Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) and other members of Congress in sending a letter to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick urging the department to prohibit TP-Link equipment sales. This state-sponsored networking equipment company has deep ties to the Chinese Communist Party and poses a clear present danger to American national security.
“TP-Link’s pricing practices have triggered a Department of Justice criminal antitrust probe. TP-Link’s predatory pricing, coupled with its circumvention of tariffs, imminently threatens U.S. competition in a market critical to our national security. TP-Link has rapidly captured nearly 60 percent of the U.S. retail router and Wi-Fi system market while expanding the CCP’s cyber arsenal. The CCP uses SOHO equipment for ongoing espionage and targeting of critical infrastructure to pre-position itself for destructive attacks on Americans and communication channels with our allies,” wrote the members of Congress.
Joining Sens. Tuberville and Cotton are U.S. Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY), Ted Budd (R-NC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Jim Justice (R-WV), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Rick Scott (R-FL). Four U.S. Representatives also joined the letter.
Full text of the letter can be read below or here.
“Dear Secretary Lutnick,
We write in support of the Commerce Department’s investigation of TP-Link, a state-sponsored networking equipment company, and urge you to take swift action to prohibit further sales of TP-Link networking products in the United States. TP-Link’s deep ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), use of predatory pricing to eliminate trusted U.S. alternatives, and role in embedding foreign surveillance and destructive capabilities into our networks render it a clear and present danger.
Chinese state actors have exploited TP-Link small and home office (SOHO) networking devices — including Wi-Fi routers, cellular gateways, and mobile hotspots — to wage cyber-attacks in the United States.CCP agents commonly exploit SOHO routers because those systems have ideal bandwidth and computing power for sustained cyber activities but lack additional layers of security common in enterprise networks. TP-Link is also subject to China’s National Security Law, giving the CCP access to U.S. systems before American authorities know a vulnerability exists. In fact, TP-Link is the only router company that refuses to engage in industry efforts to remediate Chinese state-sponsored botnets.
TP-Link’s pricing practices have triggered a Department of Justice criminal antitrust probe. TP-Link’s predatory pricing, coupled with its circumvention of tariffs, imminently threatens U.S. competition in a market critical to our national security. TP-Link has rapidly captured nearly 60 percent of the U.S. retail router and Wi-Fi system market while expanding the CCP’s cyber arsenal. The CCP uses SOHO equipment for ongoing espionage and targeting of critical infrastructure to pre-position itself for destructive attacks on Americans and communication channels with our allies.
For these reasons, Commerce should immediately prohibit future sales of TP-Link SOHO networking equipment in the United States. Each day we fail to act, the CCP wins while American competitors suffer, and American security remains at risk.
We thank you for your ongoing work to secure and safeguard America’s Information and Communications Technology and Services supply chain. This work is critical to our national security, and we commend President Trump’s Executive Order 13873 to allow the Commerce Department to prohibit transactions in our country that pose unacceptable risk to American national security.
Sincerely,”
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.
Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with LTG. Robert Rasch, Executive Officer of the Guam Defense System Joint Program Office, and LTG. Heath Collins, Director of the Missile Defense Agency during a hearing for the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces. During the hearing, Sen. Tuberville received an update about the United States’ missile defense capabilities on Guam and how the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is continuing to develop Golden Dome.
Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or watch on YouTube or Rumble.
ON GUAM UPDATES:
TUBERVILLE: “[…] General, how are we doing on Guam? We get the Aegis System started about what three years ago, maybe a little less. How are you doing? Getting better?”
RASCH: “Senator, getting better. Lots of teamwork across the services and with Missile Defense Agency. And my hat goes off to General Collins and his team who really led the Department of Defense in early implementation [in] all the legwork for laying the ground efforts for the military construction that will occur there. […] MDA demonstrated this last year early Aegis Guam capability with a flight test that was executed there very successfully. That work was really the starting point. That equipment has stayed on-site. It offers a credible deterrence against potential adversaries while the Army then does its planning to come in the [20]27 time frame with the next, what we call, tranche one of capability for Guam. It is a lot of consensus building. It is a lot of teamwork across the Department of Defense. This is the homeland. So, in in several ways, we’re learning a lot of lessons that we believe can also apply to the Golden Dome team as they continue that mission set. But [I am] very optimistic that the Army is going to meet its mission that will have a credible capability on [the] island in the time frame we lay out.”
TUBERVILLE: “Have we decided who is going to operate it?”
RASCH: “Well, that decision, as we build out the overall command and control capability, the C2 for the defense of Guam would typically fall to the Air Force to conduct that overall coordination. But it will be manned jointly as we have both Navy systems, Air Force systems, [and] Army systems on the ground. We’ll have, you know, servicemen and women from all of those services operating it typically under an Air Force leadership who will then report to the Combatant Commander on the plane.”
TUBERVILLE: “Does that includes Reserve[s or the] National Guard?”
RASCH: “Sir, it absolutely can. And we’ve—even with the small footprint the Army has had on [the] island today with the Task Force Talon—which is the THAAD battery, we’ve relied heavily on the Guam National Guard who provides a security force for that unit that’s operating away from a typical Army base. A great job of those soldiers, supporting that mission truly defending the homeland. And within the Army, there’s talk about potentially expanding that mission set for the guard members on Guam. [This is] still under discussion, so I can’t get ahead of those decisions as they play out. But I believe all things are on the table at this point.”
TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. I know it’s a long process, […] long process. I mean, how many years do you think we’ve got left [to be] fully operational?”
RASCH: “Senator, I believe we will be improving this capability forever, and defense never rests because offensive threat never rests. So, we will continually evolve. The point of our effort is to try to get as much capability as soon as possible. And capability isn’t just a thing. It’s not just, you know, a launcher. It’s not just a radar. It’s not even just a command and control. It’s soldiers, you know, airmen, you know, all the folks actually manned this equipment, ensuring they’re properly trained. It’s ensuring that we have the proper sustainment tail on [the] island to support it, that we can sustain it not just for a day, but for years in time. So, we’ll be at this for a while.”
TUBERVILLE: “I defended a different offense every week, if you’re a football coach. You gotta change, don’t you?”
RASCH: “Absolutely, Senator.”
ON MDA DEVELOPMENTS:
TUBERVILLE: “Thank you.
General Collins, thank you for the footprint you have in my state of Alabama [at] Redstone Arsenal. We’re proud of all the work you’re doing. How much of MDA’s effort and investment in Golden Dome do you expect to take place in Huntsville? And do you expect to request any additional resources for maintenance or buildings or anything like that in the future?”
COLLINS: “Well, Sir, [the] Missile Defense Agency is really proud of being part of the Tennessee Valley at Redstone Arsenal. Certainly, a large contingent of our workforce is at Redstone Arsenal. And as well as many of our industry partners are in that area as well. And so, I can’t give you an exact percentage, but certainly the engineers, the program managers, the contracting officers, the entire workforce of Missile Defense Agency and the associated industry members are gonna be very busy and very devoted to making any of the parts of Golden Dome real.”
TUBERVILLE: “You’re building things right now too, right? You’ve got things under construction—I think the last time I was there.”
COLLINS: “Yes, Sir. We’re doing them. We’re in the middle of a ground test facility infrastructure update, which is a fairly large renovation and construction project that’s going on. And that’s going on right now to help get us ready for the ground test infrastructure we need to support next gen[eration] missile defense. And as we start digesting and dissolving the Golden Dome requirements, there may be additional requirements that we need to make sure we’re ready to go.”
ON THE ROLE SPACE PLAYS IN GOLDEN DOME:
TUBERVILLE: “I got one more question. If we got time here. General Collins, I wanna ask you about our space sensors, which is [an] absolutely critical component of any effort to develop the next generation missile defense capability. Last year, the U. S. put a new hypersonic and ballistic tracking space sensor satellite in orbit. Do we have any plans, either as part of the Golden Dome architecture [or] independently, to expand that capability?”
COLLINS: “Yes, sir. We as well believe that a very effective and resilient space layer is going to be critical to the future missile defense requirements of the homeland as well as our deployed forces. We rely on space assets today as part of our kill chain for initial tip-off, and we will continue to do that. The Space Force, Space Development Agency, will operationalize the HBTSS capability. The relationship we have with Space Force is we may prototype technology that is required and prove it out for missile defense. The Space Force will operationalize that capability as we move forward, and HBTSS will be foundational. That type of technology will be foundational to hypersonic missile defense in the future. And we’re working on future prototyping space sensor capabilities, in particular, discriminating space center to help improve ballistic missile defense in the future as well. We’ll prototype and space force will operationalize. And so, space will be very key to protecting the homeland and our deployed forces in the future. Thanks, Senator.”
TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Mr. Chairman.”
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANTHONY PENA, also known as “Tony,” 24, of Miami Gardens, Florida, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 132 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for participating in a violent kidnapping in Danbury last summer.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in the late afternoon of August 25, 2024, Danbury Police received multiple 911 calls from witnesses who observed several males assaulting another male and forcing him into a white work van. Responding officers encountered the van on Clapboard Ridge Road, near the intersection of East Gate Road, and attempted to stop it. The van accelerated at a high-rate of speed and crashed approximately one mile away on Cowperthwaite Street. Pena, Angel Borrero, and two associates, all dressed in black, exited the van and fled on foot. Officers arrived at the location of the disabled van and located a male and female victim, both bound with duct tape, in the back of the van. The male victim had significant injuries to his face and arm. Both victims were transported to the hospital for further evaluation. The victims reported that the Lamborghini Urus they were operating was rear-ended by a Honda Civic on Damia Drive in Danbury, and a white work van cut in front of their vehicle. The victims were then forcibly removed from their vehicle, dragged into the van, and bound with duct tape. When the male victim resisted, he was punched in the face and hit repeatedly with a baseball bat, both outside and inside the van, by Pena and others. The victims were told several times that they would be killed.
Pena, Borrero, and the two associates were apprehended in various locations within a quarter-mile radius from where the van crashed. Two other associates, and the Honda Civic, were located at a short-term rental home in Roxbury. A baseball bat was found inside the car. The victims’ Lamborghini, with a blood-stained baseball bat inside the car, was found abandoned in the woods off the roadway on East King Street.
The kidnapping was intended to facilitate the extortion of the victims’ son, who is suspected of participating in the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency.
Pena has been detained since his arrest. On January 10, 2025, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy and kidnapping.
Borrero and three others involved in the offense also pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by the FBI New Haven Violent Crimes Task Force and the Danbury Police Department. The Task Force includes members from the Connecticut State Police and several local police departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck and John T. Pierpont, Jr.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Danbury for its close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the core bipartisan group of senators who negotiated and passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), joined U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) to urge the Trump Administration to use its recent designation of Latin American cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) to take aggressive action to stop the illegal trafficking of American firearms across the Southern Border.
In a letter addressed to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, the lawmakers called for a coordinated federal response to stem the flow of hundreds of thousands of American firearms that arm violent drug cartels, fuel lawlessness along the Southern Border, and bring drugs into communities across the United States.
“We were pleased that President Trump agreed to address the outflow of hundreds of thousands of American-made firearms across the southern border when he initially postponed the implementation of tariffs on our ally Mexico. Accordingly, we urge you to utilize the FTO designation to take aggressive action to stem the flow of American guns to the cartels,” the lawmakers wrote.
Anywhere between 200,000 and 500,000 American firearms are smuggled across U.S. borders into Mexico every year, arming Latin American criminal organizations that have used them to undermine domestic law enforcement and assert control over fentanyl and human trafficking operations back into the United States.
