Latest news with #transparency
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Finally, SNP bans WhatsApp from official mobiles in wake of deleted messages scandal
The use of WhatsApp on Scottish Government devices has been banned following the Covid inquiry deleted messages scandal. The SNP Government confirmed that a new policy which ensures mobile message apps like WhatsApp are removed from its phones, tablets and laptops came into effect yesterday (FRI). It applies to all government employees, including ministers, special advisers, civil servants and contractors. But concerns were raised that the move will not be enough to remove the 'secrecy and evasion' culture in the Scottish Government. During the UK Covid-19 inquiry, it was revealed that former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon 's messages from throughout the pandemic had been deleted, and that national clinical director Jason Leitch said in a private message that 'WhatsApp deletion is a pre-bed ritual'. It led to claims that claims that there was an 'industrial-scale' deletion policy at the Scottish Government in an attempt to avoid scrutiny. Announcing that the new policy restricting mobile messaging apps on Government devices yesterday, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said it was part of a 'commitment to openness and transparency'. Scottish Conservative MSP Craig Hoy said: 'This is as close as we'll get to an apology from the SNP for the shameful, industrial-scale deletion of Covid WhatsApp messages which was orchestrated by John Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon. 'This change in policy is all well and good but the horse has already bolted for bereaved families who were denied the answers they deserved over the decisions taken by SNP ministers during the pandemic. 'Secrecy and evasion are hardwired into this SNP government, so the Scottish people will not be duped into thinking one overdue concession marks a change in culture.' The new policy states that mobile messaging apps and non-corporate communication channels will not be permitted on government devices. A small number of business areas will be given a 'transition period' until the end of the year, including those responsible for responding to emergencies such as wildfires or for matters of safety and security. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: 'None of this changes the fact that the Scottish Government deleted WhatsApp messages on a wholesale basis throughout the pandemic. 'In doing so, they denied the Covid bereaved a full understanding of the decisions that were made, undermining their search for justice and closure. 'The SNP will have to move mountains before people can be confident this deception won't happen again.' Ms Forbes said: 'We are setting out a clear approach to ending government use of mobile messaging apps, and this will support wider work to deliver on our commitment to openness and transparency. 'The use of mobile messaging apps increased during the pandemic as staff worked remotely in unprecedented and difficult circumstances. Having reflected on our working practices, we are now implementing changes to the use of such apps. 'This follows on from actions to implement other recommendations from Ms Martins' externally-led review including updating our hybrid working policy. 'I want to reassure the public that it is a priority of this government to maintain secure and searchable data, ensuring compliance with all records management rules. We will continue to act to ensure our data policies are robust, especially considering technological advances.'
News24
4 hours ago
- Business
- News24
Global leaders zero in on whistleblowers at G20 corruption talks
The 2nd G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) under the South African Presidency convened in Brasilia from June 9 to 12, 2025, uniting delegates to address critical issues in preventing and combating corruption. Co-Chaired by South Africa and Brazil, the meeting aimed to reinforce the Working Group's priorities to strengthen the public sector by promoting transparency, integrity, and accountability, increasing the efficiency of asset recovery measures, enhancing participation from the public sector, private sector, civil society, and academia, and improving whistleblower protection mechanisms. The South African Ambassador to Brazil, Mr. Vusi Mavimbela, delivered the opening remarks during the inaugural session. He highlighted the importance of international collaboration in the fight against corruption and stressed South Africa's dedication to advancing collective goals, stating, 'Through our G20 Presidency theme, 'Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability', we reaffirm our commitment to advancing collective efforts toward inclusive global economic growth and sustainable development.' Brazil's Minister of State for the Office of the Comptroller General, H.E. Mr. Vinícius Marques de Carvalho, delivered the keynote address, stressing the significance of inclusive approaches in anti-corruption efforts. He underscored the complex nature of corruption, requiring diverse perspectives and expertise. H.E. Carvalho called for a multi-agency strategy, urging the involvement of civil society, academia, and the private sector in shaping effective anti-corruption policies. At the heart of the meeting were the discussions of the draft G20 High-Level Principles on the Management of Seized and Confiscated Assets. These draft principles aim to provide a framework for G20 countries to manage seized assets, closing gaps identified by the ACWG to strengthen asset recovery. The Group also considered the Zero Draft Ministerial Declaration, encapsulating the commitment of G20 countries to address corruption through prevention. This draft will be presented for adoption at the Ministerial Meeting in October 2025. In addition to the main sessions, a side event was held on measuring integrity in public procurement, exploring challenges in quantifying corruption, and