LOS ANGELES, March 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — After operating under the radar, CREEPZ is officially emerging from stealth, transforming from a $400M+ NFT phenomenon into a full-scale entertainment brand. Backed by WME, major esports organizations, and Stoopid Buddy Studios, CREEPZ is setting a new standard for Web3-native intellectual property (IP) by delivering real entertainment products—not just speculation.
Breaking New Ground in Web3 Entertainment
As part of its official debut, CREEPZ is launching two flagship games powered by $CREEPZ, their native ecosystem token yet to be launched:
CREEPZ CLASH – A high-octane multiplayer shooter combining frenetic combat with strategic gameplay, bringing the CREEPZ universe to life.
REDACTED PARTY GAME – A wildly entertaining multiplayer party game designed for both casual and competitive play, offering an immersive social experience.
Major Partnerships in Entertainment & Esports
CREEPZ has secured strategic partnerships that further solidify its position as the next cultural force in entertainment:
WME & ThreeSixZero Representation – Industry-leading agencies securing top-tier media and entertainment opportunities, ensuring CREEPZ’s expansion beyond Web3.
Stoopid Buddy Studios Collaboration – The creative force behind iconic animated series like Robot Chicken and Crossing Swords will help bring the CREEPZ universe to life through storytelling and animation.
Esports Powerhouse M80 Partnership – Aligning with one of the fastest-growing organizations in competitive gaming to push CREEPZ into the esports mainstream through tournaments, influencer collaborations, and live events.
A Web3 Entertainment Powerhouse
CREEPZ’s transition marks a seismic shift in how Web3-native brands enter mainstream entertainment. Unlike other projects that rely solely on token speculation, CREEPZ is rolling out a full ecosystem at $CREEPZ TGE, ensuring real utility from day one. This approach sets CREEPZ apart from previous NFT projects, delivering an actual entertainment experience rather than a speculative asset.
“CREEPZ isn’t just another NFT project—it’s the blueprint for how Web3 IP breaks into mainstream culture,” said the Overlord, creator of CREEPZ. “Where others have stumbled, we’re proving that Web3 can power real entertainment experiences that captivate audiences globally. Gaming, fashion, and entertainment aren’t separate verticals for us—they’re part of one interconnected vision.”
CREEPZ is offering exclusive interviews with its creator, the Overlord, to discuss its groundbreaking approach to Web3 entertainment, how it’s surpassing industry giants like BAYC, Azuki, and Pudgy Penguins, and why top entertainment and gaming brands are betting on CREEPZ to become the next cultural phenomenon.
About CREEPZ
CREEPZ is a counterculture entertainment brand born from web3. Originally a $400M+ NFT phenomenon, CREEPZ has evolved into a full-scale multimedia powerhouse, spanning gaming, fashion, and entertainment. With backing from WME, top esports organizations, and award-winning animation studios, CREEPZ is setting a new standard for how Web3 IP integrates into mainstream culture.
class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section1. Purpose. The production of timber, lumber, paper, bioenergy, and other wood products (timber production) is critical to our Nation’s well-being. Timber production is essential for crucial human activities like construction and energy production. Furthermore, as recent disasters demonstrate, forest management and wildfire risk reduction projects can save American lives and communities.
The United States has an abundance of timber resources that are more than adequate to meet our domestic timber production needs, but heavy-handed Federal policies have prevented full utilization of these resources and made us reliant on foreign producers. Our inability to fully exploit our domestic timber supply has impeded the creation of jobs and prosperity, contributed to wildfire disasters, degraded fish and wildlife habitats, increased the cost of construction and energy, and threatened our economic security. These onerous Federal policies have forced our Nation to rely upon imported lumber, thus exporting jobs and prosperity and compromising our self-reliance. It is vital that we reverse these policies and increase domestic timber production to protect our national and economic security.
Sec. 2. Directives to the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture.
(a) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Chief of the United States Forest Service (USFS), respectively, shall each issue new or updated guidance regarding tools to facilitate increased timber production and sound forest management, reduce time to deliver timber, and decrease timber supply uncertainty, such as the Good Neighbor Authority described in 16 U.S.C. 2113a, stewardship contracting pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 6591c, and agreements or contracts with Indian tribes under the Tribal Forest Protection Act as contemplated by 25 U.S.C. 3115a. The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall also each submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget any legislative proposals that would expand authorities to improve timber production and sound forest management.
(b) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the Secretary of Commerce, through the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, shall complete a strategy on USFS and BLM forest management projects under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1536) to improve the speed of approving forestry projects. The Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the FWS, shall also examine any applicable existing authorities that would permit executive departments and agencies (agencies) to delegate consultation requirements under section 7 of the ESA to other agencies and, if necessary, provide a legislative proposal to ensure consultation is streamlined.
(c) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall together submit to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, a plan that sets a target for the annual amount of timber per year to be offered for sale over the next 4 years from Federal lands managed by the BLM and the USFS, measured in millions of board feet.
(d) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior, through the Directors of the FWS and the BLM, and the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Chief of the USFS, shall complete the Whitebark Pine Rangewide Programmatic Consultation under section 7 of the ESA.
(e) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall consider and, if appropriate and consistent with applicable law, adopt categorical exclusions administratively established by other agencies to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act and reduce unnecessarily lengthy processes and associated costs related to administrative approvals for timber production, forest management, and wildfire risk reduction treatments.
(f) Within 280 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior shall consider and, if appropriate and consistent with applicable law, establish a new categorical exclusion for timber thinning and re-establish a categorical exclusion for timber salvage activities.
Sec. 3. Streamlined Permitting. All relevant agencies shall eliminate, to the maximum extent permissible by law, all undue delays within their respective permitting processes related to timber production. Additionally, all relevant agencies shall take all necessary and appropriate steps consistent with applicable law to suspend, revise, or rescind all existing regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies, settlements, consent orders, and other agency actions that impose an undue burden on timber production.
Sec. 4. Endangered Species Committee. (a) Agencies are directed to use, to the maximum extent permissible under applicable law, the ESA regulations on consultations in emergencies to facilitate the Nation’s timber production. The Secretary of the Interior, as Chairman of the Endangered Species Committee, shall ensure a prompt and efficient review of all submissions to such committee, to include identification of any legal deficiencies, in order to ensure the timely consideration of exemption applications and, where possible, to resolve such applications before the deadlines set by the ESA.
(b) Federal members of the Endangered Species Committee, or their designees, shall coordinate to develop and submit a report to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, that identifies obstacles to domestic timber production infrastructure specifically deriving from implementation of the ESA and recommends procedural, regulatory, and interagency improvements.
(c) The Secretary of the Interior shall ensure that the Director of the FWS, or the Director’s authorized representative, is available to consult promptly with agencies and to take other appropriate action concerning the applicability of the ESA’s emergency regulations. The Secretary of Commerce shall ensure that the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, or the Assistant Administrator’s authorized representative, is available for such consultation and to take such other action as may assist in applying the ESA’s emergency regulations.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3
Summary
Company Announcement Date: February 28, 2025 FDA Publish Date: March 01, 2025 Product Type: Food & Beverages Reason for Announcement:
Recall Reason Description Undeclared fish and wheat allergen
Company Name: Little Leaf Farms Brand Name:
Brand Name(s) Little Leaf Farms
Product Description:
Product Description Southwest Salad Kits
Company Announcement Little Leaf Farms is voluntarily recalling a specific lot code of its Southwest Salad Kits due to the potential presence of undeclared fish and wheat allergens. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat and/or fish run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. The affected product was produced during a single run on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, resulting in one pallet of 96 cases (576 individual clamshells). Little Leaf Farms has determined that fewer than 20 individual Southwest Salad Kits were incorrectly assembled during this run. Product was distributed to the following states: Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. The Southwest Salad Kits were distributed to retail stores including Ahold USA Freetown, Kilduff, Stew Leonard’s, Associated Grocers of New England, Shapiro Produce, and C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc (Hatfield) between February 20, 2025, and February 22, 2025. The recalled product is identified as follows:
Product Name: Southwest Salad Kit Lot Number: 050011 as the first six digits (printed on the bottom left of the package) Enjoy By Date: 03/08/2025 Package Size: Individual clamshell
Consumers who may have purchased the potentially affected Southwest Salad Kits with this lot number are asked to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund or immediately dispose of them. Little Leaf Farms is advising affected retailers in its distribution network to remove existing products with the above-identified lot code from their shelves and warehouses. The issue was identified after receiving one consumer complaint noting incorrect ingredients. No injuries or illnesses have been reported to date. While the products are safe to eat and the company believes the issue is extremely limited, it is taking this measure to ensure the safety of its consumers. Consumers with questions should contact Little Leaf Farms Consumer Relations at (844) LIL-LEAF, Monday- Friday 9-12pm, 1:30-5pm EST, or email us at hello@littleleaffarms.com.
The Met is urging anyone planning to attend a farmers’ protest taking place in central London on Tuesday to leave their tractors at home.
Those attending the event will form up in Whitehall from 11:00hrs, with a procession taking place from around midday heading towards Trafalgar Square, turning right into Northumberland Avenue, along the Embankment and back into Whitehall via Westminster Bridge Road and Parliament Street.
A rally will take place in Whitehall from 13:30hrs. It is expected to finish by 15:00hrs.
Conditions have been imposed under the Public Order Act preventing anyone taking part in the protest from bringing tractors, other than a limited number being arranged by the organisers with the prior permission of the police.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ben Russell, who is commanding the policing operation, said: “Two previous protests have taken place in the same area, with the same organisers, in recent months.
“The second protest saw a significant number of people attend with tractors and other large farming vehicles. Whitehall was blocked for much of the day and there were lengthy significant delays on surrounding roads.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that protests don’t cause serious disruption to the life of the community and we’ve used our powers under the Public Order Act to ensure that does not happen on Tuesday.
“We have been in regular contact with the organisers to explain our decision making and I’m grateful for the positive and collaborative approach they have taken.”
The conditions imposed under the Public Order Act are as follows:
Section 14(3) Public Order Act
Individuals taking part in the Farmers Protest assembly must not drive, or otherwise use, mechanically propelled vehicles without having obtained authority, in advance, from the Metropolitan Police.
Section 12(3) Public Order Act
Individuals taking part in the Farmers Protest procession must not drive, or otherwise use, mechanically propelled vehicles without obtained authority, in advance, from the Metropolitan Police.
It is a criminal offence to breach the conditions or to incite others to do so. Anyone doing so may face arrest.
Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
In Case You Missed It, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) pushed the Trump Administration for detailed, public information regarding the impacts of President Trump’s federal funding freeze, hiring freeze, and terminations on Nevada – including to the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Agriculture. To date, the Trump administration has refused to respond.
The Requests:
On February 18, Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen (D-Nev.) sent two letters to the Trump administration regarding the President’s recent decision to terminate several thousand employees at the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Department of the Interior (DOI). The Senators expressed deep concerns about the risks that these mass firings could have on the millions of acres of public lands in Nevada and demanded transparency about the projects the terminated employees had been responsible for. The Senators have not received a response.
On February 20, Cortez Masto and Rosen sent a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins demanding he provide answers on the mass terminations of personnel across the VA, specifically those in Nevada. The Senators asked for critical information on how these staff reductions could impact veterans and their ability to receive service in Nevada and across the United States. The Senators have not received a response.
On February 21, the Senators sent a letter to President Trump’s Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) regarding recent terminations of NNSA personnel. Given the NNSA’s role maintaining and modernizing the American nuclear stockpile, largely done at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), the senators expressed grave concern that the chaotic terminations could harm American national security.The Senators have not received a response.
On February 26, following reports that several U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) employees involved in bird flu response were fired, Senator Cortez Masto sent a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins demanding vital answers on recent terminations and the Department’s response to bird flu outbreaks. The Senator has not received a response.
Senator Cortez Masto will continue to sound the alarm and demand answers from the Trump administration for policies that threaten the safety and wellbeing of Nevada families.
Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is working to promote fair markets and protect American agricultural exports by bridging the gap between the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
She introduced the Prioritizing Offensive Agricultural Disputes and Enforcement Act to establish a joint task force between the USTR and the USDA focused on identifying trade barriers to agricultural exports and developing strategies for enforcing violations of trade agreements. The bill will also require the task force to report recommendations to Congress to address unfair practices or subsidies they identify.
“In Iowa, trade directly impacts the everyday lives of our hardworking farmers and is critical to the success of our entire state,” said Senator Ernst. “Establishing a clearer channel of communication and breaking down the bureaucratic barriers between the USDA and USTR will help ensure Iowa farmers are on a level playing field when engaging with global markets.”
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Joel Louis Violanti announced today that Rocco A. Beardsley, 39, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of narcotic conspiracy and distribution of fentanyl causing death, was sentenced to serve 300 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti, Evan K. Glaberson, and Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who handled the case, stated that between late 2018 and March 2020, Beardsley conspired with seven others sell methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other controlled substances in the Jamestown area. On April 9, 2019, Beardsley sold acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl, which resulted in the death of an individual identified as J.A. After learning of J.A.’s death, Beardsley took steps to conceal his involvement in the drug overdose, including by directing others to destroy evidence from the death scene.
Beardsley bought and sold fentanyl, and methamphetamine for profit and for his own use, utilizing social media to conduct his drug trafficking activities. Beardsley also utilized residences on Sampson Street and Cowden Place in Jamestown for his drug trafficking activities. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted five controlled purchases from Beardsley. In addition, Beardsley and his co-conspirators also participated in a series of money transfers in furtherance of the narcotics conspiracy.
During the investigation, search warrants were executed at residences associated with the drug conspiracy, during which law enforcement seized approximately 100 grams of methamphetamine, 66 grams of fentanyl, 28 grams of cocaine, 4 grams of crack cocaine, a 12-gauge shotgun, and drug paraphernalia.
Beardsley was previously convicted in Federal Court in 2007 of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and sentenced to serve 57 months in prison. In 2017, he was convicted in New York State Court of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Narcotic Drug Intent To Sell.
A total of seven defendants were charged and convicted in this case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarantino, III, New York Field Division, the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie P. Feroleto, and the Town of Ellicott Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Ohnmeiss Jr.
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
Q: What ag policies are on your radar in the new Congress?
A: While work is underway on writing a new farm bill, I’m also rolling up my sleeves on legislative proposals and oversight efforts to address key issues facing the farm economy and rural communities. Since the new Congress started in January, I’m working on issues that matter to the bottom lines of Iowa farmers, including: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI); Prop 12 restrictions; foreign ownership of U.S. farmland; renewable fuels, including nationwide year-round sales of E15 and sustainable aviation fuel; and tax relief, including a permanent repeal of the death tax.
Let’s start with the HPAI outbreak that’s ravaging the livelihoods of Iowa’s poultry and egg producers and leading to egg shortages and higher prices for consumers. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I participated in two hearings in February gathering feedback from farmers and ranchers about their operations. I asked representatives from turkey growers and egg producers about the importance of vaccines for egg-laying hens and how USDA’s indemnity program helps producers stay afloat during this crisis in the farm economy. I also pushed for swift confirmation in the U.S. Senate to get Secretary Brooke Rollins at the helm of the USDA. During her first week on the job, Secretary Rollins visited an egg farm in Texas and announced a comprehensive strategy to tackle the crisis that’s wiped out 166 million laying hens since 2022. I’ll continue keeping in touch with Iowa farmers as the USDA rolls out its plan to get this outbreak behind us. I’ll also keep pushing to reduce regulatory burdens that restrict market access and add costly decisions for producers to do business in states like California and Massachusetts. California’s Prop 12, what I call its “War on Breakfast” has jacked up the price for eggs and bacon, making protein-rich nutrition unaffordable for American families. I’ll continue working to restore common sense and economic freedom to the farm economy.
Q: What is the Farmland Security Act?
A: Foreign ownership of U.S. farmland has increased 85 percent in the last 15 years. Decades ago, when I represented Iowans in the House of Representatives, I co-sponsored the first-ever reporting requirement called the Agricultural Foreign Investment Act of 1978. It required foreign persons who purchase, transfer or hold interests in crop acres to report transactions to the USDA. They must file an FSA-153 in the local Farm Service Agency office where the land is located, within 90 days of the transaction. Our bipartisan law also directed the Secretary of Agriculture to analyze the information and its impact on family farms and rural communities.
The upward trend of foreign ownership of U.S. farmland comes up regularly at my annual 99 county meetings. Farmland is finite, once it’s paved over with suburban sprawl or sold to foreign owners, America has one less acre to feed and fuel our people. In addition, foreign buyers needlessly increase competition for young and beginning farmers. There are also serious national security implications if a foreign adversary buys up farmland near U.S. military installations. Last year, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report that showed as foreign investment in U.S. farmland climbs, the USDA’s processes to collect, track and report key information are flawed. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 included my bipartisan proposal that required the USDA to adopt an online submission process and public database by 2025. Currently, real-time data isn’t available for federal agencies, including the Departments of Treasury and Defense and Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to review for potential national security risks.
I’ve teamed up again with Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin to beef up existing federal law. Our Farmland Security Act of 2025 builds on our previous efforts to protect America’s rural communities from shady foreign investments. It would ensure all foreign investors, including “shell companies” who buy U.S. farmland must report their holdings and strengthens penalties for those who evade or misreport their filing obligations. Plus, it invests in research to better understand the impact foreign ownership of farmland has on agricultural production. As a lifelong farmer in the U.S. Senate, I’m proud to champion the livelihoods and way of life in rural America. Food security is national security.
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act to increase scrutiny surrounding the purchase of agricultural land by foreign adversaries like China. The bipartisan bill would permanently add the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to add additional scrutiny of farmland and agricultural industry purchases by foreign adversaries like China, North Korea, Russia, or Iran and help prevent improper foreign disruption to the U.S. agriculture industry.
“Wisconsin’s farms are the backbone of our state,” said Senator Baldwin. “They’re not just about food, they’re about people’s livelihoods, our economy, and our way of life. That’s why I’m fighting to protect our family farms and agricultural communities from bad actors like China that threaten our food supply, economy, and national security. I’m proud to work with Democratic and Republican colleagues to protect our farmers and rural communities and ensure our Made in Wisconsin agricultural economy stays strong for the next generation.”
CFIUS is the governmental body that oversees the vetting process of foreign investment and acquisition of American companies. In addition to permanently adding the Secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS, the bill would require that the Secretary report any transaction that could threaten national security, specifically concerning purchases made by adversarial nations like China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran.
Over the past few years, the United States has experienced a rapid increase in foreign investment in the agricultural sector, particularly from China. Growing foreign investment in agriculture and other essential industries, like health care and energy, threatens our country’s national security.
According to USDA data from December 2023, foreign investors own approximately 45 million acres of U.S. agricultural land. This represents an increase of over 1.5 million acres in one calendar year. Foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land increased modestly from 2012 to 2017 at an average increase of 0.6 million acres per year. However, since 2017, this number skyrocketed to an average of 2.6 million acres annually. Additionally, between 2010 and 2021, entities or individuals from China increased their ownership of U.S. agricultural land more than twentyfold, from 13,720 acres to 383,935 acres.
Data from the 2023 Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) report shows that Kansas agricultural land with foreign interest totals over 1.3 million acres.
CFIUS is authorized to oversee and review foreign investment and ownership in domestic businesses as it relates to national security. Currently, the Committee does not directly consider the needs of the agriculture industry when reviewing foreign investment and ownership in domestic businesses.
Specifically, the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act would:
Add the Secretary of Agriculture as a member of CFIUS
Protect the U.S. agriculture industry from foreign control through transactions, mergers, acquisitions, or agreements
Designate agricultural supply chains as critical infrastructure and critical technologies
Require a report to Congress on current and potential foreign investments in the U.S. agricultural industry from USDA and the Government Accountability Office (GAO)
The bill is led by Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) and also co-sponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Todd Young (R-IN), and Deb Fischer (R-NE). U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04) also introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
Full text of the legislation can be found here.
Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies, and Thom Tillis (R-NC) are reintroducing bipartisan legislation to help rural communities make necessary improvements and repairs to critical water infrastructure and ensure clean drinking water and wastewater treatment services.
“Every Granite Stater and every American deserves clean water, no matter where they live,” said Senator Shaheen. “Too often, hard-to-reach rural communities have difficulty funding critical water and wastewater infrastructure projects. Our bipartisan bill would improve support for these projects so that we can help hardworking communities save money, protect the environment and boost local economic development.”
“Rural communities across North Carolina and the nation are facing financial challenges that threaten their ability to maintain critical water infrastructure,” said Senator Tillis. “This commonsense legislation will provide new financing tools to help communities repair and modernize their water systems, ensuring they continue to have access to clean drinking water and wastewater treatment.”
Specifically, the Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act would grant the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) additional authorities to provide low- and zero-interest loans, loan forgiveness and loan refinancing to help rural communities repair, modernize and renovate failing water infrastructure. Last year, the bill was included in the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act, the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee’s proposal for reauthorization of the Farm Bill.
The legislation is supported by the National Rural Water Association (NRWA) and the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP).
“This legislation modernizes the USDA Rural Development’s Water and Environmental Programs to better meet the current financial challenges and needs in rural America,” said NRWA Chief Executive Officer Matthew Holmes. “These are significant changes with new long-term financing options that will preserve the affordability of services, maintain public health standards, and ensure access to clean drinking water and wastewater services, especially in lower-income and economically distressed communities. NRWA applauds Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis for their leadership and commitment to serve the needs of rural America.”
“RCAP is pleased to endorse the Rural Water Systems Act of 2025 and applauds the leadership of Senator Shaheen and Senator Tillis on this important legislation. It is sorely needed. According to the EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment, there is a 20-year need of $464 billion for capital improvements to America’s public water system infrastructure. This total includes the needs of the approximately 52,000 community water systems; 21,400 not-for-profit non-community water systems; American Indian and Alaska Native village water systems; and the costs associated with proposed and recent regulations. We look forward to working with Senator Shaheen to enact this important legislation,” said RCAP Chief Executive Officer Olga Morales Pate.
As a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee that oversees funding for USDA, Senator Shaheen is leading efforts to ensure Granite Staters who live in rural areas have access to the services they need. Shaheen has supported more than 230 New Hampshire small businesses who have received over $25 million to lower energy bills and cut costs through USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program. She has also consistently fought for increased funding and improved support for rural development programs. In the FY24 Agriculture Appropriations bill, Shaheen helped secure pilot authority and seed funding to begin issuing one percent water and wastewater loans, which will help distressed communities build critical infrastructure for clean and safe drinking water.
Shaheen has also championed efforts to ensure every Granite Staters has access to clean water. As a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Shaheen spearheaded the water infrastructure provisions with former Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), securing record funding to upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, address PFAS contamination and replace lead pipes.
DETROIT – A Farmington Hills man was convicted by a federal jury yesterday on charges of assaulting a United States Postal Worker, Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck announced today.
Beck was joined in the announcement by Rodney Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the U.S Postal Inspection Service’s Detroit Division.
Russell Valleau, 62, was convicted following a three-day jury trial before United States District Judge Nancy G. Edmunds. The jury also unanimously found that Valleau intentionally selected the letter carrier as the object of his offense because of her actual or perceived race or color. The jury deliberated approximately two hours before returning their verdict. Valleau was convicted of assaulting a federal employee but acquitted of using a dangerous weapon in the assault.
Evidence presented at the trial established that Valleau, angered by receiving a black person’s mail in his mailbox, aggressively approached the passenger window of his letter carrier’s postal truck yelling racially charged insults at her. This letter carrier, a black woman herself, tried to diffuse the situation by directing him to leave the unwanted mail in his mailbox. Undeterred, Valleau continued his insults, now pointing the vitriol directly to the letter carrier. When she asked him to step away from her vehicle, he attempted to attack her through her open passenger window. Valleau was only thwarted when the letter carrier sprayed him in the face with her USPS-issued mace and drove away. Once apprehended, Valleau continued his offensive and profane language while in the custody of the officers – this included referring to his letter carrier as a “f**king smelly n**ger.” When officers admonished him for his language, he responded: “Oh, you like n**gers.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Beck stated, “A letter carrier was simply trying to do her job, and this defendant physically attacked her while using racist and offensive language. This type of behavior has no place in our community and will not be tolerated.”
“As the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service, the Postal Inspection Service prioritizes the safety and security of postal employees above all else,” said Detroit Division Inspector in Charge Rodney Hopkins. “Let this verdict be a warning to those who threaten, intimidate, or otherwise harm the dedicated men and women of USPS: We will arrest you, and we will seek to prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
The Court scheduled a sentencing hearing for May 27, 2025 at 10:00 AM. Valleau faces up to twelve months incarceration.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Farmington Hills Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frances Carlson and Darrin Crawford.
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI, and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an 18-count indictment charging KONSTANTINOS “KOSTA” DIAMANTIS, 68, of Farmington, and CHRISTOPHER ZIOGAS, 73, of Bristol, with various offenses related to the cancelling of a state audit of a Medicaid provider who engaged in health care fraud.
The indictment was returned on February 25, 2025. Diamantis and Ziogas each appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport, entered pleas of not guilty to the charges in the indictment, and were released on $500,000 bonds.
As alleged in the indictment, between January and June 2020, Diamantis, while serving at Deputy Secretary of the State of Connecticut’s Office of Policy and Management (OPM), and Ziogas, who served as a State Representative for Connecticut’s 79th Assembly District, engaged in a scheme in which Diamantis solicited and received corrupt payments and benefits from Helen Zervas, an optometrist and owner of Family Eye Care in Bristol, in exchange for official acts concerning a State of Connecticut audit of Zervas’s and Family Eye Care’s Medicaid overbilling. Diamantis and Ziogas then took steps to conceal their conduct.
As part of the alleged scheme, in January 2020, an official with Connecticut’s Department of Social Services (DSS) provided notice that it would perform an audit of Zervas’s and Family Eye Care’s Medicaid billing. Zervas, who has been charged separately, knew that she had fraudulently overbilled Medicaid for medical services that she had not provided, or that were not medically necessary. Zervas sought assistance from Ziogas, who was her fiancée, to prevent the DSS audit from proceeding. Ziogas, in turn, sought help from Diamantis. In exchange for payments from Ziogas and Zervas, Diamantis undertook official acts, and pressured other state officials to undertake official acts, aimed at favorably resolving the DSS audit.
As alleged in the indictment, on March 4, 2020, Ziogas made a bribe payment to Diamantis in the amount of $20,000. On that date, Zervas’s attorney emailed a DSS official with a settlement offer to resolve DSS’s audit. The next day, Zervas reimbursed Ziogas with a $25,000 check from Family Eye Care. On March 12, 2020, Ziogas made a $10,000 bribe payment to Diamantis, and was subsequently reimbursed by Zervas. After having been advised and pressured indirectly by Diamantis through officials at OPM and DSS, the DSS official cancelled the DSS audit and, on May 1, 2020, accepted Zervas’s settlement proposal.
The indictment further alleges that, on May 12, 2020, Diamantis and Ziogas delivered a check from Family Eye Care in the amount of $599,810 to DSS. On May 15, 2020, Ziogas, through Zervas, made a final bribe payment of $65,000 to Diamantis.
The indictment also alleges that Diamantis and Ziogas made multiple false statements when interviewed by the FBI during the investigation of this matter, and that Diamantis failed to include the $95,000 in corrupt payments on his 2020 federal tax return.
Finally, the indictment alleges that Ziogas, an attorney, separately committed bank fraud. Ziogas was the trustee of a client trust, identified in the indictment as “Trust-1.” In November 2019, Ziogas prepared and caused to be negotiated a check from Trust-1 in the amount of $5,500 made out to “Kosta Diamantis.”
The indictment charges Diamantis and Ziogas with extortion under color of official right, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; bribery, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years; conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; and conspiracy to commit bribery, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.
The indictment also charges Diamantis with seven counts, and Ziogas with two counts, of making false statements, which carries maximum term of imprisonment of five years on each count; Diamantis with one count of filing a false tax return, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years; Ziogas with three counts of making illegal monetary transactions, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count; and Ziogas with one count of bank fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.
Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan N. Francis and David E. Novick.
Source: The White House
Today, President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance made clear to the world that the United States will not be taken advantage of — a sentiment echoed by the cabinet and members of Congress from across the country.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “Thank you @POTUS for standing up for America in a way that no President has ever had the courage to do before. Thank you for putting America First. America is with you!”
Sen. Lindsey Graham: “I’ve never been more proud of President Trump for showing the American people — and the world — you don’t trifle with this man … He wanted to get a ceasefire. He wants to end the war and Zelenskyy felt like he needed to bait Trump in the Oval Office.”
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem: “I am so proud of our Commander-in-Chief. Thank you President @RealDonaldTrump and @VP for standing up for America. We will not tolerate the political games and disrespect of America. America is back.”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth: “Amen, Mr. President.”
Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent: “Thank you, President Trump, for standing up for the American people and our nation on the global stage.”
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum: “Thank you @POTUS for standing strong for America while working to end the killing abroad.”
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins: “American leadership is back — in the Oval Office — and on the world stage. FEARLESS. BOLD. RELENTLESS. We will save America.”
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy: “Thank you @POTUS for standing up for the United States. The American people will not stand for disrespect of our President, Oval Office, or our generous taxpayers. Peace is only accomplished through strength and our allies need to understand that.”
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner: “President Trump is standing up for forgotten Americans, not endless foreign wars. Biden’s legacy — increased homelessness, record high interest rates, all-time highs to buy a house, and Americans footing the bill. That ended January 20th. The American people are behind @POTUS.”
Sen. Jim Banks: “Thank you President Trump for standing up for America!”
Sen. Marsha Blackburn: “Thank you President Trump and VP Vance or standing up for America.”
Sen. Bill Hagerty: “The United States of America will no longer be taken for granted. The contrast between the last four years and now could not be more clear. Thank you, Mr. President.”
Sen. Josh Hawley: “Remember: the U.S. Senate has repeatedly and for years voted BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars to Ukraine with no strings attached and with no true oversight. It’s time for some ACCOUNTABILITY.”
Sen. Jim Justice: “Glad to have a @POTUS and @VP in charge that absolutely put America FIRST.”
Sen. Mike Lee: “Thank you for standing up for OUR COUNTRY and putting America first, President Trump and Vice President Vance!”
Sen. Bernie Moreno: “Finally we have a President who will speak the TRUTH and stand up against Washington’s endless wars. American taxpayers have been funding this war, it’s time to stop the killing and stop risking World War 3!”
Sen. Markwayne Mullin: “Under this President— the greatest, freest, and most generous nation on Earth is putting America First. I’d encourage anyone who has a problem with that to reevaluate their priorities.”
Sen. Rick Scott: “Thank you President Trump for standing up for America.”
Sen. Eric Schmitt: “It’s about time we have leaders who say what the American people are really thinking and prioritize the core national interests of America. The American taxpayer is tapped out, and President Trump and VP Vance are spot on.”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville: “Thank you Mr. President and Vice President Vance for putting America first”
Majority Leader Steve Scalise: “President Trump is fighting for PEACE around the world and is putting America First as our best negotiator—he’s the only one to get Russia to the table to consider a serious and lasting peace agreement with Ukraine.”
Chairwoman Lisa McClain: “President Trump inherited this war. He has said from the beginning he wants to bring peace. @POTUS is a strong leader, and I know his negotiations will bring a deal together.”
Rep. Andy Biggs: “Gone are the days of foreign leaders walking all over us and snubbing their noses at America’s generosity. There’s a new President and Vice President in town. World leaders would be wise to humble themselves.”
Rep. Tim Burchett: “Job well done by @realDonaldTrump and our VP @JDVance. Give respect to get respect.”
Rep. Mike Collins: “Thank God we finally have a @POTUS who is willing to put America FIRST. Blessed are the peacemakers.”
Rep. Eli Crane: “America First. Thank you, President Trump and Vice President Vance.”
Rep. Dan Crenshaw: “If you are the leader of a country in a dire situation with no path to peace without American support, do not come into the Oval Office and argue with the President of the United States in public. Just a word of advice.”
Rep. Andrew Clyde: “President Trump and Vice President Vance are standing up for the AMERICAN PEOPLE. Our great country will NOT be taken advantage of or disrespected.”
Rep. Byron Donalds: “This is what putting the AMERICAN PEOPLE FIRST looks like. Thank you @realdonaldtrump and @JDVance for standing up for our nation.”
Rep. Brandon Gill: “America First in action. Thank you, @realdonaldtrump and @JDVance, for prioritizing our people and for promoting peace!”
Rep. Lance Gooden: “President @realdonaldtrump and Vice President @JDVance will never allow the United States to be disrespected or taken advantage of. America First, always!”
Rep. Paul Gosar: “Thank you, Mr. President and Vice President. The days of the USA getting pushed around are clearly over.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene: “President Trump and Vice President Vance will put America First every single time. Putting Zelensky in his place while he disrespects the U.S. in the Oval Office is exactly what American leadership should look like. This is what We The People want to see!”
Rep. Pat Harrigan: “America’s priorities come first. @POTUS and @VP made it clear—Ukraine’s interests are not America’s interests. We’ve spent hundreds of billions with no accountability, no clear objectives, and no plan for peace. It’s time to put America first and end this war.”
Rep. Mark Harris: “Thank you, President Trump and Vice President Vance, for boldly defending America’s interests. This is PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH”
Rep. Diana Harshbarger: “The act displayed by Zelenskyy in the Oval Office was nothing short of a massive show of disrespect for the Trump Administration and the American people. Despite this, President Trump and Vice President Vance are holding the line and trying to end this conflict peacefully. God bless them both.”
Rep. Wesley Hunt: “You do NOT blame the people fighting to save your country! America leads—no more excuses!”
Rep. Nancy Mace: “Peace through strength live from the Oval”
Rep. Thomas Massie: “Is this the end of Zelensky’s presidency? He hitched his wagon to Biden and the deep state. They lost and now he doesn’t seem to be playing his cards well.”
Rep. Brian Mast: “American won’t be taken advantage of and America won’t be taken for granted. Thank you, President Trump and Vice President Vance for standing up for America.”
Rep. Addison McDowell: “AMERICA AND THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER ALWAYS COME FIRST”
Rep. Mary Miller: “What has happened in Ukraine is a travesty. Joe Biden threw “gas on the fire.” Ukraine lost an entire generation, and Americans hundreds of billions in tax dollars. We thank God for giving us strong leadership. Thank you @POTUS and @VP for putting America’s interests first, and working to end this terrible war.”
Rep. Riley Moore: “It is amazing to have a President and VP who put America First! Thank you President Trump and VP Vance for fighting for our country and our people!”
Rep. Troy Nehls: “President Trump and Vice President Vance are standing up for the American people. This is America First leadership on display. Thank you POTUS and VP!”
Rep. Ralph Norman: “THIS is strong leadership that is ensuring we put the American people FIRST. Thank you @realDonaldTrump and @JDVance for standing up for our nation.”
Rep. Andy Ogles: “This is what it looks like to stand up for America.”
Rep. Mike Rulli: “You don’t have the cards!”
Rep. Keith Self: “TOUGH and FAIR. The world is witnessing American leadership back in the White House. Thank you President Trump and Vice President Vance.”
Rep. Victoria Spartz: “Zelensky is doing a serious disservice to the Ukrainian people insulting the American President and the American people – just to appease Europeans and increase his low polling in Ukraine after he failed miserably to defend his country. This is not a theater act but a real war!”
Rep. Greg Steube: “Ridiculous grandstanding by Zelensky in the Oval Office. The United States has spent hundreds of billions of dollars to defend Ukraine. And this is the thanks the American people get? It’s time to end this war.”
Rep. Marlin Stutzman: “TRUMP IS THE GREATEST NEGOTIATOR AMERICA HAS EVER HAD! AMERICA IS BEING MADE GREAT BEFORE OUR VERY EYES!”
Rep. Andy Weber: “America FIRST. Strong, unapologetic leadership on the world stage is BACK!”
Rep. Joe Wilson: “I agree with President Trump that Ukrainian soldiers have been unbelievably brave! Critical Minerals Deal a major step forward toward ending the war responsibly. More sanctions on Russia & arms for Ukraine create maximum leverage for FULL land swap Art of the Deal!”
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
February 28, 2025
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee—joined her fellow SFRC Democratic colleagues Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Coons (D-DE), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) in issuing the following statement on the Trump Administration’s reckless termination of nearly all U.S. foreign assistance programs:
“It is clear that the Trump Administration’s foreign assistance ‘review’ was not a serious effort or attempt at reform but rather a pretext to dismantle decades of U.S. investment that makes America safer, stronger and more prosperous. There is no indication Secretary Rubio conducted a program-by-program review of the more than 9,000 awards or considered the dire national security implications of these rash actions. Ending programs first and asking questions later only jeopardizes millions of lives and creates a power vacuum for our adversaries like China and Russia to fill.
“While it’s easy to assume that these cuts will only affect people thousands of miles away, the fact is, the impact will be felt by American farmers who will no longer get top dollar for their crops to feed the hungry, churches who will no longer have the support of the U.S. government in their missions, American families who fall sick when diseases like Zika, Ebola and Malaria once again reach our shores and U.S. biotech companies who will no longer sell their drugs to treat the vulnerable overseas. Secretary Rubio should immediately come before our Committee. We expect him to not only consult with Congress but follow the law,” said the Senators in their statement.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ankit Bhandekar, Research Student — Atmosphere, Oceans and Climate, University of Reading
Delhi is perhaps the most polluted of the world’s megacities. Every winter, the city’s 30 million residents breathe air so toxic that visibility drops to mere metres. If you stand on top of one of Delhi’s monuments you can barely make out buildings across the street as the thick, acrid smog burns your eyes and scratches your throat.
But conditions can and do change rapidly. January 2025 offered a dramatic demonstration of how weather patterns can rapidly transform the city’s air quality.
On January 5, favourable winds improved air quality enough to lift some restrictions. Yet by January 15, as winds calmed and temperatures dropped, pollution levels soared dramatically, forcing the city to implement its maximum “severe +” interventions. These include banning trucks from entering the city, restricting private vehicles and moving schools to online classes.
Delhi didn’t suddenly have more cars, factories, power plants or construction sites from one week to the next. Those things are consistent sources of pollution. There are some events that add to air pollution in the shorter term, such as fireworks during Diwali, or the mass burning of unwanted crop debris (known as stubble), both of which take place in October or November.
But that wasn’t what happened in January. Instead, the sudden reversal revealed how weather, not just emissions, dictates Delhi’s ability to breathe. Understanding this will be crucial if the city is to clean up its air.
A meteorological prison
Delhi is one of many large cities found in a flat and hugely fertile region spanning the Indian subcontinent to the south of the Himalayas. It’s known as the Indo-Gangetic plains, as it contains the floodplains of the Indus and Ganges-Brahmaputra rivers and their tributaries. More than a billion people live in this part of the world.
Delhi specifically is also bordered by another mountain range to its south, the Aravallis. While modest compared to the Himalayas, these mountains contribute to the city sitting in a natural bowl-like area, which makes it harder for pollution to disperse.
This geographical positioning means its location naturally collects airborne pollutants from surrounding agricultural areas. Even if Delhi somehow produced zero emissions, the region would still be likely to experience air quality problems during winter.
In winter, Delhi experiences “temperature inversions” where warmer air sits above colder air like a lid on a pot. This phenomenon occurs naturally in the region but is intensified by the city’s heat-trapping urban landscape. Normally, temperature decreases with height, allowing air to mix vertically, since warm air rises. Under inversion conditions, this pattern reverses and pollutants are trapped near the ground.
The height up to which pollutants can disperse, known as the “mixing height”, also dramatically reduces in winter. While summer allows mixing up to an altitude of about one kilometre, winter can compress this to just a few hundred meters, concentrating pollutants in a much smaller volume of air.
Meanwhile the Himalayas block air from flowing northward, forcing pollution to travel the entire stretch of northern India before finding an exit over the Bay of Bengal. In cities, urban structures further complicate this by creating “surface roughness”, a frictional effect that slows pollution dispersion.
Seasonal factors
There are also seasonal factors that make pollution accumulate or disperse more at certain times of year.
Satellite map showing smoky skies over northern India in November 2022 (Delhi is the small unlabelled region between Haryana and Uttar Pradesh). The red images show fires started by farmers to clear away unwanted crop residue. This ‘stubble burning’ is a big source of pollution downwind in Delhi. Nasa
Delhi’s summer monsoon season runs from July to September, providing natural cleansing through rainfall. During post-monsoon months (October-November), rainfall is minimal. At the same time, wind speeds decrease, limiting ventilation. These conditions compress the atmospheric boundary layer — the lowest part of atmosphere influenced by Earth’s surface — trapping pollutants near ground level.
Throughout winter (December-February), cooler surface temperatures intensify temperature inversions. This creates lots of fog, which combines with pollutants in the atmosphere to form Delhi’s characteristic smog. The reduced mixing height during this period severely restricts vertical dispersal of pollutants.
In pre-monsoon months (March-May), strong westerly winds can blow additional dust from the Thar Desert and agricultural regions toward Delhi. However, higher temperatures increase vertical mixing, improving overall dispersion despite this additional dust.
Season-specific approach
India’s technological interventions, including smog towers and anti-smog guns,have shown limited effectiveness in addressing the causes of pollution. Even more ambitious proposals such as using cloud seeding to induce precipitation aren’t very practical. Cloud seeding is expensive, can only cover a limited area, and needs very specific meteorological conditions.
An anti-smog gun in Delhi sprays water to suppress dust and reduce air pollution. PradeepGaurs / shutterstock
To manage its air quality, Delhi needs a season-specific approach that anticipates weather patterns and pulses in emissions. Getting ahead of the smog could involve a few different things.
Preventive planning would mean implementing stricter emission controls before the cold, still winter days when fog is likely, rather than reacting after pollution has already accumulated.
It would involve solutions that span the whole of the Indo-Gangetic plains, rather than focusing just on Delhi (or indeed any other individual urban centre). After all, many of India’s most polluted cities share the same weather conditions, and the long-range transport of pollution can play a huge role.
A season-specific approach would mean some fixed seasonal policies would instead adapt to forecast meteorological conditions. For instance, construction restrictions (building dust is a big source of air pollution) might be tightened when inversions are predicted, even on seemingly clear days.
Finally, by combining meteorological and air quality monitoring, authorities could provide targeted warnings and interventions days before visible pollution accumulates.
Understanding these natural constraints isn’t just an academic exercise – it’s essential for developing effective policies that can protect millions of residents year-round. As climate change potentially alters these meteorological patterns, the need for scientifically informed policy becomes even more critical.
Ankit Bhandekar receives funding from Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).
Laura Wilcox receives funding from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Norwegian Research Council, and Horizon Europe.
Centre chairs meeting of States/UTs Food Secretaries to review procurement of foodgrains for Central Pool Adopt proactive approach and ensure maximize procurement of Wheat and Rabi crop of paddy: Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution, GoI
Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 7:45PM by PIB Delhi
The Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD), Government of India, while chairing a meeting of State Food Secretaries here today, requested to adopt proactive approach and ensure to maximize procurement of Wheat and Rabi crop of paddy during ensuing marketing season. The objective of the meeting was to discuss the procurement arrangements for Rabi Crops in Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2025-26 and in Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2024-25.
Various factors impacting procurement such as weather forecast, production estimates, and readiness of States for procurement operations were reviewed during the meeting. After deliberations, the estimates for wheat procurement during ensuing RMS 2025-26 have been fixed at 310 LMT. Similarly, the estimates for paddy procurement, in terms of rice during KMS 2024-25 (Rabi Crop) have been fixed at 70 LMT.
A quantity of around 16.00 LMT of coarse grains including millets (Shri Anna) has also been estimated for procurement by the States during the KMS 2024-25 (Rabi crop). States/UTs were advised to focus on procurement of millets for diversification of crops and enhanced nutrition in dietary patterns.
Besides, several other initiatives such as proposed reforms in TPDS Control Order, SMART PDS, E-KYC, Mapper SoP, Jan Poshan Kendras and infrastructure improvement in Procurement Centers etc were also discussed in the meeting. WDRA apprised the gathering about the initiative of pledge financing against e-NWRs (Negotiable Warehouse Receipt). State Government of Telangana also shared the good practices adopted in respect of Foodgrain Management System in the State.
The implementation of Supply Chain Optimization in Public Distribution System of the States was also discussed wherein Govt. of Gujarat presented automation in supply chain in PDS of Gujarat. The States were asked for optimum utilization of godowns created by PACS under the World largest grain storage plan.
The meeting was attended by Food Secretaries of various States/UTs as well as officers from Food Corporation of India (FCI), Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA), India Meteorological Department and Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
PM to participate in the Post-Budget Webinar on “Agriculture and Rural Prosperity” on 1st March Webinar will foster collaboration to translate the vision of this year’s Budget into actionable outcomes
Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 7:32PM by PIB Delhi
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will participate in the Post-Budget Webinar on “Agriculture and Rural Prosperity” on 1st March, at around 12:30 PM via video conferencing. He will also address the gathering on the occasion.
The webinar aims to bring together key stakeholders for a focused discussion on strategizing the effective implementation of this year’s Budget announcements. With a strong emphasis on agricultural growth and rural prosperity, the session will foster collaboration to translate the Budget’s vision into actionable outcomes. The webinar will engage private sector experts, industry representatives, and subject matter specialists to align efforts and drive impactful implementation.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
CHP of DH responds to media enquiries on B virus human infection CHP of DH responds to media enquiries on B virus human infection ****************************************************************
In response to media enquiries about a case of human infection of B virus (also known as herpes simiae virus) announced by the Department of Health (DH) on April 3 last year, the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the DH, Dr Edwin Tsui, today (February 28) responded as follows:- “In the fight against communicable diseases, the CHP adheres to the ‘3Rs’ i.e. real-time surveillance, rapid intervention and responsive risk communication. The CHP has upheld the principles of openness and high transparency in providing the public and healthcare professionals with the latest information and epidemiological situation on communicable diseases as well as relevant prevention and health education through various appropriate channels. At the same time, the CHP conducts necessary epidemiological investigations on reported cases in a timely manner and takes appropriate follow-up, prevention and control measures to minimise the threat of communicable diseases to Hong Kong citizens. The CHP confirmed the first case of B virus human infection in Hong Kong on April 3 last year, and immediately adopted a multi-pronged approach to prevent the virus from spreading locally. Apart from issuing a press release on the same day to announce the details of the case (including the case had been receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit with critical condition) and reminding the public of the precautions to be taken against the virus, the CHP also immediately notified the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to take appropriate measures, including stepping up patrols in country parks and reminding visitors not to feed monkeys. As this was the first case of its kind in Hong Kong, the CHP immediately stepped up local medical surveillance. On April 5 last year, the CHP added the disease to the list of “Other communicable diseases of topical public health concern” and issued letters to doctors and hospitals in Hong Kong to provide them with clinical and epidemiological information on the case, reminding them to pay attention to the disease during medical consultations and to report suspected cases to the CHP for follow-up. To continue to educate the public and raise their awareness about the B virus, the CHP has produced promotional leaflets and continued to provide relevant health information on its website and social media since April 5 last year. In addition, the CHP has reported the latest epidemiological investigation results of the case in the Communicable Disease Watch in June last year and yesterday (February 27), reminding the public and healthcare workers to exercise caution against the B virus. Regarding this case, there was no delay in the CHP’s investigation, disease control and prevention, and the publicity and education efforts. Nevertheless, the CHP is aware of comments that the CHP could have issued another press release on the day of the patient’s death to inform the public. The CHP will review the current practice and consider announcing the crucial changes in the clinical conditions of special infectious disease cases as soon as practicable, in addition to announcing the results of the relevant epidemiological investigations, prevention and control work, and public education. To date, only one case of B virus human infection has been recorded in Hong Kong. However, the virus is naturally carried in the saliva, urine and stool of macaques, which are wild animals commonly found in Hong Kong. Members of the public must remain vigilant and stay away from wild monkeys, avoiding touching or feeding them. If bitten or scratched by a monkey, members of the public should rinse the wound with water as soon as possible and seek medical attention immediately.”
Priority question for written answer P-000834/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Esther Herranz García (PPE)
The latest sanctions announced against Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine impose higher tariffs on nitrogen fertiliser imports into the EU from Russia and Belarus. As a result, the price of such fertilisers is expected to rise, increasing pressure on EU farmers.
In light of both this and the fact that farmers are already facing challenges and are expressing their dissatisfaction at not being considered when such decisions are made, as well as in view of the need to continue to support Ukraine:
1.What action does the Commission plan on taking to compensate EU farmers once these measures enter into force in July 2025?
2.As one of the steps it could take, does the Commission intend to grant derogations under the Nitrates Directive to allow the current limit of 170 kg N/ha to be exceeded when using organic fertilisers (RENURE)?
1. The Commission is not aware of any specific request from the Portuguese Government for the deployment of additional EU resources related to spread of bluetongue virus.
As referred to in reply to Written Questions E-001845/2024, E-002156/2024, E-002019/2024 and E-001850/2024 bluetongue virus being a subject to optional eradication, EU funding for Bluetongue Virus, including vaccination, is not planned for the 2025-2027 period for eradication programmes in accordance with EU rules[1], nor for emergency measures. Financial resources are allocated to the control and eradication of other major priority animal diseases.
As mentioned in reply to Written Questions E-001819/2024, P-002410/2024; E-002019/2024 and E-002156/2024 , support to farmers can be provided under the common market Organisation, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plans, rural development programmes, and in line with Union state aid rules.
2. CAP financial rules[2] already allow farmers who have been unable to fulfil all their CAP requirements due to exceptional and unforeseeable events outside their control not to lose CAP support. The application of this concept is decided by Member States based on relevant evidence and the legal requirements for its application.
[1] Regulation (EU) 2021/690 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 establishing a programme for the internal market, competitiveness of enterprises, including small and medium-sized enterprises, the area of plants, animals, food and feed, and European statistics (Single Market Programme) and the work programmes (adopted as Commission Implementing Decision C(2024) 2098 of 2.8.2024 for 2025-2027).
[2] Articles 3(2) and 59(5)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, OJ L 435, 6.12.2021, p. 187.
Source: United States Small Business Administration
ATLANTA -The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in West Virginia of the March 31, 2025, deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the drought beginning July 16, 2024.
The disaster declaration covers the counties of Barbour, Berkeley, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Tucker, Upshur and Webster in West Virginia, as well as the counties of Allegany, Garrett and Washington in Maryland, and Augusta, Bath, Clarke, Frederick, Highland, Loudoun, Rockingham and Shenandoah in Virginia.
Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs that suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.
EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
“SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
Submit completed loan applications to SBA no later than March 31, 2025.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Source: United States Small Business Administration
ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Florida of the April 1, 2025, deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the severe storms and flooding occurring on June 11-14, 2024.
This disaster declaration covers the counties of Broward, Collier, Hendry, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach.
Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs that suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.
EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
“SBA loans help eligible small businesses cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The deadline to return economic injury applications is April 1, 2025.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Source: United States Small Business Administration
ATLANTA -The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Michigan of the March 31 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the drought that began on April 25, 2024.
The disaster declaration covers the counties of Allegan, Barry, Bay, Calhoun, Clare, Clinton, Eaton, Gladwin, Gratiot, Ionia, Isabella, Kalamazoo, Kent, Midland, Montcalm and Saginaw.
Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs that suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.
EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.
“SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amount terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
For more information and to apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
Submit completed loan applications to SBA no later than March 31, 2025.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Source: United States Small Business Administration
ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Virginia of the March 31, 2025, deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the drought beginning on July 16, 2024.
The disaster declaration covers the counties of Albemarle, Augusta, Bath, Buckingham, Charlottesville, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax County, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Frederick, Greene, Harrisonburg, Highland, Loudoun, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, Orange, Page, Prince Wiliam, Rappahannock, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Stafford, Staunton, Warren, Waynesboro and Winchester in Virginia, as well as Frederick, Montgomery and Washington counties in Maryland, and Berkeley, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Morgan, Pendleton and Pocahontas in West Virginia.
Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs that suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.
EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
“SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The deadline to return economic injury applications is March 31, 2025.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
WASHINGTON – In January 2025, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) reintroduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, or S.9, to save women’s sports and preserve Title IX protections for female athletes. Over the past four years, the Biden administration took a sledgehammer to Title IX – resulting in more than 900 women losing trophies to men competing in women’s sports. These policies are wildly unpopular as 79% of Americans agree that men should not compete against women.
As a former coach and educator for 40 years, Senator Tuberville has been a champion in the fight to protect women’s sports during his entire time in Congress. Last year, he forced a vote on an amendment that would protect female athletes by keeping men out of women’s sports – all 51 Democrats voted against it. Thankfully, President Trump signed a historic Executive Order earlier in February banning men from competing in women’s sports and protecting Title IX. Unfortunately, Executive Orders can be reversed. Senator Tuberville’s bill would make President Trump’s Executive Order permanent.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed similar legislation on a bipartisan basis in January. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) announced earlier this week that S.9 will get a vote on Monday, March 3. Ahead of the vote, a bipartisan coalition of former and current female athletes, coaches, parents, lawmakers, and advocates are voicing their support for Sen. Tuberville’s legislation.
What They Are Saying:
“Congress established Title IX to ensure that women and girls have equal and fair opportunities based on biological reality, and it has protected their safety for decades. After watching the Biden administration claw away at the integrity of Title IX for four years, I am proud to stand with my colleagues and President Trump in fighting to restore the protections that Title IX was always meant to provide to girls and women in sports,” said Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS).
“Since the start of his administration, President Trump has kept his promise to protect female athletes by preventing biological males from competing in their sports. With the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act vote approaching, it’s up to Congress to safeguard competitive opportunities for female athletes for generations to come. This is the women’s rights issue of our time, and I am proud to join my colleagues in ensuring young girls across America can compete on a level playing field,” said Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY).
“Protecting our daughters’ and granddaughters’ right to safe and fair competition is non-negotiable. We cannot allow biological men to compete in women’s sports and undermine the hard-fought victories of generations of American women and girls. I’m proud to stand up for Title IX alongside Senator Tuberville, President Trump, and my Republican colleagues,” said Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID).
“Men have no place competing in women’s athletics, this shouldn’t be controversial. Title IX was created to ensure fairness and equal opportunities for female athletes, yet the radical left is working to dismantle those protections. The House has already passed my legislation to restore common sense and protect the integrity of women’s sports. Now, the Senate must act. I urge my colleagues to stand with women and pass this critical bill without delay. Thank you to Senator Tuberville for his leadership in this fight,” said Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL-17).
“The American people spoke loud and clear in November that they do not want men in women’s sports or locker rooms. We cannot allow Democrats to erase Title IX, endangering our girls and undermining years of hard work. I applaud Coach Tuberville for his leadership, and I’m glad that the Senate is following through on the mandate given to us,” said Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL-15).
“The American people have made it clear: there is a national mandate to stand up for objective truth and to support women — safeguarding our privacy, safety, and equal opportunities. Thanks to the leadership of Senator Tuberville, advancing critical legislation to protect women’s rights has become a legislative priority. With the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act now being heard on the Senate floor, we’re one step closer to ensuring that women no longer lose trophies, roster spots, playing time, scholarships, or fair competition to men in their own sport. On Monday, the nation will see which members of the US Senate choose to stand for truth and fairness — answering the call of Americans nationwide,” said Riley Gaines, former 12x All-American swimmer at the University of Kentucky.
“I hope SB9 passes with bipartisan support. Eighty percent of Americans agree that men do not belong in women’s sports, and I urge all senators to vote in the best interests of their constituents. Having been forced to compete against and undress alongside a male athlete, I never want another girl to experience the same. This bill would help ensure that,” said Paula Scanlan, former teammate of Lia Thomas at the University of Pennsylvania.
“It’s time for the senate to do the right thing — stand up for women and girls and pass the Protect Women and Girls in Sports Act. This is not a political or partisan issue. It’s about basic biological truth and fairness for women and girls,” said Jennifer Sey, former 7x National Team Member for USA Gymnastics, 1986 Women’s National Gymnastics Champion, CEO XX-XY Athletics.
“Protecting women and girls in sports should not be a partisan issue. It’s about fairness, safety, and common sense. I know firsthand what it’s like to race against a male and be forced to change in a locker room with one. No woman should have to sacrifice her dignity or opportunities in the name of politics. This vote is a chance for leaders on both sides of the aisle to do what’s right, stand up for women, defend the integrity of sports, and uphold the very protections Title IX was meant to guarantee. I urge every senator to put politics aside and vote YES on SB9. Anything less is a betrayal of the women and girls who are counting on them,” said Kaitlynn Wheeler, former women’s swim team member at the University of Kentucky.
“I am urging every Senator to stand with women and vote YES on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act! 80% of Americans agree—no males in girls’ or women’s sports! I’ve been a lacrosse coach for 29 years, inducted into three halls of fame for my contributions to the game. Yet, I was removed from my position as Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at Oberlin College. Thanks to Senator Tuberville, the Senate has an opportunity to be heroes and codify the executive order into law! Vote YES—for the young girls already competing in sports, and for those who need your vote to have a chance to play tomorrow!” said Kim Russell, former women’s lacrosse coach at Oberlin College.
“As someone who spent decades as a broadcaster covering women’s sports, I am heartbroken by the misguided attempts to destroy Title IX. I have seen firsthand the doors that can be opened in a young woman’s life through scholarships and sports. This isn’t about excluding anyone, it is about protecting the rights of women and girls to fair, safe competition. You can’t call yourself a feminist and not support preserving Title IX for women and girls everywhere. I was so proud to be at the White House to witness President Trump signing a historic Executive Order protecting women’s sports and preserving Title IX. Unfortunately, Executive Orders can be reversed. Congress needs to act on this. I was glad to see the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act pass the House on a bipartisan basis and urge every Senator to think about their daughters, nieces, and granddaughters and vote yes on this critical legislation,” said Sage Steele, former SportsCenter host.
“The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act is a critical next step to meaningful, lasting Title IX protections for female student athletes. It provides the clarity schools and governing bodies need to affirm the dignity of women and girls. I’m proud to link arms with fellow female athletes to support S.9. Our support of this legislation championed by Senator Tuberville has nothing to do with politics, but everything to do with our lived experiences. We’ve been betrayed by regressive policies compromising the assurances for equal protection on the basis of sex women won over 50 years ago. S.9 will reaffirm our rights and ensure future generations of female athletes will never have to face the injustice of men taking our places in women’s sports again,” said Macy Petty, former volleyball player at Lee University.
“Despite constant roadblocks and years of battling the system, women have fought hard, and continue to fight to be seen as equal in their athletic capabilities. Until the passage of title IX in 1972, there were fewer than 30,000 female collegiate athletes in the US. The number is in 100s of thousands today. But even to this day, females have never had equal opportunity in sports against their male counterparts. And now with males entering female sports, it feels like we have lost decades of advancement. Watching the females on my team suffer this injustice was just too much for me to ignore. Females have worked way too hard and far too long to be sidelined by males who are generally bigger, faster, and stronger. That’s why I support the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act led by Senator Tuberville. We are asking all members of Congress to support this bill and stand together for the protection and fairness of female sports now and into the future,” said Coach Melissa Batie-Smoose, former San Jose State University assistant volleyball coach.
“Senator Tuberville is taking a stand to protect women in sports, and it’s long overdue. As someone who has experienced the harm firsthand, I would never want another young woman to go through what I did at San Jose State or be left traumatized. The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act will ensure that no one has to endure what Riley Gaines or Peyton McNabb experienced. This act safeguards young female athletes from the physical and mental trauma of competing against men in a sport that should be their safe space. I urge every senator to consider: if this were your daughter, how would you feel watching her lose opportunities, face unfair competition, and be put at risk all while knowing you had the power to stop it? Senator Tuberville is doing what any responsible leader should—fighting for our safety. He must be heard and taken seriously,” said Brooke Slusser, former volleyball team captain at San Jose State University.
“Women’s sports and spaces deserve the protection that has been stripped away from so many women including myself in recent years. SB9, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, would restore that protection. It is crucial that senators listen to their constituents instead of continuing to support an agenda that undermines female success. Nearly 80% of Americans believe gender ideology has no place in our locker rooms, on our podiums, or on our rosters. This Senate vote should reflect that statistic. We are on the brink of ending the suffering that women across the country have endured. Thank you, Senator Tuberville, for your leadership and for taking the initiative to truly preserve the rights of women,” said Lily Mullens, Roanoke College swim team captain.
“SB9, The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act is about ensuring female athletes have fair, safe, and equal opportunities. This is more than just about sports—it’s about protecting women’s rights and integrity. On Monday, the Senate can choose to stand up for truth, common sense, and women,” said Payton McNabb, former North Carolina high school volleyball player.
“The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 is of utmost importance because it ensures no female athlete is put in harms way on the court or field, forced into vulnerable spaces like our locker rooms where men are currently allowed, and gives us the power to champion our sports without the unfair biological advantages men have when competing. Female athletes throughout history have worked too hard for us to revert back to letting men invade our sports taking away opportunities, accolades, and ultimately our mark in the history of sports. As a female athlete that has been directly impacted by the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports, I ask you to end this now. Please protect the future generations of female athletes from the mental, emotional, and physical warfare my teammates and I went through. My question to those who vote against this bill is how many more female athletes are going to have to get hurt, forfeit matches, lose out on scholarships, undress in front of men in their locker rooms, and even see full male genitalia involuntarily before you do something? What about your daughters, nieces, and even future grandchildren, is this something you’re okay with happening to them?” said Sia Liilii, University of Nevada Reno volleyball co-captain.
“More than 50 years ago, Congress enacted Title IX to ensure women had fair and equal opportunities in athletics. But radical gender ideology has tried to erase that hard-fought victory by insisting that men can be women. Women have been forced to share their private locker rooms with men and female athletes have lost out on scholarships, roster spots, and titles simply because they are not as strong and fast as their male counterparts. This injustice needs to end. President Trump’s Executive Order is the blueprint for strong stance on this issue, and now we need Congress to permanently codify the obvious and historical intention of Title IX into law to guard against future attacks from radical activists. It is simple: women’s sports must be for women only. We thank Sen. Tuberville for his tireless leadership on this issue!” said Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee.
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.
Minister for Regulation David Seymour says that one year in, the Ministry for Regulation is paving the way for better law-making, higher productivity, and higher wages. “One year ago, the Ministry for Regulation was set up. It was given the task of cutting red tape and lifting the quality of all regulatory systems in New Zealand. Those systems are stunting economic growth and costing people money and sanity,” Mr Seymour says. “After one year, the Ministry can point to a growing list of deregulation measures that are helping businesses, workers, and consumers. Some examples of the Ministry’s work include:
Delivering the first regulatory sector review into Early Childhood Education (ECE). These recommendations will reduce compliance costs, encourage more providers into the market, and give parents more choice. Cabinet will consider its fifteen recommendations later this month.
Delivering the second regulatory sector review into Agricultural and Horticultural Products. Cabinet accepted all of its sixteen recommendations this week. Now, implementing them will save up to $272 million by making approval processes easier and faster for farmers and growers.
Starting a third sector review into hairdressing and barbering industry by listening to those in the industry affected by out-of-date rules. The recommendations will be delivered shortly.
Driving regulators to change the rules for Buy Now, Pay Later customers, to keep the model viable and cost of services for consumers down.
Working with other agencies to make quick changes to regulations hindering Kiwis in areas such as Anti Money Laundering (AML), gift card regulation, emergency responders accessing medicines, bakers who were being regulated on the concentration of flour particles, and supporting people administering property on behalf of someone lacking decision-making capacity.
Working alongside MedSafe and the Ministry of Health to review the outdated and burdensome regulations which are holding back economic growth in the industrial hemp sector by 2030.
Triaging complaints from the ‘Red-Tape Tipline.’ Over 600 frustrated New Zealanders and businesses have reported cumbersome, costly and complex red tape that’s affecting their day-to-day lives and livelihoods. In each case that goes forward, the Ministry is doing further work, making recommendations to the relevant regulatory agency.
Alerting relevant agencies of 122 regulatory issues that came through the tipline so that they can be resolved. The Ministry is actively working to resolve a further 150 tips.
Putting in place best practice guides and training modules for the entire Government regulatory workforce that will improve New Zealanders interactions with regulators at the coal face.
Reforming the Cabinet Circular guiding Regulatory Impact Analysis, increasing the Ministry’s role in policy making. The Ministry will now be involved from the beginning of the policy making process, leading to fewer, higher quality Regulatory Impact Statements.
Preparing and consulting publicly on the Regulatory Standards Bill, that will be a game changer for the entire economy.
“This occurs alongside the Ministry’s work as a central agency to be the central steward of regulation across the public sector. The fourth sector review is also set to be announced shortly,” says Mr Seymour. “The Ministry will also be busy in its second year supporting the Regulatory Standards Bill through the House, conducting more sector reviews, responding to red tape tips, and supporting the public sector to use more effective and efficient regulations that work for New Zealand. “Bad regulation is killing our prosperity in three ways. It adds costs to the things we do; it prevents productive people from achieving innovative things that grow the economy, and it chips away at the heart of our identity and culture. It’s the fear that comes from worrying WorkSafe or some other regulator will come and shut you down. You can’t measure it, but we all know it’s there. “It’s clear that now is the time for a significant reset. Many governments over the years have paid lip-service to cutting red tape. This Government is committed to doing something about it.”
Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) announced the introduction of the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, legislation to permanently ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption. The bill would also prohibit the export of live horses to Mexican and Canadian slaughterhouses to be sold overseas. Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) lead companion legislation in the House.
“I’m proud to join my colleagues to introduce bipartisan legislation to permanently ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption. Unlike cattle, horses aren’t raised as food animals in the United States,” said Senator Luján. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this bill to protect our nation’s horses while maintaining support for meat and poultry markets.”
“The slaughter of horses for human consumption is barbaric and has no place in America,” said Representative Buchanan. “As Co-Chairman of the Animal Protection Caucus, I look forward to continuing to lead this effort with Congresswoman Schakowsky to protect these beautiful creatures.”
“As a former horse owner, I have been a leader in efforts to ban horse slaughter in the United States for many years,” said Representative Schakowsky. “I am once again partnering with Congressman Vern Buchanan in introducing the SAFE Act to amend the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 to prohibit the slaughter of equines for human consumption, both domestically and abroad. It is beyond time to end this brutal and dangerous practice. Horses are not food. As a proud animal lover, we owe it to our horse companions to protect their welfare.”
The SAFE Act would make it illegal to slaughter, transport, possess, purchase, sell or donate horses, donkeys and burros for human consumption. Although the practice of slaughtering horses for human consumption is currently illegal in the United States, the ban is temporary and subject to annual congressional review and no federal law exists to prohibit the transport of horses across America’s borders for slaughter in Canada or Mexico.
The SAFE Act is cosponsored by over 100 bipartisan members of Congress. The SAFE Act has received the support of the Humane World Action Fund, the ASPCA, the Animal Welfare Institute, the U.S. Harness Racing Alumni Association, the Jockey Club and Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation.
“The pipeline to slaughter is a death sentence for horses, subjecting them to unimaginable suffering. These majestic animals, who have helped build this nation, are deserving of compassion and kindness, not cruelty. It’s time to end their horrifying journey to slaughter, where many suffer brutal abuse long before they arrive. Horse slaughter for human consumption is an industry that shows a complete disregard for these loyal and noble animals. We call on lawmakers to support Senators Graham and Luján and Representatives Buchanan and Schakowsky in their efforts to pass the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act and put an end to this inhumane practice once and for all,” said Sara Amundson, President, Humane World Action Fund.
“Although the overall decline in American horses being exported for human consumption is a sign of progress, more than 19,000 horses are still being trucked across the border each year as part of the predatory horse slaughter pipeline. This industry needs to be shut down once and for all. We are immensely grateful to Congressman Buchanan, Congresswoman Schakowsky, Senator Graham, and Senator Luján for their outstanding leadership on the SAFE Act and we hope that Congress will move quickly to protect America’s horses from slaughter,” said Susan Millward, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Animal Welfare Institute.
“Despite overwhelming public opposition to horse slaughter, a legal loophole still allows tens of thousands of American horses to be shipped to other countries for slaughter each year. Not only is horse slaughter cruel and unnecessary, but the existence of the slaughter pipeline itself stifles rescue and rehoming efforts, putting equine welfare at risk. Equine industry and animal welfare groups are working daily to solve equine welfare issues on the ground, but we cannot fully succeed while the slaughter pipeline remains open. We are so grateful to Senators Graham and Luján and Representatives Buchanan and Schakowsky for their dedication to starting a new chapter for America’s equines and championing the SAFE Act to secure an end to horse slaughter,” said Nancy Perry, Senior Vice President of Government Relations, ASPCA.
Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), John Boozman (R-AR), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) introduced the Prioritizing Offensive Agricultural Disputes and Enforcement Act to protect the Louisiana rice industry against dumping of cheap produce into U.S. markets from India and China.
“Louisianans want to eat rice grown in their backyard, not from the other side of the world,” said Dr. Cassidy. “The rice industry is critical to Louisiana’s economy. We must level the playing field for our rice farmers.”
“As a strong advocate for our agriculture industry and the ability of American producers to compete fairly on the global stage, I will remain steadfast in fighting those nations that undermine our farmers. When countries blatantly violate their WTO commitments, they must be held accountable. Giving the USDA a bigger role in trade disputes is a crucial step to safeguard a key sector of Mississippi’s and our nation’s economy. I am proud to once again support it,” said Senator Hyde-Smith.
“American rice and wheat farmers continue to be targeted by India’s egregious over-subsidization, and there are countless other examples. This legislation will give us the tools needed to address unfair practices and market manipulation by our trading partners to level the playing field and maintain a competitive advantage in the global marketplace,” said Senator Boozman.
“In Iowa, trade directly impacts the everyday lives of our hardworking farmers and is critical to the success of our entire state. Breaking down the bureaucratic barriers between the USDA and USTR will help ensure Iowa farmers are on a level playing field when engaging with global markets,” said Senator Ernst.
“America’s ag industry can out-compete anyone in the world—as long as the rules are fair. But right now, our farmers, ranchers, and fishermen are suffering because of foreign countries violating their trade obligations. We must level the playing field to bolster our domestic ag industry. I’m proud to join Senator Cassidy’s efforts to eliminate barriers to our agriculture exports and will keep working to remove red tape for those in our ag industry,” said Senator Tuberville.
The Prioritizing Offensive Agricultural Disputes and Enforcement Act establishes a joint task force on agricultural trade enforcement led by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). The task force will more proactively monitor upcoming Indian and Chinese industrial subsidies, rather than waiting to react after subsidies are in place. The bill will also require the task force to report recommendations to Congress to deal with unfair subsidies they identify.
Background
Earlier this month, Cassidy asked U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer if he would commit to putting tariffs on shrimp coming from other countries that use illegal antibiotics and forced labor during Greer’s confirmation hearing. Greer replied that USTR would consider tariffs if an investigation found that unfair trade practices were not remedied.
Last year, Cassidy worked to secure $27,152,411.00 for Louisiana fisheries, shrimpers, and fishing communities affected by natural disasters between 2017 and 2022.
In April 2024, Cassidy advocated for Louisiana shrimpers and rice producers at a U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing with former U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. He pressed her on progress USTR is making to prevent shrimp dumping from Asia. Cassidy also highlighted a whistleblower report on the safety of shrimp imported from India.
In 2023, Cassidy also introduced the India Shrimp Tariff Act to raise U.S. tariffs to be equivalent to subsidies received by the Indian shrimp farming industry. India is the world’s top shrimp exporter, accounting for roughly 40 percent of U.S. shrimp imports, largely due to massive state subsidies.
Source: United States Small Business Administration
ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Maryland of the March 31, 2025, deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the drought beginning on July 16, 2024.
The disaster declaration covers the counties of Allegany, Garrett and Washington in Maryland, as well as Bedford, Fulton and Somerset in Pennsylvania, and Hampshire, Mineral and Morgan in West Virginia.
Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs that suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.
EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
“SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The deadline to return economic injury applications is March 31, 2025.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Police were called to Seven Sisters Road, N7 at around 23:35hrs on Thursday, 27 February.
Officers attended along with London Ambulance Service colleagues. A 75-year-old man was taken to hospital where, very sadly, he died on Friday, 28 February.
The man’s family have been informed. The victim is thought to have been a Bolivian national – formal identification and a post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course.
Three teenagers – girls aged 14, 16 and 17 – were arrested on suspicion of GBH prior to the man’s death. This is now being reviewed. They remain in custody and enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.
Superintendent Annmarie Cowley, one of the senior officers responsible for policing Islington, said: “I know this death will cause shock and very real concern in Holloway and the wider Islington area. I share those concerns, and I want to assure local people that a thorough police investigation is under way.
“There are additional police patrols in the local area. I urge local people to speak with these officers if you have any information or any concerns. The officers are there to support you, and they will be in and around Holloway throughout the weekend.”
DCI Paul Waller, Specialist Crime, is leading the murder investigation. He said: “Three people are in custody and specialists from across the Met have been working at pace since last night to establish exactly what happened. Every possible line of inquiry is being followed, and this includes forensic work and ongoing enquiries to identify all available CCTV.
“I am grateful to those members of the public who have contacted police already. I urge anyone who saw the incident but has yet to contact police to please get in touch and share what they know.”
Anyone who has information that could assist police is asked to call 101 or contact @MetCC on X, quoting reference 8184/27feb. You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