“The new FTO designation for these cartels provides additional legal tools to bolster interagency coordination, disrupt their financial networks, and impose stricter penalties on those who provide material support to these criminal enterprises. Specifically, under current statute, it is unlawful to knowingly provide material support or resources to a Foreign Terrorist Organization and those who do so can be fined or imprisoned for up to 20 years,” the lawmakers continued.
The members urged the administration to effectively and strategically employ the full suite of legal options this new designation enables and offered their assistance to empower it to specifically address the “Iron River” of American firearms that are fueling violence and destruction in communities across the United States and Mexico.
“We hope that you move swiftly and use these new legal authorities to combat southbound arms trafficking. We stand ready to assist in this effort in any way we can, including through legislation that expands your programmatic authorities to address this critical issue,” the lawmakers concluded.
The letter was led by Luján and U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) in the Senate and U.S. Representatives Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) and Rob Menendez (D-N.J.) in the House. Alongside Heinrich and Vasquez, the letter was signed by U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and U.S. Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), J. Luis Correa (D-Calif.), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), Timothy Kennedy (D-N.Y.), and Nellie Pou (D-N.J.).
The full text of the letter is here.
Background on Heinrich-Led Gun Trafficking and Straw Purchase Provisions:
Heinrich-led provisions in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act increased criminal penalties for straw purchasers and made it a crime, for the first time ever, to traffic firearms out of the United States. Straw purchasers are people who buy guns for those who cannot buy them directly themselves due to their age, felony criminal convictions, or other limitations. By increasing penalties for straw purchasing, Heinrich’s provision is helping to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and those who would use them against our communities. By making it illegal to traffic firearms out of the country, Heinrich’s provision gave law enforcement the tools needed to prosecute and disrupt the flow of firearms to Mexico and the Northern Triangle, fueling the violence that has driven so many to flee their home countries.
To date, the Department of Justice has charged more than 600 defendants using BSCA’s gun trafficking and straw purchasing laws, removing hundreds of firearms off the streets in the process. These cases are significant, often preventing and prosecuting highly dangerous activity, such as crimes linked to organized trafficking rings and transnational criminal organizations.
For example, in March 2024, the Justice Department charged several defendants with trafficking and straw purchasing over 100 firearms, including many military-grade weapons, that were allegedly intended to be smuggled to a Mexican drug cartel. In April 2024, a defendant was sentenced to 276 months in prison for firearms trafficking and straw purchasing, as well as distribution of fentanyl, where the evidence showed that two of the trafficked firearms had been used in gang-related shootings. In 2o23, a defendant was sentenced to two years in prison for running an illegal gun trafficking enterprise, repeatedly taking money to lie on firearm purchase forms and obtain weapons for convicted felons.
In New Mexico, the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico has charged 11 defendants with BSCA violations.
Heinrich’s Longtime Leadership to Tackle Gun Violence:
A gun owner and father, Heinrich has long worked to advance and pass bipartisan policies that save lives, protect public safety, and reduce gun violence.
Heinrich recently co-sponsored the Preventing Illegal Weapons Trafficking Act, legislation to protect communities from gun violence by requiring federal law enforcement to coordinate efforts to prevent the importation and trafficking of machinegun conversion devices including ‘auto-sears’ — illegal gun modification devices that can convert semi-automatic weapons into fully-automatic weapons — and seize all profits that come from the illegal trafficking of these devices.
Last month, Heinrich introduced his Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion (GOSAFE) Act and bipartisan Banning Unlawful Machinegun Parts (BUMP) Act, commonsense legislation designed to protect communities from gun violence, while safeguarding Americans’ constitutional right to own a firearm for legitimate self-defense, hunting, and sporting purposes.
Heinrich also convened a press conference in Albuquerque with New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence, Everytown, community leaders, and students to announce the introduction of his GOSAFE Act. For photos and videos of that event, click here.
In October 2024, Heinrich secured critical funding for New Mexico law enforcement to purchase four new NIBIN machines for Las Cruces, Farmington, Gallup, and Roswell. This allows law enforcement to trace firearms used in crimes and hold criminals accountable, all while saving officers valuable time and resources.
In July 2023, Heinrich cosponsored the bicameral Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act, legislation to require online and other sellers of gun-making kits to comply with federal firearm safety regulations.
In 2017, Heinrich cosponsored the bipartisan Fix NICS Act, which now requires federal and state authorities to produce background check implementation plans and holds federal agencies accountable for reporting relevant criminal records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Heinrich also led the successful call to repeal the Dickey Amendment, which had previously prevented the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from funding research on gun violence and its effects on public health.
Housing for migrant workers in Western Canada. Many workers live in poorly maintained housing and face surveillance and harassment from employers.(Elise Hjalmarson/RAMA Okanagan)
In today’s political climate, temporary migrants in Canada are being scapegoated for everything from rising grocery bills to the affordable housing crisis. Yet migrant workers, particularly farm workers, face a hidden housing crisis that needs urgent attention.
Much of Canada’s ability to produce food hinges on hiring migrant agricultural workers from countries like Mexico, Guatemala, Jamaica and elsewhere. Yet, housing for migrant agricultural workers in Canada is often overcrowded, dangerous and undignified.
Amid government inaction, our group of 29 researchers, clinicians and advocates with the Coalition for National Housing Standards for Migrant Agricultural Workers (CoNaMi), have developed a proposal for national housing standards. This work is backed by clinical experience, hundreds of interviews and surveys and migrant agricultural workers’ own advocacy.
Inadequate housing
When two of us — Anelyse and Susana — interviewed 151 migrants in Ontario and British Columbia as part of our research, workers described conditions of isolation, crowding, inadequate ventilation, poor maintenance and close proximity to hazards such as agrochemicals.
Both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, many workers struggled to access health care, groceries and social services. In addition, their phone and internet access was often unreliable.
Some workers reported employer-imposed restrictions on leaving the property, and bans on visitors. These living conditions pose serious risks to workers.
Similarly to research led by the Centre for Climate Justice in British Columbia, we also encountered several workers who endured significant hardships as a result of extreme weather events.
Consistent with recent research in Nova Scotia, we found that a lack of meaningful union representation, precarious status and low wages created coercive conditions in which workers felt forced to accept poor living conditions.
Furthermore, migrants are geographically separated from their families for months or years at a time. Research that Adam has conducted in Atlantic Canada and Ontario, Jill in Québec and Susana in Ontario and British Columbia, outlines how poor housing conditions not only threaten workers’ health and well-being, but also contribute to their marginalization and exploitation.
Workers often describe feeling demeaned and controlled, and they wonder why Canada, a country so willing to accept their labour, is so reluctant to accept their common humanity.
In 2024, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery has described Canada’s temporary foreign worker program, accessed by migrant agricultural workers to come to Canada, as “a breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery,” a statement echoed by international human rights watchdog Amnesty International.
Yet the federal government has failed to meaningfully improve housing conditions or establish clear, enforceable and mandatory standards. This inaction persists despite years of reviews, consultations and recommendations.
In fact, a study commissioned by the federal government to review the possibility of a national housing standard for migrant agricultural workers in 2018 called for greater consistency in housing quality assessments.
Furthermore, safeguarding housing quality requires policy changes that provide meaningful status and adequate collective bargaining representation to migrant workers, as these conditions underlie their vulnerability in housing.
In the 2020 Auditor General of Canada report, the need for national minimum accommodation requirements for migrant agricultural workers was identified. However, housing remains a key concern for these workers who have not yet benefited from such proposed recommendations.
National housing standard
A national housing standard for migrant agricultural workers is a crucial step towards protecting their rights and mitigating their vulnerability. These standards must include:
Appropriate and enforced housing standards: Ensure robust and proactive enforcement of housing standard. Living quarters must be well-constructed, safe and dignified.
Privacy, security, access and freedom: Guarantee workers’ rights to privacy, movement, access to health and social services and freedom from surveillance. Workers must have access to transportation and be able to enjoy rest, leisure and a social life.
Dignified living conditions: Safeguard basic rights to comfort, storage and personal care by prescribing minimum standards and ratios for private bedrooms, common areas, laundry and cooking facilities. Workers should have private bedrooms and reliable internet access.
Health and safety in housing: Protect workers from the spread of illness, extreme weather events and other hazards through proper air conditioning, ventilation and reduced occupancy ratios for bathrooms and kitchens.
Co-ordinated government leadership: Prevent different jurisdictions passing the buck by mandating co-ordination, data-sharing and training among federal, provincial and municipal governments. For example, inspectors should be trauma-informed and armed with strategies to mitigate implicit bias and to anticipate barriers this group faces because of their precarious status. The federal government must lead with adequate funding and policy reform to address barriers that prevent workers from advocating for decent housing.
The evidence is clear. Canadian governments must raise the bar from the floor, and create national standards for migrant agricultural workers’ housing.
C. Susana Caxaj has received Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada to carry out this research. Previously, her work has been funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research, Vancouver Foundation and Western University. She is a co-founder and member of the Migrant Worker Health Expert Working Group.
Anelyse Weiler receives funding from SSHRC and the Hari Sharma Foundation. She is a board member with the B.C. Employment Standards Coalition and is involved with the Worker Solidarity Network.
J. Adam Perry receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Jill Hanley receives funding from SSHRC and CIHR for her research on farmworkers. She is affiliated with the Immigrant Workers Centre and the SHERPA University Institute.
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher today (13 May) asked the Security Council Members “to reflect for a moment on what action we will tell future generations we each took to stop the 21st century atrocity to which we bear daily witness in Gaza.”
Fletcher, briefing the Council on the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave, said, “Israel is deliberately un unashamedly imposing inhumane conditions on civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory. For more than ten weeks. Nothing has entered Gaza. No food, medicine, water, or tents. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have again been forcibly displaced and confined into ever shrinking spaces, as 70 percent of Gaza’s territory is either within Israeli militarized zones or under displacement orders.”
The humanitarian official said Israel denies humanitarians access, “placing the objective of depopulating Gaza before the lives of civilians.”
He said, “we have lifesaving supplies ready now at the borders. We can save hundreds of thousands of survivors. We have rigorous mechanisms to ensure our aid gets to civilians, and not to Hamas. But
He asked Council Members, “what more evidence do you need now? Will you act decisively to prevent genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law? Or will you say instead that we did all we could?”
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director of its Liaison Office with the United Nations, Angélica Jácome, told the Council that “agrifood systems have collapsed in the Gaza Strip while food prices have soared.”
Jácome said, “we are witnessing the systemic breakdown of conditions essential for survival. People in Gaza are not only experiencing lack of food, but they are going through a profound breakdown of health, livelihood, and social structures, leaving entire communities in a state of desperation, devastation, and death.”
Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour told the Council that “930,000 children are at critical risk of famine” in Gaza, “not because there is no food. Food is there. A few meters away. Rotting instead of reaching those who desperately need it. But because Israel has been openly and brazenly blocking humanitarian aid for over two months now.”
Mansour said, “this is engineered starvation. It is the most inhumane form of torture and killing.”
He noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had told the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee of the Israeli Knesset on Sunday “we are destroying more and more homes. They have nowhere to return to. The only inevitable outcome will be the wish of Gazans to immigrate outside of the Gaza Strip.”
For his part, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said, “we will not accept a humanitarian mechanism that props up the terror organization that butchered our people. We will not sit idly by as food, fuel and funds meant for civilians are funnelled into the Hamas terror machine. We will never allow our morality to be weaponized against us again.”
Danon said Secretary-General António Guterres had “refused to engage” in a new humanitarian distribution plan proposed by Israel, alleging that the plan “in his view, does not meet the principles of and I quote, ‘impartiality, humanity, independence and neutrality.”
The Israeli Ambassador said, “the irony is unbelievable, as the previous mechanism made a mockery of every one of those principles. That is not diplomacy. That is not neutrality. That is sabotage disguised as principle.”
Danon said, “to Secretary-General Guterres I say this; the aid that ended up in Hamas hands did not bring hope. It did not bring progress. It brought death. That path leads nowhere, Mr. Guterres, you are invited to return to the table. But if you do come with open eyes, and open ears, something can be achieved.”
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, May 14, 2025/APO Group/ —
The African Development Bank www.AfDB.org has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to collaborating with African civil society to advance the continent’s development agenda. This was a key message of the 2025 Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Forum, which was successfully held on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Abidjan.
The forum, organized under the theme: “Celebrating the Contribution of Civil Society to Africa’s Development,” brought together over 150 participants at the Bank’s headquarters, with thousands more connected online across Africa and the diaspora.
A Novel Action Plan to Deepen Engagement
This edition of the CSO Forum marked a pivotal step in reinforcing a solid, transformative, and trust-based partnership between the African Development Bank and civil society organizations. This enduring alliance is essential for collectively serving African populations and achieving impactful development across the continent.
The forum provided an opportunity for the Bank to present its Civil Society Engagement Action Plan (2024–2028), reaffirming its commitment to an inclusive and participatory development process.
Zeneb Touré, Manager of the Civil Society and Community Engagement Division, presented the strategic framework to Beth Dunford, the African Development Bank Group’s Vice-President for Agriculture, Human, and Social Development, who accepted it on behalf of the institution’s President, Akinwumi Adesina.
Demonstrating the Bank’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive partnership, Dunford shared the Action Plan with representatives of key civil society components: the Bank-Civil Society Committee, the Climate and Energy Coalition, and a continental network of women entrepreneurs’ associations.
Augustine Njamnshi, a prominent voice in the civil society climate and energy movement, welcomed its adoption: “The approval of this Action Plan marks a historic turning point in our collaboration with the African Development Bank Group. Born from a shared vision, this document becomes our collective legacy. We express our sincere gratitude to the Bank for this profound act of trust.”
Highlighting the essential role of civil society as an integral part of Africa’s progress, Kolyang Palebele, representative of the Platform of Farmers’ Organizations of Africa, expressed the spirit of collaboration, praising “the Bank’s unique power to unite the continent’s driving forces around a common vision of improving the lives of African people.” “Civil society is not on the margins of development dynamics; it is the very essence, its living memory and its engine for change,” Mr. Palebele stated.
“Over the years, civil society engagement has become a cornerstone of the African Development Bank’s work. What was once an aspiration has become evolved into a structured, institutionalized, and results-oriented collaboration partnership.” Ms. Dunford emphasized.
Empowering Communities Through Decentralized Engagement
During the forum, an important session highlighted the progress made in decentralizing the Bank’s engagement with civil society. Successful experiences from the five regions of Africa were presented. This localized approach was strongly commended by the Vice-President for Regional Development, Integration and Service Delivery, Nnenna Nwabufo, who appreciated a transformative cross-border initiative between the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project has provided over 2.4 million people with access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, while strengthening community resilience and fostering cooperation.
Fostering Mutual Accountability Through Open Dialogue
The forum culminated in an unprecedented and frank dialogue between senior representatives from seven strategic departments of the Bank and leaders of civil society organizations. Discussions focused on crucial areas such as access to information, environmental and social safeguards, climate action, agriculture, gender equality, youth empowerment, and grievance mechanisms. This essential interaction highlighted a shared commitment to transparency, responsiveness, and mutual accountability in the pursuit of sustainable development outcomes.
Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)
During a disaster management subcommittee hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) highlighted victims of recent natural disasters and the insurance companies that defrauded them.
“This isn’t charity that we’re talking about. [Americans] turn to their insurance companies because they pay premiums to those insurance companies. It’s a contract,” said Senator Hawley. “And unfortunately, time after time they find when disaster strikes–in their moment of utmost need–the insurance companies come back to them and they delay, and they deny, and they offer excuses, and they send out two adjusters and three adjusters and 15 adjusters and 25 adjusters, and they constantly change the estimates. And at the end of the day, they just won’t pay what is due. What is required. What is just.”
The hearing featured homeowners whose property was severely damaged by recent storms, insurance adjuster whistleblowers who were pressured by companies to doctor reports to cut payouts, and the executive director of the American Policyholder Association, a consumer advocacy group that investigates fraud by insurance companies.
“When we needed Allstate the most, they failed us,” one disaster victim noted.
“This is no longer about just a roof,” said another. “It’s about the failure of a system that leaves families vulnerable after catastrophic events.”
Senator Hawley concurred.
“It’s not like it’s happened to just one family,” he said. “It is a deliberate strategy to maximize profits.”
Senator Hawley also called out Allstate and State Farm for defrauding their policyholders and intimidating whistleblowers.
“We’ve just heard testimony here–sworn testimony from multiple adjusters–that your company ordered them to delete or alter damage estimates to reduce payouts and to make you profits,” Senator Hawley said. “It sounds to me like you’re running a system of institutionalized fraud.”
Senator Hawley has been drawing attention to insurance company victims since President Trump shed light on the issue during his January visit to North Carolina where he met with those impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Watch the full subcommittee hearing here.
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today skewered the Trump Administration’s misguided trade policy, which has slowed economic growth, interrupted supply chains, and threatened access to markets for Vermont businesses, farms, and manufacturers.
“We’re getting hammered. Dairy is our big product, but we have a lot of vegetable growers. Our farmers get a lot of fertilizer from Canada and it’s going to go up like 25%. And I don’t care what the politics are of the farmer, whether they voted for Trump or voted for Harris—that’s a real hit, right?” asked Senator Welch. “Some of the issues, or the justification for tariffs, is to get the supply chain back here and I have some appreciation for that. But it’s not like, ‘the more we grow here, the better,’ right? We’re already doing that. We get higher costs, and that will make the markets more vulnerable. More farms will go out of business.”
Watch more here:
The Senate Finance Committee’s hearing featured testimony from representatives of the American Soybean Association, the Center for Strategic International Studies, the Semiconductor Industry Association, and AdvaMed.
This week, President Trump announced a new trade agreement with China that will temporarily reduce tariffs from 145% to 30%, while retaining several other newly imposed tariff categories. Even with this temporary reprieve, Americans still face an overall effective tariff rate of 17.8% —the highest since 1934.
Senator Welch has blasted Trump’s tariffs and trade war and shared stories from constituents about how President Trump’s economic policies have impacted their businesses, farms, and communities. Senator Welch has hosted roundtables in Stowe, Newport, St. Albans, and virtually, where he heard concerns and first-hand stories from Vermont and Canadian business leaders impacted by the trade war.
European Commission Press release Brussels, 14 May 2025 To simplify the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and boost farmers’ competitiveness, the European Commission is presenting today a large package of measures targeting the administrative burden, controls, implementation, crisis response and investment needs of the sector.
ADVISORY – PHILADELPHIA – Shapiro Administration to Announce $3.4 Million Investment to Support Farms, Expand Fresh, Affordable Food Availability Across Pennsylvania
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding will announce recipients of Pennsylvania’s Fresh Food Financing Initiative grants, a $3.4 million investment in connecting low-income communities with fresh, healthy, affordable food produced by local farms.
Sec. Redding will be joined at Weaver’s Way Co-op by farmers and food business leaders to share insights from a roundtable discussion held just prior to the announcement. The discussion will explore the challenges farmers face in getting fresh food to those who need it, as well as solutions provided in Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget. The Governor’s budget includes $8 million in food assistance funding increases, plus initiatives to tackle root causes of food insecurity during a time when federal funding cuts are magnifying regional food supply challenges for farmers and families, and when proposed cuts to core food programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) threaten to shift billions in costs onto states like Pennsylvania and leave more children at risk of going hungry.
In late March, Governor Shapiro called on Sec. Redding to appeal USDA’s abrupt cancellation of $13 million in Local Food Purchasing Program funds that would benefit 189 Pennsylvania farms over the next three years. To date, the USDA has not acknowledged or responded to the appeal.
WHO: Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding Senator Vincent J. Hughes Representative Andre D. Carroll Weaver’s Way Co-op General Manager Jon Roesser The Food Trust President and CEO Mark Edwards
WHEN: Thursday, May 15 at 11:15 a.m.
WHERE: Weavers Way Co-Op Germantown Outreach Office 326b West Chelten Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19144
RSVP: Press attending should RSVP with news outlet and photographer and reporter names to aginfo@pa.gov.
Since the start of the new United States (US) administration, the Commission has been engaging with its US counterparts to avert unnecessary tensions by seeking negotiated solutions with the US but has also been ready to act to safeguard the EU’s interests, where necessary, for instance through the adoption of countermeasures. These measures are suspended in view of the US decision to suspend for 90-days its reciprocal tariffs, for the same length of time to allow space for negotiations.
When it comes to sanitary and phytosanitary standards, the EU has a robust system in place to ensure that all food placed on the market satisfies the requirement of a high level of human health protection and to prevent the spread of pests or diseases among plants and animals.
All goods imported into the EU must comply with EU health and product safety requirements. The definition of such EU standards is not negotiable.
In the Vision for Agriculture and Food[1], the Commission has set out the approach to a fairer global level playing field. This includes using bilateral free trade negotiations and Agreements to their full extent. The Commission will also pursue, in line with international rules, a stronger alignment of production standards applied to imported products, notably on pesticides and animal welfare.
[1] Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, A Vision for Agriculture and Food Shaping together an attractive farming and agri-food sector for future generations, COM/2025/75 final; https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025DC0075 .
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
May 14, 2025
Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act modernizes USDA’s process for updating conservation standards
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, joined U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) to introduce bipartisan legislation, the Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act, that would remove bureaucratic barriers and better support farmers in implementing conservation practices that improve soil health and water quality.
“Illinois ranks fourth in the nation in planted cropland, but for years, has ranked as low as 37th in farm conservation funds that USDA distributes to help farmers adopt cover crops, conservation tillage, and other critical environmental practices. USDA’s statewide one-size-fits-all conservation practice rules do not always match the unique needs of each farm,” said Durbin. “This bill creates a process to add more flexibility to these standards, provide routine updates to keep up with the latest innovations, and ensure more academic and farmer input into developing the conservation practices.”
“Traveling across Iowa, I regularly hear from farmers who are eager to implement conservation practices that improve soil health, water quality, and long-term productivity — but they face real barriers when rigid USDA standards slow things down,” said Ernst. “I’m leading the Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act to modernize how USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service updates its technical standards. Ultimately, the goal is simple: let’s cut the red tape, let’s keep standards science-based and flexible, and help farmers get conservation tools in use faster.
The Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act would update the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) process to:
Require a regular review of existing conservation practice standards,
Create a public process for submitting and adopting new practices, and
Prioritize the integration of innovative tools like nutrient efficiency technologies — biological fertilizer being one example that’s proven to improve plant growth.
The introduction of the legislation follows yesterday’s hearing in the Senate Agriculture Committee, where Durbin spoke about improving USDA conservation programs.
Durbin has long-advocated for Illinois to receive USDA conservation funding that is proportionate to Illinois’ ranking as a top agricultural state. Last August, Durbin led members of the Illinois delegation in writing to USDA, urging the agency to allocate additional conservation funds to Illinois. In her opening statement, Mrs. Dwyer shared that Illinois received an additional $15 million in EQIP funds last year due to outreach by Durbin and others members of the Illinois delegation to USDA.
Durbin has also written about the importance of providing farmers with conservation funding, which allows farmers to plant cover crops to mitigate dangerous, and sometimes deadly, dust storms in Central Illinois.
Headline: Empowering teen students to achieve more with Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot
Learn about Microsoft 365 Copilot availability for students aged 13 and older. Enhance learning with AI, enterprise protection, and IT controls.
We’re excited to announce Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot availability for students aged 13 and older is coming this summer with enterprise data protection and IT controls. AI provides new and unique learning opportunities when integrated thoughtfully as a complement to established practices with input from educators. A study from Microsoft Research found that most students demonstrated remarkable curiosity when using AI, asking sophisticated questions that extended beyond their task at hand and led to deeper understanding. Further, the latest report from LinkedIn calls for action to equip the future workforce with AI and uniquely human skills as demand is rapidly increasing.
We’re optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead to help students advance their learning and build skills to prepare for success in their future. We’ll share impact and insights from our private preview for students aged 13 and older, product details, and resources to help you get started.
Try Copilot Chat today
Increasing student agency with Copilot Chat
Throughout our preview, we heard feedback from K-12 institutions that reinforced the importance of providing training and support for educators and students, setting appropriate guidelines, and granting permission to experiment and learn together. They also demonstrated what’s possible when these needs are met. Read on for testimonials from Fulton County Schools and Brisbane Catholic Education, with more insights from our preview and resources later in the blog.
Fulton County Schools first set a foundation with an AI task force, evaluation of over 200 use cases, and alignment on critical goals such as preparing students for their future and giving every student the opportunity to learn in a way that works best for them. After initial training, educators introduced Copilot Chat as a thought partner, provided coaching on topics like prompting, and quickly saw student confidence and curiosity increase. Students used it to ideate, receive immediate feedback without judgment, design multimedia projects, identify and fix code errors, adjust content based on their preferences or pace, and manage their time. Educators are also now able to challenge them more than ever, and students are using Copilot Chat as a force multiplier to bring their ideas and passions to life in ways they couldn’t previously imagine or access.
Hear Johns Creek High School educators and students share their experience with Copilot Chat in their own words in the following video and read the full story.
Read the Johns Creek High School story
For Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE), the journey began with a plan to use AI to support their mission to teach, challenge, and transform in a time where there are increasing needs for reduction of administrative workload and evolution of learning models for digital-native students. Educators in an early trial reported saving an average of 9.3 hours per week which contributed to BCE’s interest and confidence to expand access more broadly. Copilot Chat increased student agency, enabled more project-based work, and accelerated a shift they’ve been trying to make for years to help students truly become learners, not just receivers of knowledge. Shane Tooley, Assistant Principal, noted, “The real promise of Copilot Chat isn’t efficiency—it’s cognition. It’s helping us push students beyond knowledge recall into evaluation, synthesis, and justification.”
BCE’s success was built on strong leadership buy-in, aligning AI with broader strategic goals, ongoing measurement, and transparent engagement with opportunities for co-design. It sparked new ways of thinking, a culture of sharing, and thoughtful reflection on the future of education. Learn more about how BCE boosts agency and efficiency with Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot.
My role has shifted from lesson planner to facilitator and mentor. One of the most powerful moments was watching a student ask Copilot Chat to reformat their assignment for dyslexia accessibility. That’s agency. That’s personalization. And it happened without pulling the teacher away from the rest of the class.
Michael Parker, Student Academic Performance and Growth Leader, Trinity College
Get started with Copilot Chat, learn more about Microsoft 365 Copilot
Copilot Chat offers free, secure AI chat powered by GPT-4o and the ability to maintain IT control with enterprise data protection and management and is included with Microsoft 365. It also includes features like file upload, image generation, Copilot Pages, and agents. Learn more by reviewing our Copilot Chat documentation. Copilot Chat will be generally available for students aged 13 and older this summer and administrators will need to take additional steps to grant access based on their institution’s plans and preferences. We recommend administrators review the details on managing Copilot Chat access for students and begin taking the next steps to prepare today.
Manage Copilot Chat access for students
When you add a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, Copilot Chat becomes more powerful by drawing on the Microsoft Graph for access and understanding of your institutional data, working directly in productivity apps like Outlook, Microsoft Teams, PowerPoint, and Excel, and using advanced measurement and management tools. Microsoft 365 Copilot will be eligible to purchase as an add-on for students aged 13 and older with a Microsoft 365 subscription later in May 2025. Higher education institutions like Indiana University and Miami Dade College are already seeing the impact of Microsoft 365 Copilot to enhance career readiness and increase student engagement.
Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot offer enterprise data protection, the same enterprise terms available in our Microsoft 365 offerings. This means we secure your data, your data is private, your existing Microsoft 365 access controls and policies apply, you’re guarded against AI security and copyright risks, and your data isn’t used to train foundation models. Keeping your institutional data protected is important, and Copilot Chat has built-in safeguards to help ensure it stays that way. Additionally, IT administrators and security professionals can further secure, manage, and analyze the use of Copilot Chat, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Studio, and agents across their institution with the Copilot Control System.
We look forward to hearing how Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot bring new opportunities to life for your students and institutions. A National 4-H Council survey with young people found that many kids (72%) are seeking support from adults in learning how to use these tools correctly and with confidence. The importance of helping students, educators, and staff adapt to an evolving future will increase and we’ll continue to provide access to the latest technology and relevant resources.
Explore Microsoft Copilot for personal use
Many students are not only starting to use AI tools in the classroom, but also at home and for purposes outside of schoolwork. Microsoft Copilot for individuals is designed to inform, entertain, and inspire and can be accessed for free with a Microsoft personal account. Learn more about default settings and policies to protect those aged 13 and older using Microsoft Copilot. Microsoft 365 Personal or Family is also available for use of productivity apps and credits for new AI features. Eligible students can receive a 50% discount on Microsoft 365 Personal and starting today—students in the United States can sign up for a free three-month trial.
Additional insights from our preview
We want to thank the inspiring educators, students, and institutional leaders who have shared their insights with us and agreed to share them more broadly with you. Participants emphasized the importance of professional development, guidelines, prompting practice, and creating space for transparency and sharing of successes and failures. Educators noticed Copilot Chat helped keep students engaged, immediately receive and act on feedback, improve their research and analysis process, explore counterarguments, and build AI skills that they’ve already begun using to their advantage in the hiring process and even teaching to their employers in part-time jobs. Students also appreciated time savings, providing relief from the stress of deadlines, through the ability to easily brainstorm, troubleshoot issues, ask unlimited questions, and learn at their own pace.
Shane Tooley, Assistant Principal Curriculum at St. Peter Claver College says, “If you’re on the fence about AI, it comes down to this: Your students will surprise you. Given the chance, they’ll use AI ethically and meaningfully. The key is to guide them—not restrict them. Show them what good use looks like.”
Students in Onslow County enjoyed interacting with Copilot Chat to learn more about historical figures, create questions geared towards their specific needs, and receive assistance while away from school. One educator reflected, “Using AI was an eye-opening experience, all I had ever heard or thought about were the negatives, but actually using it allowed me to see many of the wonderful benefits it can bring to our students’ educational experience.”
Jorge Ledezma, Director of Educational Technology, Santa Margarita Catholic High School advises, “It’s crucial to provide AI literacy courses and resources so that students can learn how to use AI responsibly. Furthermore, emphasizing the importance of privacy and security when using AI tools is vital. This not only helps students understand the ethical implications but also ensures they are well-prepared to navigate the digital world safely.”
In Saga Prefecture, instructors helped students use Copilot Chat to learn how to prompt AI tools, program 3D games in Python, resolve issues on their own, and take initiative to further explore their interests. They used Copilot Chat side by side with Microsoft MakeCode for easy access to troubleshooting support and the ability to ask deeper questions about the task at hand. Educators and leaders emphasized the importance of data protection when providing AI tools to their students.
Dr. Faisal Al Busaidi, Director General of Information Technology, Ministry of Education Oman urges, “Successful adoption of Copilot Chat hinges on the preparedness of educators. I strongly encourage institutions to invest in structured training programs that empower teachers to guide students in using AI tools effectively and thoughtfully.”
Educators at Our Lady of the Southern Cross College, Dalby noted that Copilot Chat fostered further independence and critical thinking for their students as they reflected on how to use AI effectively and responsibly in and outside of school. They also expressed the importance of providing training for students and staff, and that like any new technology in education—the experience will only be as good as the guidelines and learning sequence that accompany it.
Lisvette Flores Quiñones, Department of Education, Puerto Rico shared “Copilot Chat’s use in education and document management has been incredibly beneficial in all teaching and learning processes, I look forward to continuing learning and exploring the potential of AI. I encourage my students to start with Copilot Chat, adjust information to their learning style, and to be specific in their prompts to achieve great results.”
Resources to begin your AI journey
Educators in our preview program consistently highlighted the need for training in AI rollout and we have several resources and tools to help you and your students get started:
AI Classroom Toolkit – Try this creative resource to introduce AI to teen students that blends engaging narrative stories with instructional information for an immersive and informative learning experience.
Copilot Chat Adoption Kit – Review the collection of resources for IT, educators, and guardians to get started with Copilot Chat.
Family Safety Toolkit – Learn more about online safety guidance for all ages, tools and tips, and resources we have developed over time through engagement with young people and digital safety partnerships.
Minecraft Education AI Foundations – Discover a set of accessible, interactive materials for building AI literacy such as curriculum, short videos, Minecraft lessons, and more.
Additional free AI tools – Explore the AI-enhanced Learning Accelerators to help students build foundational skills, GitHub Copilot to empower the next generation of developers, and Khan Academy Writing Coach.
FarmBeats for Students program expansion – Access a free, comprehensive course providing training on precision agriculture, data science, and AI designed for classrooms of all kinds.
Discover even more resources for educators, leaders, and administrators:
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Chee Meng Tan, Assistant Professor of Business Economics, University of Nottingham
Washington and Beijing have finally agreed a pause in their escalating trade war. US and Chinese officials announced in Geneva this week that US tariffs on Chinese goods would fall to 30%, while Chinese tariffs on US products would drop back to 10%.
But the real battle to determine the fate of future US-Sino relations will be in negotiations that take place in the next 90 days. As both sides jostle to protect respective national interests, a win is possible for China. But that probably hinges on whether Donald Trump sees what’s on offer as a win for him as well.
The 90-day deal to deescalate tariffs, which begins on May 14, includes significant concessions, and shows a willingness from both sides to negotiate.
In early April, US tariffs on Chinese products had soared to 145%, while Beijing imposed a 125% tariff on US imports. US supermarkets had begun to warn of imminent stock shortages.
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Was this really a win for either side? So far the only progress is the roll back of tariffs to levels before the trade war intensified in April 2025.
But for China, the latest tariff reduction has provided much needed, if short term, economic relief, even if no one knows what will happen after 90 days. The Chinese stock market rallied immediately after the announcement. China is attempting to repair its ailing economy fuelled by a real estate crisis that began in 2021. So, Beijing needs more triumphs of this sort, as it realises that fiscal stimulus may be ineffective in the face of overwhelming tariffs.
So, what measures should Beijing take to ensure that US tariffs remain low, if not lower?
Before the trade war between the US and China began in July 2018, tariffs imposed by Washington on Beijing and vice versa were relatively low. In January 2018, US tariffs on Chinese exports stood at 3.1%, while Chinese tariffs on US exports were at 8%. While the current 10% Chinese tariffs on US goods isn’t far from the pre-trade war level, the same cannot be said of US tariffs on Chinese goods, which stand at 30%.
What’s a big win for China?
For Beijing, a big win would be a return of the pre-trade war tariffs or the absence of tariffs entirely. But either outcome is highly unlikely.
A major obstacle is Trump’s need for a political win. In early April this year, the US president has harshly criticised foreign nations for having “looted, pillaged, raped, and plundered” the US. To address this problem, the US has imposed a minimum tariff of 10% on all nations sending exports to the US. And if Washington were to reduce tariffs on Chinese products to under 10%, then he would be expected to do the same with the rest of the world.
Even this 90-day deal with China could be seen as capitulation by Trump, who was already under pressure from the US stock market and business leaders to roll back the high tariffs on Chinese goods. But revising baseline tariffs downwards to below 10% for the rest of the world would be seen as an even greater cop out.
This could eat into Trump’s political capital and harm the Republican party’s chances at midterm elections scheduled for 2026. All of which seems unlikely.
Details of the US and China trade war pause start to be revealed.
What China hopes is for future US tariffs to get back to around 10%. This represents a massive improvement from the previous 145% imposed by the White House in April this year. But for Washington to save face and claim a believable victory of its own to reduce tariffs, Beijing needs to offer something in return.
Sticking points
One significant issue affecting US-Sino relations is the drug fentanyl. According to the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), fentanyl, which is responsible for tens of thousands of US deaths each year, comes primarily from China and Mexico.
Washington expects Beijing to do more to stem the flow of the drug and chemicals used to make the drug from flowing into the US. To push China to take action on this, the US imposed a 30% tariff on China instead of the baseline 10% it has put on all other nations.
Beijing sees things differently and claimed that Washington is engaging in a “smear campaign” and aims to “shift blame” on China for not doing enough when the country has some of the strictest drug laws in the world.
Trump sees the fentanyl problem as a national security issue, and says China needs to provide sufficient concessions in stemming the outflow of the drug so that the White House can justify the lowering of tariffs below the existing 30%.
But China can do more to secure lower tariffs. As part of the present trade deal, China has agreed to lift its export ban of critical minerals to the US. This is a crucial for the US as these items are essential in manufacturing advanced weaponry.
If Beijing can guarantee the flow of critical minerals to the US, and assure its support for US agriculture, an important political support base for Trump, then it is likely that a Trump administration would lower, and more importantly, maintain these tariffs in the foreseeable future.
China probably will want to hedge its bets. It needs to engage with the US and lower US tariffs as much as possible, but will want to look at other options, rather than relying on an unpredictable Trump. It will look to increase its trade with other significant regional players such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an economic bloc that promotes economic growth among its member nations.
Ultimately, China needs policy continuity from Washington. Without it, any plans that it has in recovering its sluggish economy won’t work.
But like any good trader, Trump will likely find it difficult to pass up a good deal, especially when the US has to deal with its own economic problems. So if Beijing can find a way to make a deal that works and brings a symbolic win for both sides, it is likely to get Trump’s attention.
Chee Meng Tan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
April showers bring May flowers according to an old English saying.
This phrase, which might have originated in a verse written by poet Thomas Tusser in 1557, harks back to a time when most people depended on rough rules that were borne of practical experience to know when to plant crops. “Such weather lore was the only forecast available”, says meteorologist Rob Thompson at the University of Reading.
UK farmers waited in vain for showers this April. The unusually dry month gave lie to the centuries-old expression, which hints at a climate that was generally more obedient to familiar rhythms. The heating of Earth’s atmosphere and ocean, predominantly caused by the mass burning of fossil fuels, has changed that. What we can expect in each season is no longer so assured.
So, how do we keep our bearings on a warming planet?
Forecasters have an enormous challenge in predicting how the weather in each season will change, and in communicating the role of climate change.
“Overall, we can be confident that climate change is bringing warmer conditions in all seasons,” say atmospheric scientists Simon H. Lee and Matthew Patterson at the University of St Andrews. Europe in particular has been a hotspot for warming, with temperatures rising at roughly double the global average.
Patterson suspects that this has already warped our perceptions of what a “normal” season feels like. When a month arrives with temperatures closer to the long-term average for instance, like June 2024, people tend to experience it as unusually cold.
“Scientists also have strong evidence to suggest that drought conditions will become more common,” Lee and Patterson continue.
The UK has had roughly half the rainfall it would usually expect for March and April, and spring 2025 is on track to be the country’s driest on record. Some of the latest research on Earth’s water cycle predicts that these dry bouts will get drier, while wet ones will get wetter, and that the switch from drought to deluge will be more sudden (“weather whiplash”, as some have called it).
This doesn’t fully explain the UK’s record-warm and dry spring, however. There are also “weather blocks” to factor in.
“A blocking event is a disruption to the usual weather patterns of Earth’s middle latitudes,” explains Tim Woollings, a professor in physical climate science at the University of Oxford. In this part of the world it’s the jet stream, a river of air high in the atmosphere, that typically sets the agenda by driving transient weather over the British Isles from the Atlantic.
Since the beginning of March, a zone of high pressure has rested above the UK and blocked the jet stream like a boulder in a river, Lee and Patterson say. The weather has effectively remained “stuck”. This phenomenon is responsible for a lot of extreme weather in the middle latitudes, as blocks prevent relief from heatwaves or cold snaps, Woollings adds.
There isn’t conclusive evidence to suggest these blocks are becoming more common as the climate warms according to Lee and Patterson. But one thing is clear: the climate is incredibly complex – and our continuing intervention in it is reckless.
High-temperature haiku
Seasons are our living world’s accommodation of the variation in day length, temperature and weather during the year.
What we perceive as seasonal features, like the shedding of leaves, the arrival and departure of migratory animals, are the adaptations species have made to the average set of conditions that have remained within a particular range for several thousands of years.
Changes in Earth’s orbit and spin axis gradually influenced the climate and seasons over millennia. More recently, fossil fuel burning has been the dominant influence.
“As such, humanity is currently on the path to compressing millions of years of temperature change into just a couple of centuries,” say ancient climate experts Dan Lunt (University of Bristol) and Darrell Kaufman (Northern Arizona University).
The seasonal signals we once thought of as immutable are changing to match these changing conditions. It’s too much, too fast for most species to deal with – including our own.
To reorient around a rapidly changing climate, we could do as Tusser did six centuries ago, and write poetry.
Haiku is perhaps our most useful cultural barometer of climate change. These poems, which originated in 17th-century Japan, comprise three short lines and usually include a reference to the season in which they were composed.
“A successful haiku could be described as a half-finished poem,” say lecturer in publishing Jasmin Kirkbride (University of East Anglia) and creative writing PhD candidate Paul Chambers (University of Bristol). The listener must complete the scene in their head by linking it with an intense moment of perception from their own life, in which “the vast is perceived in one thing”.
As seasons have shifted, so have their markers in haiku. Snowdrops, once a feature of February haiku, now appear close to Christmas. The language used to describe certain species has altered too, the pair say, to become “soaked in grief”. Butterflies that once formed “clouds” in earlier haiku, for example, are now “lone survivors… pushing against time”.
Kirkbride and Chambers urge a new generation of poets to continue recording these changes in haiku: “The vast climate crisis is upon us, and we should write about it.”
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing yesterday, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) questioned witnesses on how staff reductions at USDA, led by Elon Musk’s DOGE, are hurting farms and farming communities in Vermont and across the United States.
“We are so—in Vermont—appreciative of the work that the USDA has done, and we’re really concerned, as I think a lot of people are, about the staffing cuts because we had a staff aspirational level, and our actual numbers were a good deal below that. And now, since the buyouts and the DOGE cuts, it’s really been significantly compromised. My experience with the USDA and Vermont is it’s really efficient,” said Senator Welch. “What’s so wonderful about it is farmers trust [NRCS] and that trust is in short supply. I join my colleagues who are concerned about it and express my appreciation and admiration for the work that has been done.”
“At a certain point you’ve got to get concrete. If we’ve lost 10%, or 15%, or 20% of the staff and still have the same job or more, how are we going to proceed?” Senator Welch concluded.
Watch the Senator’s full remarks below:
Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is pushing to remove bureaucratic barriers and better support farmers in implementing conservation practices that improve soil health and water quality.
At an Agriculture Committee hearing, she announced her new bipartisan Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act, which would update the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) process to:
Require a regular review of existing conservation practice standards,
Create a public process for submitting and adopting new practices, and
Prioritize the integration of innovative tools like nutrient efficiency technologies — biological fertilizer being one example that’s proven to improve plant growth.
Watch Senator Ernst’s remarks here.
“Traveling across Iowa, I regularly hear from farmers who are eager to implement conservation practices that improve soil health, water quality, and long-term productivity — but they face real barriers when rigid USDA standards slow things down,” said Senator Ernst. “I’m leading the Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act to modernize how USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service updates its technical standards. Ultimately, the goal is simple: let’s cut the red tape, let’s keep standards science-based and flexible, and help farmers get conservation tools in use faster.”
“Iowa continues to lead and set records in conservation, but there’s still significant work to be done in the years and decades to come. The USDA is an important federal partner in these efforts, and it is essential that we streamline the review and approval of new technologies and practices that are proven to help farmers and landowners improve soil health and water quality,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.“Improving efficiency, transparency, and predictability within federal programs will help us strengthen our partnerships, accelerate the adoption of conservation practices and make progress on Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals.”
“By leveraging innovations in regenerative agriculture and soil health practices, we can help farmers and producers make their working lands more resilient,” said Senator Heinrich. “Our bipartisan legislation accomplishes this by updating and streamlining the process for developing new conservation practice standards at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service. This will allow producers to build more resilience into their operations.”
“Streamlining updates to conservation practice standards helps cut the bureaucratic red tape that our farmers have been wrongly forced to navigate. Our producers work hard to find new, innovative ways to work the land while conserving its resources, and the federal government should be a partner in doing so — not a roadblock,” said Senator Marshall. “I’m proud to work on this bipartisan solution with Senator Ernst to ensure farmers have the tools necessary to support conservation efforts and help producers leave their land better than they found it.”
“Illinois ranks fourth in the nation in planted cropland, but for years, has ranked as low as 37th in farm conservation funds that USDA distributes to help farmers adopt cover crops, conservation tillage, and other critical environmental practices. USDA’s statewide one-size-fits-all conservation practice rules do not always match the unique needs of each farm,” said Senator Durbin. “This bill creates a process to add more flexibility to these standards, provide routine updates to keep up with the latest innovations, and ensure more academic and farmer input into developing the conservation practices.”
Background:Ernst has long held that farmers are the original conservationists and pushed to remove red tape from USDA conservation programs to make these tools more accessible.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Foot and Mouth disease controls eased for Germany
Personal imports for travellers from the EU remain banned
Following rigorous technical assessment, Great Britain has officially recognised Germany as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) free without vaccination as of 14 May 2025.
As a result, restrictions previously applied to imports of affected commodities from the containment zone in Germany have now been lifted. This means that exports of FMD-susceptible animals, such as cattle, pigs, sheep, deer and buffaloes, and their products, such as meat and dairy, can resume from the containment zone, provided that all other import conditions are met. This decision follows rigorous technical assessment of the measures applied in Germany and the current disease situation. If the situation changes, we will not hesitate to take necessary action in response to the FMD outbreaks in the European Union to protect our domestic biosecurity.
Personal import restrictions remain in place that prevent travellers from bringing cattle, sheep, goat, and pig meat, as well as dairy products, from EU countries into Great Britain for personal use, to protect the health of British livestock, the security of farmers, and the UK’s food security. This includes bringing items like sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats or milk into Great Britain – regardless of whether it is packed or packaged or whether it has been bought at duty free.
FMD poses no risk to human or food safety, but is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals. Livestock keepers should therefore be absolutely rigorous about their biosecurity.
FMD is a notifiable disease and must be reported. If you suspect foot and mouth disease in your animals, you must report it immediately by calling:
Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Nutrition and Specialty Crops, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, and nutrition advocates hosted a press call on Republicans’ efforts to gut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a critical anti-hunger program that helps more than 41.6 million Americans.
Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, the House Agriculture Committee held a markup on the Republican tax bill, which will cut $290 billion in SNAP benefits.
“Something that we all know to be true is everyone deserves to have access to affordable, healthy, nutritious food, and make sure it’s on the table. In my state, 1 in 4 people rely on SNAP, many of whom are children. If this program is cut at that level, it devastates it,” said Senator Luján. “Republicans are not looking out for their constituents who depend on federal programs—they’re looking out for the wealthiest Americans and corporate interests, plain and simple.”
“We’re at the moment of truth—it’s the time for action and no longer just talk. Here’s the truth: Republicans’ plan is about taking things away from people who need them and depend on them. In Vermont, about 1 in 10 Vermonters are receiving SNAP benefits. And that is our poorest Vermonters, low-income folks, kids—it makes a huge difference in their life that they can have access to SNAP,” said Senator Welch. “Now, our Republican colleagues are talking about taking about $290 billion out of the SNAP program. This is really about taking away basic nutritional security that is so absolutely essential to the wellbeing of our families and our kids in Vermont and in every single state across the nation.”
“Instead of working with Democrats to lower costs from President Trump’s across-the-board tariffs, House Republicans have decided to pull the rug out from under families by cutting the SNAP benefits that 42 million Americans rely on to put food on the table – all to fund a tax cut for billionaires. That’s shameful,” said Ranking Member Klobuchar.
“The combination of less food assistance for seniors and kids and Republican cuts in Medicaid is a prescription for a sicker America. This is health care 101: you need access to food to be healthy, and you need access to timely health care when you’re ill. Under the Republican program, more people are going to get sicker,” said Senator Wyden. “We are all in on this battle—we’ll be damned if we’re going to see access to nutrition and health care lost in order to give tax breaks to people at the top.”
“This Republican reconciliation bill is clear: families lose, billionaires win,” said Senator Merkley. “Millions of children will lose health care and go hungry—there’s a good chance that lots of kids won’t even be able to study in school. Nobody learns anything when they’re hungry. It’s pretty outrageous—we need to say, ‘hell no’ to this.”
“SNAP is one of the most effective anti-poverty and pro-health programs we have in America. It helps over 700,000 Oregonians, more than half of them children, seniors, or people with disabilities, put food on the table. When you cut SNAP, you’re not cutting bureaucracy—you’re cutting a child’s breakfast, their dinner, and their family’s dignity,” said Governor Tina Kotek. “These changes are not just unsustainable cost shift to states – they are an attack on the food security of millions of hard-working Americans. They make it harder for states like mine to do our jobs, to meet urgent needs, and to plan responsibly. Instead of this shortsighted plan, we need to invest in American families and the food security that we know strengthens communities, supports our economies, and reflects the basic decency we owe one another.”
In Congress, Senator Luján has long fought to protect and improve SNAP, leading legislation to protect local grocers from transaction fees that would make it harder for them to accept SNAP benefits, championing legislation that would support merit staff and protect SNAP integrity, and fighting to protect access to SNAP in the Farm Bill.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roy M. Farman, Adjunct Associate Lecturer, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney
Australian tree frogs today make up over one third of all known frog species on the continent. Among this group, iconic species such as the green tree frog (Litoria caerulea) and the green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea), are both beloved for their vivid colours and distinctive calls.
In the Early Eocene epoch, 55 million years ago, Australia’s tree frogs were hopping across the Australian continent from one billabong to the next through a forested corridor that also extended back across Antarctica to South America. These were the last remnants of ancient supercontinent Gondwana.
In new research published today in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, we identify Australia’s earliest known species of tree frog – one that once hopped and croaked around an ancient lake near the town of Murgon in south-eastern Queensland.
This research demonstrates tree frogs were present in Australia 30 million years earlier than previously thought, living alongside Australia’s earliest known snakes, songbirds and marsupials.
A common ancestor
Tree frogs (Pelodryadidae) have expanded discs on their fingers and toes enabling them to climb trees. Despite their name, however, they are known to occupy a wide range of habitats, from fast-flowing streams to ephemeral ponds.
Australia’s previously earliest tree frogs were recovered from Late Oligocene (about 26 million years old) and Early Miocene (23 million years old) fossil deposits. Late Oligocene frog fossils were found at Kangaroo Well in the Northern Territory and Lake Palankarinna in South Australia. They were also recently found in many deposits from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area in Queensland.
Artist’s reconstruction of the new species Litoria tylerantiqua (right) and previously described species Platyplectrum casca (left). Samantha Yabsley
It has long been known that South American tree frogs and Australian tree frogs shared a common Gondwanan ancestor. What is unknown is when this common ancestor lived.
Based on some molecular data, it has been estimated that the two groups separated from this common ancestor as recent as 32.9 million years ago.
A diverse fossil deposit
Our new study was based on frog fossils from a deposit near the town of Murgon, located on the traditional lands of the Waka Waka people of south-eastern Queensland. These fossils accumulated some 55 million years ago. This was between the time when a colossal meteorite took out the non-flying dinosaurs and the time when Australia broke free from the rest of Gondwana to become an isolated continent.
CT scans of preserved frogs were used to compare the three-dimensional shape of the fossil bones with those of living species. Roy Farman/UNSW Sydney
We used CT scans of frogs preserved in ethanol from Australian museum collections to compare the three-dimensional shape of the fossil bones with those of living species. This method is called three-dimensional geometric morphometrics. It has only been used on fossil frogs once before.
Using these new methods, we can unravel the relationships of these fossils to all other groups of frogs – both living and extinct.
Pushing back the evolutionary tree
From its diagnostic ilium (one of three paired pelvic bones), we identified a new species of Litoria from the family Pelodryadidae. We named this species Litoria tylerantiqua in honour of the late Michael Tyler, a renowned Australian herpetologist globally celebrated for his research on frogs and toads.
Litoria tylerantiqua joins the only other Murgon frog discovered so far, the ground-dwelling Platyplectrum casca, as the oldest frogs known from Australia. Both species have living relatives in Australia and New Guinea. This demonstrates the remarkable resilience over time of some of Australia’s most fragile creatures.
Our new research provides crucial new understanding that helps to calibrate molecular clock studies. This is a method scientists use to estimate when different species split from a common ancestor based on the calculated rate of genetic change over time.
Our research indicates the separation of Australian tree frogs and South American tree frogs is at minimum 55 million years ago. This pushes back the estimated molecular separation time for these groups by 22 million years.
Three left sided ilia (pelvic fossil bones) which collectively provided the diagnostic information needed to identify the new species. UNSW Sydney/Roy Farman
New insights to help endangered species
Unravelling the deep-time changes in the diversity and evolution of the ancestors of today’s living animals can provide important new insights into the way these groups have responded in the past to previous challenges. These challenges include former natural cycles of climate change.
The more we know about the fossil record, the more likely we will better anticipate future responses to similar challenges, including human-induced climate change.
This is especially important for critically endangered species such as the Southern Corroboree Frog and Baw Baw Frog. Now restricted to alpine habitats in New South Wales and Victoria, they are at serious risk of extinction due to global warming.
Roy M. Farman received funding from the Research Training Program through the University of New South Wales.
Mike Archer has received funding from the Australian Research Council, the Australian Geographic Society, the National Geographic Society, the Riversleigh Society Inc and private funding from Phil Creaser (the CREATE Fund in UNSW), K. and M. Pettit, D. and A. Jeanes and other benefactors.
Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at a hearing entitled, “Critical Supply Chains.”
As prepared for delivery:
“Trade has the ability to increase productivity, incomes and the availability of goods. While we talk often about how the increased supply and choice of goods that come from international trade benefit our consumers, we sometimes forget that this also benefits our producers.
“In fact, a majority of what we import each year is reinvested into more manufacturing, processing and farming activity. Efficient and reliable supply chains help American businesses, farmers and workers expand their production and focus their resources on the high-value aspects of an industry.
“The issue we must be wary about is when supply chains turn unreliable, in particular because they are controlled by countries that refuse to follow free-market rules, such as China. As we are all aware, China continues its march toward expanding control over key resources and goods, and thus over the world’s supply chains.
“For example, advanced semiconductors increasingly rely on the rare earths mineral dysprosium. Ninety-nine percent of dysprosium comes from China.
“This is not an isolated case where China has dominance over a strategic resource. China controls over ninety percent of global processing for rare earths minerals and seventy percent for cobalt, which is used in batteries for electric cars, smartphones and other components.
“The way China uses trade and investment to expand its control over resources outside its own borders is particularly concerning. Indonesia has 40 percent of the world’s reserves for nickel, the largest of any single country. Yet, Chinese firms control about 75 percent of Indonesia’s nickel refining capacity.
“We need to take a hard look at the reality of our situation and develop an aggressive strategy to counter China.
“Our domestic policies are at fault in some instances. There are things we can produce efficiently here, but burdensome and unnecessary regulation stalls development of many important projects.
“We should not have to learn from another economic shock, like the oil embargo of the 1970s—to realize that where we have resources or potential for investment, it must be unleashed.
“Both sides of the aisle agree that we need a strong semiconductor industry. In Asia, new semiconductor fabs are being built and deployed in under three years.
“In the United States, the semiconductor industry—one of the safest manufacturing sectors for workers—must contend with a myriad of permitting measures that provide only marginal, if any, benefit. These permits, however, guarantee increased delays and costs, often adding years to projects.
“As part of its economic policy, the Trump Administration has prioritized deregulation as a means to drive economic growth, and I look forward to working with them to rationalize our regulatory system.
“In many other cases, geography and geology do not provide the United States with all the natural resources that we require. Here, the fault rests mainly with the failure to develop an affirmative trade policy. An affirmative trade policy ensures our consumers and manufacturers have access to the resources that our nation needs to be secure and independent.
“Here, for example, the Trump Administration was correct to exempt Canadian potash—a key nutrient for our corn and soy farmers, from recent tariffs.
“Another key to the Administration’s economic approach is to renegotiate global trade deals, including deals that reclaim America’s lead over China.
“Critically, these deals will be particularly useful in strengthening supply chains, if they improve market access opportunities. Our trading partners must respect American investment and afford it the same treatment given to their own companies.
“Our partners must also realize that it bolsters their security when they do not inhibit access to cutting-edge American technology, like our state-of-the-art medical devices.
“Unfortunately, a number of trading partners use price controls, technology theft, weak intellectual property protections or unreasonable government procurement policies to keep these devices out of their markets. Such actions only undermine the health of their own citizens, while leaving a strategic opening for China.
“Today, we have an opportunity to consider these issues carefully. Our four witnesses are experts on industries critical to America’s economic security. We should encourage thoughtful debate on how to advance a trade policy that strengthens the security of our supply chains and creates opportunities for all Americans.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) issued a forceful rebuke of Republican efforts to slash the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as part of their proposed reconciliation framework, warning that the cuts would devastate working families, small businesses, and rural communities in New Mexico. The reconciliation bill would cut billions of dollars from SNAP, as well as critical health care programs, in order to give tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy.
“This committee has historically come together across party lines to support farmers and families. But today, I’m ashamed that we are throwing that legacy aside to gut SNAP, one of the most effective anti-hunger programs in our country,” Vasquez said during his opening remarks. “And I’m not just ashamed—I’m angry. Angry because some members of this committee are taking food off the table from the families I represent in southern New Mexico.”
WATCH: VASQUEZ OPENING REMARKS
This afternoon, Vasquez reached out to his constituents to hear how SNAP cuts could impact them:
“My son and his partner depend on SNAP to get nutritious food. My son is a disabled veteran with medically based nutritional deficiencies. We have paid taxes all of our lives, and believe the most important priority is to provide for our veterans.” – Miriam, Quemado
“I’m 63, disabled, and on food stamps because my $900 a month Social Security check barely covers my bills. Last month, my rent increased by 35%, and my auto insurance increased by 11%. If I lose food stamps, I won’t be able to afford to buy food. I live in a rural area where our food bank depends on the federal government. Their shelves are empty right now, and the government has cut out assistance to food banks.” – Michelle, Deming
“Cuts to SNAP would have a devastating impact on my family by making it harder to afford basic groceries and forcing us to choose between food, rent, and other essentials. Reducing these benefits threatens our health, our children’s ability to focus and succeed in school, and our overall stability. It also harms local economies by pulling money out of grocery stores and small businesses. SNAP isn’t a handout, it’s a lifeline that allows families to survive with dignity, and cutting it will only increase hunger, poverty, and long-term hardship.” – Bernadine, Zuni
Vasquez also warned that the partisan attack on SNAP threatens to derail progress on a bipartisan Farm Bill, jeopardizing key programs for New Mexico’s farmers, ranchers, and conservation efforts.
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PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA
13 de mayo de 2025
Vásquez Destaca Cómo los Recortes a SNAP Devastarán a Nuevo México
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hoy, el Congresista Gabe Vásquez (NM-02) condenó los esfuerzos republicanos de recortar el Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP) como parte de su propuesta de proyecto de reconciliación, advirtiendo que estos recortes devastarían a las familias trabajadoras, los pequeños negocios y las comunidades rurales de Nuevo México. El proyecto de reconciliación recortaría miles de millones de dólares de SNAP, así como programas críticos de atención médica, con el propósito de otorgar recortes fiscales a los ultra-ricos.
“Este comité, históricamente, ha trabajado de forma bipartidista para apoyar a nuestros agricultores y familias. Pero hoy, me avergüenza que estemos dejando de lado ese legado para desmantelar SNAP, uno de los programas contra el hambre más efectivos en nuestro país,” dijo Vásquez durante sus declaraciones iniciales. “Y no solo me siento avergonzado—estoy indignado. Indignado porque algunos miembros de este comité están quitándole la comida de la mesa a las familias que represento en el sur de Nuevo México.”
VEA: COMENTARIOS INICIALES DEL CONGRESISTA VÁSQUEZ
Esta tarde, el Congresista Vásquez se comunicó con sus constituyentes para escuchar cómo los recortes a SNAP podrían afectarlos:
“Mi hijo y su pareja dependen de SNAP para obtener alimentos nutritivos. Mi hijo es un veterano discapacitado con deficiencias nutricionales médicas. Hemos pagado impuestos toda nuestra vida y creemos que la prioridad más importante es cuidar a nuestros veteranos.” – Miriam, Quemado
“Tengo 63 años, estoy discapacitada y dependo de los cupones de alimentos porque mi cheque del Seguro Social de $900 al mes apenas cubre mis cuentas. El mes pasado, mi renta aumentó un 35 % y mi seguro de auto subió un 11 %. Si pierdo los cupones de alimentos, no podré comprar comida. Vivo en una zona rural donde el banco de alimentos depende del gobierno federal. Sus despensas están vacías en este momento, y el gobierno ha eliminado la asistencia para los bancos de alimentos.” – Michelle, Deming
“Los recortes al Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP) tendrán un impacto devastador en mi familia al dificultar la compra de comestibles básicos y obligarnos a elegir entre comida, renta y otras necesidades esenciales. Reducir estos beneficios pone en riesgo nuestra salud, la capacidad de nuestros hijos para concentrarse y tener éxito en la escuela, y nuestra estabilidad general. También daña las economías locales al quitar dinero de los supermercados y pequeños negocios. SNAP no es una limosna, es una línea de vida que permite a las familias sobrevivir con dignidad, y recortarlo solo aumentará el hambre, la pobreza y las dificultades a largo plazo.” – Bernadine, Zuni
Vásquez también advirtió que este ataque partidista contra SNAP amenaza con descarrilar el progreso hacia una Ley Agrícola bipartidista, poniendo en riesgo programas clave para los agricultores, ganaderos y esfuerzos de conservación en Nuevo México.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22)
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24)today released the following statement on the passage of “The One, Big, Beautiful Bill” from the House Ways and Means Committee Markup.
“Today, the House Ways and Means Committee voted to advance our portion of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill to deliver on President Trump’s America First agenda. This landmark legislation makes several aspects of the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts permanent, including reduced tax rates for individuals and families, the doubled standard deduction, and the doubled child tax credit. Not only did we extend this tax relief for families and prevent a 25% tax hike on taxpayers in NY-24, but we also made permanent the 199A Small Business Deduction that was set to expire at the end of 2025, protecting 40,720 small businesses in NY-24 from being hit with a 43.4% tax rate. While this legislation did not include all of my initiatives, including the New Markets Tax Credit, Technology for Energy Security, BASIC Act, Susan Muffley Act, the High-Quality Charter Schools Act and various other legislative priorities, I understand that individual priorities do not take precedence over ensuring that American families, workers, and businesses do not face the largest tax hike in the history of our country. House Republicans are moving ahead with President Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill, working to solidify the promises we made to the American people by strengthening our economy and providing direct tax relief to families, farmers, and small businesses in rural America,”said Congresswoman Tenney.
Highlights of this portion of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill include language to:
Make the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts permanent, preventing a 25% tax hike on taxpayers in NY-24.
Renew and make permanent the 199A small business deduction critical for the success of Main Street.
Save the average American family $1,700, the equivalent of 9 weeks of groceries.
Establish Savings Accounts for newborns.
Increase the university endowment tax.
Repeal the 1099-K gig worker reporting threshold, which would require Venmo, PayPal, and gig transactions over $600 to be reported to the IRS.
Enhance the Opportunity Zone program to create over $100 billion in new investments in 10 years.
Deliver on President Trump’s no tax on tips priority.
Create 6 million jobs for American workers.
Extend and expand the doubled Death Tax Exemption for 2 million family-owned farms.
Modernize and enhance the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, a critical tool to help address our nation’s ongoing housing shortage.
Terminate the tax-exempt status of terrorist-supporting organizations.
More than 100 Indigenous-led projects are underway in communities throughout B.C., helping to strengthen local food security and food sovereignty with another round of funding set to open.
“Working alongside Indigenous partners is crucial to growing and maintaining our province’s food systems and part of our government’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation,” said Harwinder Sandhu, parliamentary secretary for agriculture. “These Indigenous-led projects highlight how Indigenous knowledge supports increasing local food supply and food security, especially in rural and remote communities.”
In 2023, the New Relationship Trust (NRT) launched the $30-milllion Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty Program and is supporting both on-reserve and off-reserve projects, such as revitalizing food harvesting and Indigenous agro-ecosystems, expanding production capacity, boosting local food processing and distribution, and growing commercial value-added enterprises.
On Vancouver Island, Jared “Qwustenuxun” Williams, a Salish educator and traditional-foods chef who previously managed the Elders Kitchen in Cowichan Tribes, is upgrading a smokehouse into a commercial-quality kitchen that blends ancient preservation methods with modern food-safety standards.
“Building the smokehouse has taken more time than I first expected, but that time has allowed me to really think about how to bring together traditional methods and new ideas,” said Williams. “I’m creating a modern version of the smokehouse that’s still rooted in our teachings, something that reflects both where we come from and where we’re going. I’m grateful for the support that came with patience and trust, because meaningful work doesn’t always follow a set timeline.”
On Haida Gwaii, Indigenous-owned food supplier Haida Wild is upgrading its packaging facility with a new state-of-the-art vacuum-sealing machine that allows it to preserve its high-quality seafood longer, reduce waste and enhance distribution.
“Haida Wild is proud to share the seafood traditions of Xaayda Gwaay | XaaydaGa Gwaay.yaay | Haida Gwaii with the world in a way that honours our people, our values and our environment,” said Leticia Hill, CEO, Haida Wild. “With support from the Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty grant, we’ve been able to grow our operations in a sustainable way that supports our Haida fishers, creates jobs here at home and strengthens food security for the long term.”
Another project is helping the Sts’ailes First Nation near Agassiz undertake a series of workshops, conversations, shared meals and other community events, centred around a community greenhouse, to promote traditional-food usage and ancestral practices for local use.
“We’ve been implementing a lot of the new vegetables into our daily cafe and our catering services,” said Kandice Krista-Anne Charlie, executive officer, Sts’ailes development corporation. “It’s just the beginning. We want to evolve to rely less on ordering bulk food from commercial stores and producing that food in-house and serving it out to our people.”
The New Relationship Trust, an independent, Indigenous-led non-profit organization, administers the program and works with Indigenous entrepreneurs, communities and businesses to identify and respond to their needs and empower them.
“At New Relationship Trust, we recognize that strengthening sustainable food production in B.C. starts with honouring Indigenous leadership and vision for food systems rooted in both land and water,” said Walter Schneider, chief executive officer, NRT. “We’re proud to support Indigenous food producers who are driving community well-being, economic growth and food sovereignty, all while upholding their values and deep connection to the land.”
The Province’s commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples has led to increased participation in Indigenous agriculture and food systems, which is a key part of implementing B.C.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
Quick Facts:
Applications opened on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, for the third and final round of $10-million funding.
Total funding for the Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty Program is $30 million over three years.
Learn More:
Applications and more details about the program are available here: https://newrelationshiptrust.ca/apply-for-funding/sustainability-development-goals-sdg-initiatives/food-security-grants/
To see the full list of Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty Program funding recipients, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/IFSS_Approved_Grants_2025.pdf
A selection of videos highlighting Indigenous food security and sovereignty projects is available here: https://newrelationshiptrust.ca/indigenous-food-security-and-sovereignty-program-highlights/
A July 2023 news release announcing the Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty Program is available here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023AF0047-001230
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)
Last night in the House Agriculture Committee markup of the partisan reconciliation bill, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) spoke out against Republicans’ proposal to slash $300 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In her opening remarks, Pingree questioned how leaving Americans with fewer tools to feed their families affordably and healthily, further straining our health care system and driving up costs for everyone, will “Make America Healthy Again.”
[embedded content] Pingree’s full opening remarks are availablehereand copied below.
The Committee will reconvene today to debate amendments. Tune in live here.
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Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I’m fortunate to have served on this committee for more than a decade. During that time, I’ve had the opportunity and the great privilege to work on bipartisan Farm Bills that are designed to strengthen our agricultural sector, to support our farmers, and to help hungry people access food. So, I am deeply disappointed that we’re sitting here tonight not doing that but debating a bill that will gut the single largest anti-hunger program in America.
Frankly, I can’t believe we are trying to shove the Farm Bill into the reconciliation process, stripping this committee of the chance of a truly bipartisan Farm Bill.
And let’s not sugarcoat what this bill is. It’s a $300 billion assault on struggling families, seniors, children, and veterans, all to fund tax breaks for billionaires and corporations.
The average SNAP benefit is $6 a day, $6 a day. That is barely enough to buy a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk. And if this bill passes, some of the most vulnerable people in America will be denied even that. Make no mistake, this will lead to more kids going to bed hungry, more seniors skipping meals to afford their medicine, and more parents forced to sacrifice their own nutrition so their kids can eat.
In my state, 175,000 people rely on SNAP to put food on the table, including over 36,000 children and 6,300 veterans. That’s tens of thousands of Mainers who stand to lose their benefits under this proposal. 1 in 5 children in Maine struggles with food insecurity. That’s 1 in 5. And it’s not just individuals who will suffer. The bill threatens the very businesses that keep our rural communities alive.
More than 1,500 retailers in Maine – grocery stores, corner markets, and mom and pop shops – rely on SNAP sales to stay open. When you cut SNAP, you don’t just take food off the table, you rip the economic rug out from under those businesses in the communities they support.
And then there’s the unfunded mandate that this bill dumps on Maine. My Republican colleagues call this “cost shifting,” but they are forcing states to pay at least 5% – and in many cases, much more of the cost – of supporting SNAP. So, let’s just call that what it really is: a backdoor way of sending this program into a death spiral, pushing the blame for the inevitable wave of hunger and hardship under governors and state legislatures.
It cuts programs like the National Education, Obesity and Prevention Grant program, commonly known as Snap Ed. Snap ed helps families make their SNAP dollars stretch further. It teaches people how to make nutritious meals using SNAP funds. In Maine, this program has reached nearly 20,000 people with free classes and cooking, budgeting, and healthy eating. Eliminating these services will leave families with fewer tools to feed their families affordably and healthily, further straining our health care system and driving up costs for everyone.
Tell me, is this really making America healthy again?
This … bill is not about reducing “waste” or fixing “fraud” or finding errors. It’s all about sacrificing the health and well-being of the most vulnerable, most vulnerable amongst us, so that billionaires like Elon Musk can get even richer. It’s about taking food out of the hands of hungry children, cutting off lifelines to families in need, and shattering the basic safety net that millions of Americans rely on.
We should be writing a Farm Bill that supports our local farmers, strengthens rural economies, and ensures that no one in this country goes hungry. Instead, this proposal sacrifices families and communities for short term political win.
So, for me tonight, I’m a no. Tomorrow I’m a no. Every day from now until whenever my Republican colleagues come to their senses and do what right is right for America and for the people who are their constituents, I will stay a no on this bill.
SYDNEY, May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — XenDex, the first all-in-one decentralized exchange on the XRP Ledger, is proud to announce that its full platform is actively in development, and a first-look mockup design is set to be revealed in a few hours.
With all core features being built into a sleek, user-friendly interface, XenDex is delivering what no other XRPL-based project has offered to date: a unified DeFi experience that combines AI-powered copy trading, non-custodial lending and borrowing, staking, cross-chain trading, and DAO governance, all within a single platform.
To demonstrate the depth of development underway, XenDex will release visual mockups of the upcoming platform, giving investors and community members an exclusive preview of how the platform will look, feel, and function.
From live trading interfaces to lending dashboards, staking portals, and AI copy trading modules, this upcoming design reveal will provide a clear glimpse into the future of decentralized finance on XRP.
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Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Kevin Kirkman, Professor of Grassland Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal
South Africa’s rangelands have always had great value for the country. These areas offer more than just grazing for livestock. They provide services like purifying water, storing carbon and conserving biodiversity.
The grassland biome (28%), along with the savanna (32.5%) and the Nama-Karoo (19.5%), are collectively referred to as rangelands. They make up almost 80% of the land area of South Africa.
Their ecological services haven’t always been fully appreciated. Research into rangelands has evolved in response to environmental changes, human needs and scientific discoveries.
Commercial livestock production was the main concern when academics, researchers and practitioners met for the first congress of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa in 1966. Less than 15% of South Africa’s land surface area is arable. The only agricultural production possible on the balance of the land is livestock production from natural rangeland. Livestock production is thus a cornerstone of agriculture and food production in South Africa.
Six decades on, the Grassland Society has reflected – through a special issue of its journal, the African Journal of Range and Forage Science – on how it has tackled research challenges and adapted to shifting perceptions of rangelands.
Research has explored aspects of global change, bush encroachment and other changes in rangeland composition and function. Land transformation is another research area. Peri-urban sprawl, open-cast mining, timber plantations and other developments reduce and fragment rangeland. The result is increased pressure on the remaining, intact rangelands.
Widening scope
A review of research over the 60 years shows that early efforts focused mainly on forage production to support livestock industries. Research topics included rotational grazing and burning, as well as reinforcing rangelands by adding nutrients, forage grasses and legumes.
By the 1980s, it became clear that rangelands offered more than just grazing – they were vital ecosystems.
Rangelands in southern Africa span diverse climates and landscapes, from arid deserts to moist mountains.Kevin Kirkman, Author provided (no reuse)
In the early 1990s, around the onset of democracy in South Africa, local researchers became part of global conversations around rangeland ecology. In doing so, they started to use the international terminology, instead of the old Dutch-derived word “veld”.
This shift was not just about geography, but about scope. Rangelands were increasingly seen as multifaceted ecosystems critical in the fight against climate change. Increasing temperatures, increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and changing rainfall patterns pose a threat to all ecosystems. Understanding the response of rangelands is increasingly important in devising management strategies to adapt to these changes.
Scientists expanded their attention to preserving soil health, restoring degraded landscapes, and maintaining biodiversity. Issues like overgrazing, soil erosion and invasive species gained recognition in southern Africa. Degradation of rangelands in South Africa was first highlighted in the mid 1700s, and became a “mainstream” issue in the 1930s. Replacing a diverse group of wild animals with a single species of grazer, such as cattle, is the reason generally given for degradation. Fire has also been linked to it (often unfairly).
The Grassland Society responded by promoting ideas like adaptive grazing management (making decisions in response to conditions, rather than following a recipe approach). It also encouraged integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific research to create more sustainable and resilient land-use systems. This has helped shape land management practices across the region.
Rangelands are dynamic, especially in the Karoo, where vegetation cover can shift dramatically in response to rainfall and grazing.Justin du Toit, Author provided (no reuse)
Many southern African rangelands face the challenge of balancing grazing with biodiversity conservation. Research on conservation agriculture and integrating livestock and wildlife systems is helping farmers and conservationists to find common ground. Wildlife, both in the conservation and the game production contexts, plays a critical role in South Africa’s economy. Tourism is one of the major contributors.
Land management is particularly important in the Mediterranean-climate regions of South Africa, where poor crop farming practices have damaged soil health. The research is guiding the development of more sustainable farming systems focused on soil regeneration and biodiversity.
A key indicator of ecosystem degradation is a decline in grassland forbs (herbaceous plants that are not grasses). They are highly sensitive to grazing pressure. So the role of wildflowers in ecosystem health and animal wellbeing has also become an important research area.
Climate change, fire suppression and overgrazing drive woody plant encroachment, where grasslands are turning into shrublands. This calls for integrated management approaches that consider fire, grazing and even controlled rewilding.
Fire is a natural element in many grassland ecosystems, and research has helped advance understanding of how it can be monitored and controlled to reduce risks while promoting healthy rangelands.
People and grasslands
Grazing contrast.Justin du Toit
Rangeland management has important social dimensions. Research is addressing issues such as land tenure, governance, community management systems on communal rangelands and indigenous knowledge in management decisions. These topics are essential for creating sustainable solutions that account for people’s livelihoods and needs.
In addition to these ecological, social and management advances, the Grassland Society of Southern Africa has worked to develop the next generation of rangeland scientists and practitioners. Through its congresses, workshops and journal publications, the society continues to foster dialogue across disciplines and communities. Its 60th congress will be held in July 2025.
– Southern Africa’s rangelands do many jobs, from feeding cattle to storing carbon: a review of 60 years of research – https://theconversation.com/southern-africas-rangelands-do-many-jobs-from-feeding-cattle-to-storing-carbon-a-review-of-60-years-of-research-254736
South Africa’s rangelands have always had great value for the country. These areas offer more than just grazing for livestock. They provide services like purifying water, storing carbon and conserving biodiversity.
The grassland biome (28%), along with the savanna (32.5%) and the Nama-Karoo (19.5%), are collectively referred to as rangelands. They make up almost 80% of the land area of South Africa.
Their ecological services haven’t always been fully appreciated. Research into rangelands has evolved in response to environmental changes, human needs and scientific discoveries.
Commercial livestock production was the main concern when academics, researchers and practitioners met for the first congress of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa in 1966. Less than 15% of South Africa’s land surface area is arable. The only agricultural production possible on the balance of the land is livestock production from natural rangeland. Livestock production is thus a cornerstone of agriculture and food production in South Africa.
Six decades on, the Grassland Society has reflected – through a special issue of its journal, the African Journal of Range and Forage Science – on how it has tackled research challenges and adapted to shifting perceptions of rangelands.
Research has explored aspects of global change, bush encroachment and other changes in rangeland composition and function. Land transformation is another research area. Peri-urban sprawl, open-cast mining, timber plantations and other developments reduce and fragment rangeland. The result is increased pressure on the remaining, intact rangelands.
Widening scope
A review of research over the 60 years shows that early efforts focused mainly on forage production to support livestock industries. Research topics included rotational grazing and burning, as well as reinforcing rangelands by adding nutrients, forage grasses and legumes.
By the 1980s, it became clear that rangelands offered more than just grazing – they were vital ecosystems.
In the early 1990s, around the onset of democracy in South Africa, local researchers became part of global conversations around rangeland ecology. In doing so, they started to use the international terminology, instead of the old Dutch-derived word “veld”.
This shift was not just about geography, but about scope. Rangelands were increasingly seen as multifaceted ecosystems critical in the fight against climate change. Increasing temperatures, increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and changing rainfall patterns pose a threat to all ecosystems. Understanding the response of rangelands is increasingly important in devising management strategies to adapt to these changes.
Scientists expanded their attention to preserving soil health, restoring degraded landscapes, and maintaining biodiversity. Issues like overgrazing, soil erosion and invasive species gained recognition in southern Africa. Degradation of rangelands in South Africa was first highlighted in the mid 1700s, and became a “mainstream” issue in the 1930s. Replacing a diverse group of wild animals with a single species of grazer, such as cattle, is the reason generally given for degradation. Fire has also been linked to it (often unfairly).
The Grassland Society responded by promoting ideas like adaptive grazing management (making decisions in response to conditions, rather than following a recipe approach). It also encouraged integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific research to create more sustainable and resilient land-use systems. This has helped shape land management practices across the region.
Many southern African rangelands face the challenge of balancing grazing with biodiversity conservation. Research on conservation agriculture and integrating livestock and wildlife systems is helping farmers and conservationists to find common ground. Wildlife, both in the conservation and the game production contexts, plays a critical role in South Africa’s economy. Tourism is one of the major contributors.
Land management is particularly important in the Mediterranean-climate regions of South Africa, where poor crop farming practices have damaged soil health. The research is guiding the development of more sustainable farming systems focused on soil regeneration and biodiversity.
A key indicator of ecosystem degradation is a decline in grassland forbs (herbaceous plants that are not grasses). They are highly sensitive to grazing pressure. So the role of wildflowers in ecosystem health and animal wellbeing has also become an important research area.
Climate change, fire suppression and overgrazing drive woody plant encroachment, where grasslands are turning into shrublands. This calls for integrated management approaches that consider fire, grazing and even controlled rewilding.
Fire is a natural element in many grassland ecosystems, and research has helped advance understanding of how it can be monitored and controlled to reduce risks while promoting healthy rangelands.
People and grasslands
Rangeland management has important social dimensions. Research is addressing issues such as land tenure, governance, community management systems on communal rangelands and indigenous knowledge in management decisions. These topics are essential for creating sustainable solutions that account for people’s livelihoods and needs.
In addition to these ecological, social and management advances, the Grassland Society of Southern Africa has worked to develop the next generation of rangeland scientists and practitioners. Through its congresses, workshops and journal publications, the society continues to foster dialogue across disciplines and communities. Its 60th congress will be held in July 2025.
Kevin Kirkman receives funding from the National Research Foundation.
Helga van der Merwe receives funding from the National Research Foundation.
Craig Morris does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
It is time consuming and costly for farmers to deal with the EU’s heavy administrative obligations on top of their actual work. The Commission has therefore proposed a set of changes to common agricultural policy rules that will relieve farmers from this regulatory burden and boost competitiveness.