the necessity for evidence-based methodologies, co-hosted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The UNDP informed that it is establishing a framework for measuring integrity, collecting data from 60 countries by the end of 2025. This initiative aims to provide objective tools to gauge the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures. Another side event was held to address the preventive dimension in the fight against corruption and new forms of organized crime, co-hosted by EL PACTO 2.0, a partnership with the European Union focused on justice and security. The G20 ACWG and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Working Group on Bribery held a joint meeting aimed at supporting the shared commitment to combating the bribery of foreign public officials in international transactions. The 2nd G20 ACWG l Meeting provided an opportunity for delegates to exchange views, share experiences, and deepen understanding of the evolving challenges and opportunities in the fight against corruption through the lens of the Presidency's theme of solidarity, equality, and sustainability. The Working Group acknowledged that there remains considerable work ahead to fully realise the deliverables committed to at the start of the year, including timely responses to the questionnaires, substantive inputs toward the draft Ministerial Declaration, and the High-Level Principles on the Management of Seized and Confiscated Assets. Through these efforts, the G20 seeks to instil confidence in its commitment to combating corruption and promoting sustainable development, ensuring a brighter future for all. As South Africa and Brazil lead this charge, the hope is that the momentum generated from this meeting will translate into tangible actions that resonate beyond borders, creating a global environment where corruption has no place.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Coatue's founders say private companies should go public
The founder brothers of Coatue Management urged large private firms to go public for transparency. Their comments come as companies stay private longer, following a surge in private market fundraising. While public companies are subject to more regulatory scrutiny, the public markets offer benefits, too. The founders of hedge fund giant Coatue Management have called on large private companies to step out of the shadows and go public. Speaking to the "BG2 Pod" podcast that aired on Friday, Thomas and Philippe Laffont said that large companies should be more transparent. "I happen to believe that all these companies should go public," said Thomas Laffont. He framed the issue as partly ideological, saying there's a "democratic element" to going public as "wealth creation belongs to the public market." His comments counterpoint a dominant trend in recent years: Companies, fueled by billions in private equity, venture capital, and private credit, are staying private for far longer. While private companies are subject to less regulatory oversight, going public can benefit them beyond access to public money. "It could be a brand-defining event for a company, for your product, for your employees, giving the level of transparency to your customers that you're well funded, that you have a fortress balance sheet, you can withstand the regulatory scrutiny that comes," he said. Philippe Laffont agreed, even as he acknowledged the imperfections of public-market mechanics like mark-to-market accounting. He said that the balance between public and private markets is healthy, but only up to a point. "I just think that these super, super large private companies, if you're not willing to submit yourself to the sunshine and ray of light of the public markets, you're going to get it through a regulatory agency," he said. Not all investors are coaxing private companies into an initial public offering or other public market debut. Peter Singlehurst, the head of private companies at British investment management firm Baillie Gifford, said on a March podcast that companies can build better businesses by staying private for longer. "You can have people owning your shares for all sorts of reasons that are misaligned with what you're trying to do as a company," Singlehurst said. Like Coatue, Baillie Gifford has a variety of public and private investments. "All your competitors get to know pretty much everything about your business because you have to tell your shareholders pretty much everything about your business," he said. Read the original article on Business Insider Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
OSE Immunotherapeutics Reaffirms Commitment to Holding a Transparent and Serene General Meeting in Compliance with Market Rules
OSE Immunotherapeutics Reaffirms Commitment to Holding a Transparent and Serene General Meeting in Compliance with Market RulesNantes, June 20th, 2025, 7:30 p.m. - OSE Immunotherapeutics SA (ISIN: FR0012127173; Mnemo: OSE), publishes a 'Questions and Answers' document for all its shareholders and informs the market of ongoing procedures, in line with its commitment to holding the annual General Meeting with transparency, serene debates, and compliance with market rules. In line with its continuous information and transparency approach towards shareholders, the Company has published a "Questions and Answers" document, accessible at the following address: intended to answer the main questions of shareholders regarding recent events. Nicolas Poirier, CEO of OSE, states: "We have a responsibility to all those who expect seriousness and results from OSE, primarily the patients. We cannot leave the false information communicated to the market unanswered. For example, there is no plan to use venture debt instruments. In response to these unfounded rumors, we have decided to publish this "Questions and Answers" document. An exchange with all shareholders will be organized soon in the same spirit." Following the declaration of a concerted action and the submission of several resolutions