Oral Reply in the NCOP

Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

MEDIA ADVISORY

TO ALL MEDIA/NEWS EDITORS

11 SEPTEMBER 2025

DEPUTY PRESIDENT MASHATILE TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FOR ORAL REPLY IN THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will this afternoon, Thursday, 11 September 2025, respond to Questions for Oral Reply from Members of Parliament in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in Cape Town.

In terms of the Constitution and Parliamentary Programme, the Deputy President appears periodically in the NCOP to answer questions posed by Delegates to the NCOP, particularly on matters related to his Delegated Responsibilities by the President as well as to account for the work of the Executive, especially in areas that affect the Provinces, and also facilitate cooperative governance by engaging with Provincial Representatives in Parliament on issues that require national-provincial coordination and intervention.

In this regard, Deputy President Mashatile will answer questions on issues related to Government’s three-sphere coordinated process of the District Development Model; Municipalities owing Water Boards; Increase in unemployment rate reported by StatsSA and government’s plans to address it; Government’s efforts to empower and support Non-Profit Organisations as well as processes established by Government to address challenges identified by the South African Human Rights Commission on a number of municipalities.

Details of the Question & Answer session are as follows:

Date: Thursday, 11 September 2025

Time: 14h00

Venue: Old Assembly NCOP Chambers, Parliament, Cape Town.

Livestreaming on DSTV Parliamentary Channel 408 and YouTube Parliamentary channel.

Media Enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 066 195 8840.

ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

PRETORIA

www.thepresidency.gov.za

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfyK0BbXmGw