aimed at significantly altering the composition of the Board of Directors by a group of shareholders1, the Company reminds the market, that it had requested and obtained, by order of the President of the Nantes Commercial Court dated June 10, 2025, the postponement of the General Meeting initially scheduled for June 25, 20252. The "group of shareholders" notified the Company today of their challenge to this decision, through a request for the retraction of the June 10, 2025 order, with a hearing scheduled for Tuesday, June 24, 2025. The postponement of the General Meeting to a later date, aims to address the concerns expressed by certain shareholders in this tense context and to ensure that the consultation of its shareholders can take place in a serene democratic framework, ensuring complete and fair information. This general meeting cannot be a stage for attempts to destabilize and spread erroneous information about the Company. In this regard, OSE Immunotherapeutics has filed a request today with the Nantes Commercial Court, within the framework of an accelerated procedure (known as "fixed date"), for an action against this same group of shareholders. This action concerns the regularity of the declaration of the concerted action, with the aim of ensuring compliance with the principles of transparency governing shareholder democracy ahead of the Company's next General Meeting. Subject to the evolution of legal proceedings, the Company currently plans to hold the General Meeting on September 30, 2025. In this context, the Board of Directors reaffirms its commitment in favor of a transparent, responsible and constructive dialogue among all stakeholders. This commitment is reflected in the procedures and actions undertaken by the Company but also by the joint mobilization of the management and the Board of Directors to install a dialogue with the "group of shareholders". A constructive and formal framework for exchange has thus been proposed to move forward together in the interest of the Company and all its shareholders. ABOUT OSE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS OSE Immunotherapeutics is a biotech company dedicated to developing first-in-class assets in immuno-oncology (IO) and immuno-inflammation (I&I) that address the unmet patient needs of today and tomorrow. We partner with leading academic institutions and biopharmaceutical companies in our efforts to develop and bring to the market transformative medicines for people with serious diseases. OSE Immunotherapeutics is based between Nantes and Paris and is quoted on information about OSE Immunotherapeutics assets is available on the Company's website: Follow us on Fiona Dé French Media Contact FP2COMFlorence Portejoiefportejoie@ 6 07 768 283 U.S. Media ContactRooney Partners LLCKate Barrettekbarrette@ 212 223 0561 Forward-looking statementsThis press release contains express or implied information and statements that might be deemed forward-looking information and statements in respect of OSE Immunotherapeutics. They do not constitute historical facts. These information and statements include financial projections that are based upon certain assumptions and assessments made by OSE Immunotherapeutics' management considering its experience and its perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. These forward-looking statements include statements typically using conditional and containing verbs such as 'expect', 'anticipate', 'believe', 'target', 'plan', or 'estimate', their declensions and conjugations and words of similar import. Although the OSE Immunotherapeutics management believes that the forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, the OSE Immunotherapeutics' shareholders and other investors are cautioned that the completion of such expectations is by nature subject to various risks, known or not, and uncertainties which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of OSE Immunotherapeutics. These risks could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. These risks include those discussed or identified in the public filings made by OSE Immunotherapeutics with the AMF. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. This press release includes only summary information and should be read with the OSE Immunotherapeutics Universal Registration Document filed with the AMF on April 30, 2025, including the annual financial report for the fiscal year 2024, available on the OSE Immunotherapeutics' website. Other than as required by applicable law, OSE Immunotherapeutics issues this press release at the date hereof and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information or statements. 1 Press release of June 9, 20252 Press release of June 11, 2025 Attachment EN_250620_FINALSign in to access your portfolio
The Herald
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald
Godongwana proposes full public funding for political parties
Finance minister Enoch Godongwana is proposing political parties be fully funded by public money, arguing reliance on private donors undermines accountability. Speaking at the Electoral Commission of SA's (IEC) inaugural symposium on political funding on Thursday, he said: 'In my view, political parties must be fully publicly funded. Political funding for political parties from the public purse carries with it obligations — there's going to be accountability and transparency. The auditor-general must be able to audit for that accountability.' Godongwana said there is need for a funding regime that ensures stability, transparency and participation. However, he cautioned that economic challenges and reduced revenue collection could limit the creation of a common public funding pool. 'Between the 2011/12 financial year to date, we've only given R3bn to political parties,' a figure he cited to highlight underfunding of parties. He also questioned the IEC's role in overseeing political funding, asking, 'Are we not putting the IEC in a position of a conflict?' Listen to the minister:
