Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
An aerial drone photo taken on May 28, 2025 shows a view of Basum Tso, a lake in Nyingchi, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
At an apple base in Bepa Town of Nyingchi, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, which sits at an altitude over 3,000 meters, Lin Chuanqing, head of a local apple business, was busy inspecting the growth of apples.
“A wave of orders poured in from overseas,” said Lin. “Beyond our existing exports to Nepal, this year will mark Xizang’s first-ever local apple shipments to Singapore.”
“Apples here are favored by foreign markets,” Lin said. His company owns over 4,000 mu (about 266.6 hectares) of apple orchards in Nyingchi, exporting 490 tonnes of apples to Nepal last year and over 137 tonnes so far this year.
However, when Lin and his team arrived in Xizang three years ago, the local apple industry operated in a rudimentary and unsystematic manner.
At that time, many local farmers mainly grew apples in their backyards and sold them in bulk without sorting or grading them. The unsold apples were stored in earthen cellars with plastic film, which was not effective for properly preserving them for more than two months.
Now, Lin’s company has invested 158 million yuan (about 22 million U.S. dollars), building a complete industrial chain from seedling research and development to cold chain logistics.
Apples grown on the plateau enjoy unique advantages. The region’s intense sunlight and dramatic temperature fluctuations between day and night contribute to their exceptional sweetness and firmness, setting them apart from those cultivated in other areas of the country.
“Apples of the same size here are 15 percent heavier than others of the same variety and our apple yield will reach 3,000 kilograms per mu during peak season,” said Lin. The unique environment also boosts the sugar content of Nyingchi apples to 12 percent, with vitamin levels 30 percent higher than ordinary apples.
Despite the plateau’s vast territory and relatively high transportation costs, growing apples here actually works out cheaper. Eligible local businesses benefit from a series of government subsidies for freight.
“Transporting apples from Nyingchi to south China’s Guangdong Province is cheaper than from east China’s Shandong Province to Guangdong, for the government subsidies cover nearly half of the transport costs,” added Lin.
Additionally, there are fewer pests on the plateau. In other areas of China, apple cultivation requires bagging to avoid pests, which alone adds 1.2 yuan per kilogram in labor costs.
“In Xizang, we don’t need to bag our apples, and pesticide use is minimal,” said Lin. Nyingchi apples have obtained GLOBAL Good Agricultural Practice certifications and have met the EU’s 533-item pesticide residue testing standards. Even in dried apple products, residue levels are undetectable.
The apples are also precisely categorized into 16 different grades based on sugar content, size and color. Now, people in Xizang are sharing Nyingchi apples with the world, introducing a new market-recognized apple variety.
Apart from Nyingchi, there are 10,000-mu apple orchards in Shannan’s Dranang County and 2,000-mu in Qamdo. A growing number of people beyond the plateau are falling in love with apples grown in Xizang.
“In November, when the apples are ripe, consumers in Singapore will be able to taste the apples from Nyingchi,” Lin said.
You might have heard cannabis and cannabinoid products can help people sleep. Data shows one of the top reasons people use cannabis is to help them sleep.
But there’s a dearth of high-quality research on how medicinal cannabis products actually affect sleep.
To find out more, our research team conducted a small pilot study involving 20 people. We wanted to compare how they slept after using a medicinal cannabis product, compared to a placebo.
We found a single oral dose of a cannabinoid product decreased total sleep time and the time spent in REM sleep (rapid eye movement, which is when we tend to dream). We didn’t observe any change in objective alertness the day after the treatment.
Our study is small and only measured the effect of a single dose, so more research is clearly needed.
But overall, our findings suggest cannabinoids may acutely influence sleep, primarily by suppressing REM sleep, without noticeable next-day impairment.
What we did
All 20 people (16 of whom were female) involved in our study had a clinical diagnosis of insomnia disorder.
This means they reported having challenges falling asleep and/or maintaining sleep and that these disturbances impact day-to-day functioning socially, at work, or in other important areas of life.
The average age of our study participants was about 46 years.
At our lab, the study participants were interviewed by a doctor and had their medical history taken. All participants also underwent an overnight diagnostic sleep study. This was done to confirm their sleeplessness was truly insomnia and not other conditions such as sleep apnoea.
Once the participant was able to start the study, they were asked to sleep for two nights at our lab, with at least one week between those two visits.
On one of their visits, they were given a placebo.
On the other, they were given a single oral dose of a medical-grade cannabis oil containing 10 mg THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the compound responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis) and 200 mg CBD (cannabidiol, which does not produce a “high”).
Using a product with a precise, known dose ensures the results are relevant to what doctors in Australia are already prescribing.
The order in which participants received either the treatment or the placebo was randomised, so they didn’t know which one they were taking.
After taking either the treatment or the placebo, they slept at our lab while wearing a special cap with 256 monitors on it. This high-density electroencephalogram or EEG allowed us to record the electrical activity of the brain while the person slept.
The next morning, after they either woke or were woken, they performed a driving simulation test around the time of their normal morning commute.
They also underwent a test that assessed their ability to stay awake in a quiet, dimly lit environment. To track their alertness throughout the day, they repeated this test four times while wearing the high-density EEG cap. This was so we could test their alertness the day after either the treatment or the placebo.
What we found
Our results were not what we expected.
We found the THC/CBD treatment decreased total sleep time by an average of 24.5 minutes. This was largely driven by a significant impact on REM sleep (the phase associated with dreaming), which not only decreased by an average of 33.9 minutes but also took significantly longer for participants to enter. The treatment also offered no benefit in helping participants stay asleep throughout the night.
Perhaps most intriguingly, this objective worsening of sleep wasn’t reflected in the participants’ own perceptions; they reported no change in their subjective sleep quality. This disconnect continued into the next day.
While participants noted feeling slightly more sleepy after the treatment, their objective alertness – measured by their ability to stay awake in a quiet, dimly lit room – was reassuringly unchanged, as was their cognitive and simulated driving performance.
This leads to a crucial question: if a single dose produces these changes, what are the cumulative effects on a person’s sleep after weeks, months, or years of nightly use?
We simply don’t have the answers yet, especially with a medical-grade cannabis product.
A growing body of research
Our findings underscore a significant gap between the widespread public perception of cannabis for sleep and the complex scientific reality. As highlighted by a review we published in the journal Current Psychiatry Reports, the evidence base remains thin.
We reviewed 21 recent studies (published between 2021 and 2024) of cannabinoids being used for insomnia, subjective sleep impairment, obstructive sleep apnoea, rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder, and restless legs syndrome.
We found that, despite its widespread use, there’s not enough research yet to support the use of medical cannabis to treat sleep disorders.
This is why this kind of research is so vital. It provides the first pieces of a much larger puzzle.
To give doctors and patients the clear guidance they need, there is an urgent need for adequately funded, well-designed clinical trials with larger sample sizes and longer treatment durations to truly understand the long-term impacts of medicinal cannabis on sleep and daytime functioning.
Camilla Hoyos is a Research Leader within the Centre for Sleep and Chronobiology at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research. The Woolcock sleep group received funding from Lambert Initiative of Cannabinoid Therapeutics (a philanthropic centre based at The University of Sydney) for this study and for another unpublished trial in the same space. Woolcock sleep group also received funding to be a site on an industry-sponsored clinical trial on a cannabinoids medicine in insomnia. Camilla Hoyos is also a board member of the Australasian Sleep Association. This study described in this article was a collaboration between the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and Lambert Initiative of Cannabinoid Research.
Anastasia has previously received funding from the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, a philanthropically funded research initiative at the Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney. She has received consulting fees from the Medicinal Cannabis Industry Australia for a commissioned review article and Haleon (a consumer health-care subsidiary of GSK) for non-cannabinoid related work. She is a committee member for the Sleep Health Week Working Party and an expert speaker for the Sleep Health Foundation.
You might have heard cannabis and cannabinoid products can help people sleep. Data shows one of the top reasons people use cannabis is to help them sleep.
But there’s a dearth of high-quality research on how medicinal cannabis products actually affect sleep.
To find out more, our research team conducted a small pilot study involving 20 people. We wanted to compare how they slept after using a medicinal cannabis product, compared to a placebo.
We found a single oral dose of a cannabinoid product decreased total sleep time and the time spent in REM sleep (rapid eye movement, which is when we tend to dream). We didn’t observe any change in objective alertness the day after the treatment.
Our study is small and only measured the effect of a single dose, so more research is clearly needed.
But overall, our findings suggest cannabinoids may acutely influence sleep, primarily by suppressing REM sleep, without noticeable next-day impairment.
What we did
All 20 people (16 of whom were female) involved in our study had a clinical diagnosis of insomnia disorder.
This means they reported having challenges falling asleep and/or maintaining sleep and that these disturbances impact day-to-day functioning socially, at work, or in other important areas of life.
The average age of our study participants was about 46 years.
At our lab, the study participants were interviewed by a doctor and had their medical history taken. All participants also underwent an overnight diagnostic sleep study. This was done to confirm their sleeplessness was truly insomnia and not other conditions such as sleep apnoea.
Once the participant was able to start the study, they were asked to sleep for two nights at our lab, with at least one week between those two visits.
On one of their visits, they were given a placebo.
On the other, they were given a single oral dose of a medical-grade cannabis oil containing 10 mg THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the compound responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis) and 200 mg CBD (cannabidiol, which does not produce a “high”).
Using a product with a precise, known dose ensures the results are relevant to what doctors in Australia are already prescribing.
The order in which participants received either the treatment or the placebo was randomised, so they didn’t know which one they were taking.
After taking either the treatment or the placebo, they slept at our lab while wearing a special cap with 256 monitors on it. This high-density electroencephalogram or EEG allowed us to record the electrical activity of the brain while the person slept.
The next morning, after they either woke or were woken, they performed a driving simulation test around the time of their normal morning commute.
They also underwent a test that assessed their ability to stay awake in a quiet, dimly lit environment. To track their alertness throughout the day, they repeated this test four times while wearing the high-density EEG cap. This was so we could test their alertness the day after either the treatment or the placebo.
What we found
Our results were not what we expected.
We found the THC/CBD treatment decreased total sleep time by an average of 24.5 minutes. This was largely driven by a significant impact on REM sleep (the phase associated with dreaming), which not only decreased by an average of 33.9 minutes but also took significantly longer for participants to enter. The treatment also offered no benefit in helping participants stay asleep throughout the night.
Perhaps most intriguingly, this objective worsening of sleep wasn’t reflected in the participants’ own perceptions; they reported no change in their subjective sleep quality. This disconnect continued into the next day.
While participants noted feeling slightly more sleepy after the treatment, their objective alertness – measured by their ability to stay awake in a quiet, dimly lit room – was reassuringly unchanged, as was their cognitive and simulated driving performance.
This leads to a crucial question: if a single dose produces these changes, what are the cumulative effects on a person’s sleep after weeks, months, or years of nightly use?
We simply don’t have the answers yet, especially with a medical-grade cannabis product.
A growing body of research
Our findings underscore a significant gap between the widespread public perception of cannabis for sleep and the complex scientific reality. As highlighted by a review we published in the journal Current Psychiatry Reports, the evidence base remains thin.
We reviewed 21 recent studies (published between 2021 and 2024) of cannabinoids being used for insomnia, subjective sleep impairment, obstructive sleep apnoea, rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder, and restless legs syndrome.
We found that, despite its widespread use, there’s not enough research yet to support the use of medical cannabis to treat sleep disorders.
This is why this kind of research is so vital. It provides the first pieces of a much larger puzzle.
To give doctors and patients the clear guidance they need, there is an urgent need for adequately funded, well-designed clinical trials with larger sample sizes and longer treatment durations to truly understand the long-term impacts of medicinal cannabis on sleep and daytime functioning.
Camilla Hoyos is a Research Leader within the Centre for Sleep and Chronobiology at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research. The Woolcock sleep group received funding from Lambert Initiative of Cannabinoid Therapeutics (a philanthropic centre based at The University of Sydney) for this study and for another unpublished trial in the same space. Woolcock sleep group also received funding to be a site on an industry-sponsored clinical trial on a cannabinoids medicine in insomnia. Camilla Hoyos is also a board member of the Australasian Sleep Association. This study described in this article was a collaboration between the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and Lambert Initiative of Cannabinoid Research.
Anastasia has previously received funding from the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, a philanthropically funded research initiative at the Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney. She has received consulting fees from the Medicinal Cannabis Industry Australia for a commissioned review article and Haleon (a consumer health-care subsidiary of GSK) for non-cannabinoid related work. She is a committee member for the Sleep Health Week Working Party and an expert speaker for the Sleep Health Foundation.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is banning a crop insecticide, chlorpyrifos, after reassessing the chemical.
The ban will come into effect progressively during an 18-month phase-out period.
Chlorpyrifos is a broad-spectrum organophosphate insecticide used to control pests in pasture and grain crops such as wheat and for biosecurity treatment of pests.
The chemical is banned in the European Union and Canada, and its use is heavily restricted in Australia. It is in the process of being phased out internationally via the Stockholm Convention, of which New Zealand is a signatory.
As part of the reassessment, the EPA considered new information, called for submissions, and held a public hearing. A decision-making committee found that risks to people and the environment of using the insecticide outweighed the benefits.
“Operators spraying the insecticide and bystanders are most at risk from immediate and long-term health issues,” says Dr Shaun Presow, Hazardous Substances Reassessments Manager. “New evidence shows that even full personal and respiratory protective equipment don’t fully mitigate the health risks.
“The health risks for children exposed to chlorpyrifos in particular are concerning, which is why we have put in place an immediate ban on using the chemical in public places,” says Dr Presow.
“Chlorpyrifos also has harmful effects on plants and animals on land and in waterways.”
An EPA decision-making committee set an extended phase-out period for the use of chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-containing substances to allow users to transition to alternative products.
“We acknowledge the concerns of some farmers who will need to find alternatives to chlorpyrifos products to control New Zealand grass grub,” says Dr Presow. “This is why we have approved and extended the 18-month phase-out period for farmers to find other ways to manage native grass grub.
“We are equally mindful of the risks to human health and the environment, and that the phasing out of chlorpyrifos is supported by some industry groups. Furthermore, our international trade partners are already imposing restrictions on the use of chlorpyrifos on food crops.”
From 10 July 2025 the use of chlorpyrifos will be phased out:
– over 18 months for those using the active ingredient to control grass grub
Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
WASHINGTON—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) announced 6 additions to his staff in Tennessee and Washington, D.C. Hagerty’s team continues to be fully operational and serving the great state of Tennessee.
Brian McCormack will soon assume the role of Chief of Staff. McCormack is currently serving as the Chief of Staff for the National Security Council at the White House. Previously, he served at the White House Office of Management and Budget responsible for nearly a dozen agencies and as the Chief of Staff at the Department of Energy. The current Chief of Staff, Adam Telle, was nominated in March by President Trump to serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works where he will oversee the Corps of Engineers.
“I’m glad to have someone of Brian’s caliber and experience to lead this exceptional team. He brings a set of highly-relevant perspectives to the role where the paramount focus is to serve the people of Tennessee and the interests of our nation,” said Senator Bill Hagerty. “Brian’s background and relationships within the Trump Administration will support my objective of making the federal government work for the American people.”
“I’m thankful for the many years of service Adam has put in leading our team from day one in the Senate, which has helped me build a strong foundation for success here in the U.S. Senate going forward,” said Senator Bill Hagerty. “I’m so proud of the opportunity he’s been given to once again serve as an outstanding member of President Trump’s administration, and his management of the Corps of Engineers will bring the responses we’ve seen in my Senate office to bear on an organization central to Tennessee and our nation.”
Robert Donachie is now serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications. Donachie served as Vice President of a Washington, DC-based public relations and literary agency. He spent several years working in the House of Representatives. He also served as the White House correspondent for The Washington Examiner and as a political reporter for The Daily Caller. Donachie has appeared on Fox News Channel, nationally syndicated radio programs, and provided commentary for The New York Times, POLITICO, Newsweek, The Hill, and other outlets.
Tiffany Delgado recently joined as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, replacing Jim Durrett. Delgado served as Senior Vice President of a Washington, DC-based marketing agency specializing in custom targeted voter contact, fundraising and issue advocacy programs, where she was recognized with the Rising Star Award from Campaigns and Elections. Previously she worked at the National Republican Senatorial Committee as the Director of Direct Response. Tiffany holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia, and is currently pursuing her MBA from Georgetown University.
Michael Sullivan will become Senior Advisor to Senator Hagerty, where he will continue to be involved in state operations while also providing strategic advice on the Senator’s larger operation, leveraging Sullivan’s experience to benefit Hagerty’s broader mandate.
Alec Richardson will become the State Director for Senator Hagerty. Currently, he serves as Senior Advisor to Governor Bill Lee and Director of External Affairs at the State of Tennessee. In this role, Richardson is responsible for overseeing strategic operations, managing federal relations, and advising on key legislative issues. He formerly served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Personal Aide to the Governor. He resides in Nashville with his wife and their one-year-old son.
Kalleigh Ahern is now serving as Press & Digital Assistant in the office of U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty. Prior to joining the Senate, she worked as a Public Relations and Communications Intern at a national PR agency, where she contributed to strategic campaign planning, media monitoring and cross-sector client research. Ahern also gained firsthand experience in federal outreach and constituent services while working in her home congressional district in Tennessee. She graduated summa cum laude from The University of Alabama with a focus in public relations and political science.
Serving in the Trump Administration
Adam Telle has been advanced out of the Armed Services Committee and Environment and Public Works Committee to lead the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. Telle has served as Hagerty’s Chief of Staff over the last four years and will continue to serve Hagerty while his nomination is pending before the Senate. Telle served during the first Trump Administration as the White House’s Senate lead in its Office of Legislative Affairs. Prior to that role, Telle served as the top staff member on the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Homeland Security and as the top policy advisor to the late Senator Thad Cochran. Telle holds degrees in computer science and journalism from Mississippi State University.
Jim Durrett is now the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice President and Deputy Assistant to the President. Previously, he served as Deputy Chief of Operations for Senator Hagerty. Durrett is a native of Clarksville, Tennessee.
Luke Pettit has been advanced out of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee to be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Institutions. Pettit has served as Senator Hagerty’s Senior Policy Advisor and will continue to serve Hagerty while his nomination is pending before the Senate. Previously, he worked at the Senate Banking Committee, Bridgewater Associates, and the Federal Reserve. Luke holds a B.A from the University of Pennsylvania, and graduate degrees from the London School of Economics and Johns Hopkins University.
Jonathan Greenstein is nominated to be Deputy Undersecretary of the Treasury for International Finance. Previously, he served as Senator Hagerty’s Senior Policy Advisor. Greenstein is a graduate of Harvard Business School and Yale Law School.
Daniel Zimmerman has been confirmed to be the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs. Zimmerman previously served in a Congressional Executive Fellowship in the office of Senator Hagerty. He previously has held many roles in the agency realm, and holds both a bachelor’s degree from Asbury University and a master’s degree from the Patterson School of Diplomacy at the University of Kentucky.
Julia Hahn is serving as the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Department for the Office of Public Affairs. Hahn joins the Department after serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications for Senator Hagerty. Prior to the Senate, Hahn served in the first Trump White House over all four years, most recently as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy White House Communications Director. Before that, she served as Special Assistant to the President and Director of Rapid Response and Surrogate Operations. Hahn has also worked in media as the Executive Producer of The Laura Ingraham Show and a reporter at Breitbart News. She also worked on Capitol Hill as Press Secretary to former Congressman Dave Brat. Hahn graduated from the University of Chicago with a BA in Philosophy.
Clark Milner is serving as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor for Policy, focusing primarily on domestic policy. Milner formerly served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Chief Counsel to Senator Bill Hagerty. Milner previously served as Deputy Counsel to Governor Bill Lee.
Natalie McIntyre currently serves as a Special Assistant to the President for the Office of Legislative Affairs where she handles the Healthcare, Education, Labor, Banking, and Agriculture portfolio. Previously, she was Senator Hagerty’s Legislative Director overseeing the legislative team and managing the Health, Education, Labor, Pension, and Veterans portfolio. Prior to her role in Hagerty’s office, she was part of the legislative office at OMB where she managed the Senate offices. She also served as a Senior Policy Advisor and White House liaison at ONDCP.
Jason Hoffman is currently the Executive Secretary at the White House Office of Management and Budget. Hoffman formerly served as a Policy Advisor for Senator Hagerty, focusing on homeland security and judiciary issues. Previously, he worked at the Office of Management and Budget during President Trump’s first term and as a Legislative Assistant in the U.S. House of Representatives.Nels Nordquist is serving as Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economic Policy and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council. Nordquist was Senior Fellow for Economic Policy in the office of Senator Hagerty. In addition, his prior service includes as Staff Director for the National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee. From 2018-2021, Nordquist worked in the National Security Council and National Economic Council, first as Director for Trade & Investment and later as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for International Economic Policy. Nordquist graduated from Stanford and earned an MBA from the University of Virginia.
Joel Rayburn is the Trump Administration’s nominee to be Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs. He is a historian, former diplomat, and retired military officer who previously served as special advisor for Middle East affairs in the office of Senator Hagerty. Rayburn is currently a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. In the first Trump Administration, he served as a senior director on the National Security Council staff and, from July 2018 to January 2021, as the U.S. special envoy for Syria. Before joining the State Department, Rayburn served 26 years as a US Army officer and co-authored the Army’s official history of the Iraq War. He holds an MA in history from Texas A&M University and an MS in strategic studies from the National War College.
Kevin Kim serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the State Department’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. He previously worked as a National Security Fellow for Senator Hagerty. Kim was also the Senior Advisor to the Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea as part of the U.S. delegation to the 2020 U.S.-Russia arms control negotiations. From 2018 to 2020, he served as the Chief of Staff to the Special Representative for North Korea and the Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun and worked closely with then-U.S. Ambassador to Japan Hagerty as he participated in various rounds of U.S.-DPRK nuclear negotiations. Kim received a BA from the Johns Hopkins University, MA from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.
Daniel Tirosh now serves on the National Security Council. Tirosh previously served as Deputy National Security Advisor and Counsel for Senator Hagerty. He holds a bachelor’s degree from University of California, Santa Cruz, and graduated from Stanford Law School.
Walton Stivender Mears has taken on a new role as scheduler for Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner. Mears joined HUD earlier this year after serving as Director of Scheduling for Senator Hagerty. She previously handled scheduling and assisted the chief of staff for Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) and as a Staff Assistant for Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL). Mears is a graduate of Auburn University.
J. Cal Mitchell is serving as Special Advisor for the Office of Legislative Affairs at the U.S. Department of Treasury. He joins the Treasury Department after serving as Personal Aide to Senator Hagerty. Mitchell is a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College.
Nick Checker, a former national security fellow for Senator Hagerty, currently serves as Deputy Executive Secretary on the National Security Council. In that role, Checker provides senior-level review of NSC products for substance, policy relevance, and appropriateness for the President and senior White House officials. Checker has spent the last decade prior to his service on Senator Hagerty’s staff at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as a military analyst covering conflicts in the greater Middle East. Most recently, Checker worked in CIA’s office of Congressional Affairs, where he supported the confirmation process for Director John Ratcliffe. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s degree in Security Studies from Georgetown University.
Nicholas Elliot is the Confidential Assistant and Policy Advisor to the President’s Council of Advisors on Digital Assets. Previously, Elliot worked on Senator Hagerty’s 2020 campaign team and spent nearly four years working for Senator Hagerty on the Senator’s financial services and banking portfolio, where he advanced the Senator’s work on the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Elliot is a graduate of Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business where he received a BS in Business Administration with a major in Finance and a minor in Mandarin.
Taylor Asher serves as Senior Policy Advisor to Chairman Paul Atkins. From April 2023 to January 2025, Asher served as Policy Advisor and Confidential Assistant to Commissioner Uyeda. Prior to his time at the SEC, Asher was Personal Aide to Senator Hagerty. His tenure in public service began with Congresswoman Julia Letlow’s Office, where he served as Staff Assistant and Intern Manager. Asher is currently pursuing a Master of Economics at George Mason University. He holds a Master of Finance with an Energy Specialization as well as a Bachelor of Science in Management from Tulane University. He is originally from Nashville, Tennessee.
Cole Bornefeld will be serving as Director of Correspondence for the Office of the Vice President. He previously served as a Legislative Aide to Hagerty, assisting in the Judiciary, Homeland Security, Commerce, and Rules portfolio. Bornefeld previously served as a Legislative Correspondent, Staff Assistant, and Intern in Senator Hagerty’s office. He graduated from Western Kentucky University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and public relations.
WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the State of California, Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and other state officials over California laws that impose burdensome red tape on the production of eggs and poultry products nationally in violation of the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
The laws and regulations challenged by the complaint impose costly requirements on farmers that have the effect of raising egg prices for American consumers by prohibiting farmers across the country from using commonly accepted agricultural methods that helped keep eggs affordable. These laws stand opposed to the Egg Products inspection Act, which sets standards to ensure eggs and egg products are properly labeled and packaged and preempts state laws that impose additional regulatory hurdles.
“Americans across the country have suffered the consequences of liberal policies causing massive inflation for everyday items like eggs,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we will use the full extent of federal law to ensure that American families are free from oppressive regulatory burdens and restore American prosperity.”
“Bureaucratic red tape and unnecessary regulations implemented by the State of California have made the cost of everyday goods, like eggs, less affordable for Americans,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate. “This Department of Justice will work to free consumers from this regulatory burden and bring economic prosperity to families.”
On his first day in office, President Trump directed federal agencies to work to end the “crushing regulatory burden” Americans were experience with the riding costs of every day items. This lawsuit is the latest of Department of Justice actions seeking to protect American consumers from predatory commercial practices and regulatory burdens.
WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the State of California, Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and other state officials over California laws that impose burdensome red tape on the production of eggs and poultry products nationally in violation of the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
The laws and regulations challenged by the complaint impose costly requirements on farmers that have the effect of raising egg prices for American consumers by prohibiting farmers across the country from using commonly accepted agricultural methods that helped keep eggs affordable. These laws stand opposed to the Egg Products inspection Act, which sets standards to ensure eggs and egg products are properly labeled and packaged and preempts state laws that impose additional regulatory hurdles.
“Americans across the country have suffered the consequences of liberal policies causing massive inflation for everyday items like eggs,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we will use the full extent of federal law to ensure that American families are free from oppressive regulatory burdens and restore American prosperity.”
“Bureaucratic red tape and unnecessary regulations implemented by the State of California have made the cost of everyday goods, like eggs, less affordable for Americans,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate. “This Department of Justice will work to free consumers from this regulatory burden and bring economic prosperity to families.”
On his first day in office, President Trump directed federal agencies to work to end the “crushing regulatory burden” Americans were experience with the riding costs of every day items. This lawsuit is the latest of Department of Justice actions seeking to protect American consumers from predatory commercial practices and regulatory burdens.
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
The ACCC will not oppose Lactalis BSA S.A.S. (Lactalis)’s proposed acquisition of Fonterra Co-Operative Group (Fonterra)’s consumer, dairy ingredients and food service businesses.
Lactalis and Fonterra both currently acquire raw milk from dairy farmers in Victoria and Tasmania, as well as processing and supplying a range of dairy products across Australia.
“We looked very closely at the transaction as it will combine two of the largest buyers of raw milk in Victoria and lead to some further consolidation in Tasmania,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.
“While we acknowledge the concerns raised by some representative bodies, after careful consideration we have determined that the acquisition is unlikely to result in a substantial lessening of competition.”
The ACCC found that across Gippsland, the Murray and Western Victoria, alternative buyers of raw milk would continue to constrain Lactalis if the acquisition proceeded.
“We found that while the industry in Tasmania is already concentrated, Lactalis has a limited presence and the acquisition would not substantially alter the market dynamics. If the acquisition proceeded, Lactalis would continue to be constrained by Saputo and, to a lesser extent, Mondelez,” Mr Keogh said.
“Because Fonterra and Lactalis have differing end product mixes, they often seek to acquire milk from farmers with different production profiles. Accordingly, we found that they are not likely to be each other’s closest competitors. This was reflected by analysis which showed very few farmers switched between the two processors.”
The ACCC also concluded that the transaction was unlikely to substantially lessen competition in the wholesale supply of dairy products such as drinking milk, cream, cheese, chilled yellow spreads and dairy ingredients like milk powder.
The differing production focus of Fonterra and Lactalis meant that there was limited overlap between the two in the supply of these products.
For longer-life, readily transportable products such as cheese, dairy ingredients and chilled yellow spreads, the ACCC found that retailers and wholesalers would also continue to benefit from import competition.
“Supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths are also major customers in this market, with significant levels of bargaining power,” Mr Keogh said.
“They also have the ability to sponsor new entry or even enter directly, as Coles has demonstrated through its acquisition of Saputo’s milk processing assets.”
The term “chilled yellow spreads” refers to butter and other products with a similar texture and fat content, such as margarine.
The term “raw milk” refers to unpasteurised cow’s milk, whereas “drinking milk” refers to milk that has been pasteurised to make it safe for human consumption.
Background
The ACCC commenced a review of the proposed acquisition on 2 May 2025. As part of the review, the ACCC consulted industry stakeholders including farmers, dairy groups, retailers and foodservice businesses.
Lactalis BSA S.A.S. is a French multinational dairy group based in Laval, France. Lactalis business activities include acquiring raw milk from farmers and processing it into dairy products and ingredients for domestic consumption and export. In Australia, it owns a range of brands such as Pauls, Vaalia, Oak, Président and Lactalis Foodservice.
Fonterra is a New Zealand-based dairy co-operative which is owned by around 8,000 New Zealand farmers. In Australia, Fonterra processes raw milk acquired from its farmers into various dairy products as part of its ingredients and consumer and food service businesses.
It owns consumer brands such as Western Star, Mainland, and Perfect Italiano, and produces certain Bega Cheese products under licence. It supplies foodservice products via the Anchor Food Professionals brand.
While the ACCC has reviewed the proposed acquisition of Fonterra’s consumer, dairy ingredients and food service businesses by Lactalis, this is not an indication that Lactalis’ bid will ultimately be accepted by the target business.
Whether Fonterra will ultimately accept Lactalis’ bid is a matter for Fonterra.
Refugees settling in Australia feel welcomed by Indigenous communities and believe it is important to respect and learn about first nations’ culture, according to a new survey.
More than half (63 per cent) of respondents said that felt welcomed by Indigenous communities and that it was important to be welcoming to Indigenous Australians, while just 13 per cent said it was not important.
The findings are part of a survey of refugees who have settled in regional Australia, conducted by migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia and the University of Wollongong.
The interim results of the ‘Settling Well’ survey found refugees in the regions feel welcome and safe, and value the peaceful environment regional communities provide in raising children.
The study is a five-year longitudinal comparative assessment of the impacts of refugee settlement in regional Australia.
The study surveyed refugee and established communities in Nhilll, Mildura, Albury-Wodonga, Cowra-Orange, Rockhampton and Townsville.
Mildura based former refugee Jules Kangeta said it was important to respect Indigenous culture.
“I find welcome to country ceremonies very moving. You can see an ancient culture at work and the local Indigenous community are telling us we are welcome,” Mr Kangeta said.
“It is a very generous gesture that shows love and shows that these are good people. The ceremonies are important because the give authority and agency to newcomers, like me, to this country.
“It is important that Indigenous communities are recognised and have a say in the country that was originally theirs,” Mr Kangeta said.
AMES Australia CEO Cath Scarth said refugee and Indigenous communities had many things in common and natural affinity.
“Many people from both communities can, at times, feel marginalised and can struggle to find their places in mainstream society. So, it’s not surprising there is a level of empathy between them,” she said.
The study also found refugees were finding employment opportunities and affordable housing in the regions.
It found refugees valued the lack of congestion in regional Australia and they most planned to stay.
But it also identified issues with a lack of service provision and educational opportunities.
It asked refugees how they felt about life in rural Australia in terms of economic, cultural and social outcomes as well as access to opportunity and health and wellbeing.
The study surveyed 324 people from 25 countries. Most of the participants were from the Democratic republic of Congo, Burma, the Central African Republic, Afghanistan and Bhutan.
“Overall, people feel safe and peaceful in regional Australia. They felt welcomed by, but also a little isolated from, communities mostly because of language barriers,” the report said.
“They like the lack of congestion, and they see regional communities as better places to raise kids because they see them as safer from bad influences. But this also comes with less educational opportunities.
“Many people have been able to buy houses, that would have been out of reach in the cities. And employment opportunities are generally good,” the report said.
Asked if they planned to stay in regional Australia, 75 per cent said they planned to stay long term and just 5 per cent said they did not.
The study found refugees were mostly satisfied with the support they received on settling into new communities.
“We found that individuals – settlement workers, volunteers and community members – were important in helping people to settle,” the report said.
The study also found services in the regions were less accessible that in cities.
“In some communities we found a lack of things like dental services, refugee mental health and immigration lawyers,” the report said.
“We also found that younger adults were missing out on schooling and further educational opportunities.”
The study also identified a lack of English language tuition in secondary settlement locations, where mainstream settlement services are not available.
The study’s preliminary recommendations included: flexible settlement core funding to respond to needs that arise; reassessment of needs after initial settlement, and flexible delivery of English language classes tailored to different aspirations and locations.
Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
Senator Marshall Joins Vince Coglianese to Talk About the Trump Administration’s Action Plan to Ban U.S. Farmland Purchases by China
Washington – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined Vince Coglianese on The VINCE Show to discuss the importance of protecting American farmland from hostile foreign nations, Joe Biden’s doctor being subpoenaed before the House Oversight Committee, and how the Senate will go after leftist institutional programs via the recissions package.
Click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full remarks.
On China buying American farmland and the threat it poses:
“… Farm security, food security, is national security – we take it for granted. China, their nationals, their people, have purchased only about 300,000 acres of land. It’s not the land, but it’s the location that matters. They have land right next to Whiteman Air Force Base. That’s where our B-2 bombers took off from for their mission to Iran. Back home, Fort Riley, Kansas, is near and dear to my heart – they have land close to that. So, it looks like they strategically purchased land next to military bases. So that in and of itself, they can keep track of what’s coming and going, what new drones do we have, all sorts of things, as you can imagine. So, it’s a national security issue.
“But beyond that, let’s talk about the other pieces of national security when it comes to agriculture. It’s the food supply chain, so foreign nationals hold about 1/4 of the protein processing in America, pork processing, and beef processing, to be particular. They’re constantly stealing our intellectual property. We have Chinese nationals in our laboratories, at our universities, so they are a constant threat. The one that really scares me is bioterrorism. You know, the next COVID virus, the next thing that they make in a lab in China, you couldn’t imagine that you’d ever have a hot air balloon floating across America… that could be dropping some type of viral particles that would kill all the cattle in America. So that’s the big concern.”
On the Biden Administration’s failure to act:
“Let’s talk about why the Biden administration just ignored this. I begged them to make the Secretary of Agriculture part of CFIUS. That’s the committee that assesses foreign investments in the United States from a national security standpoint. Yesterday, President Trump made Secretary Rollins part of CFIUS so she can evaluate each one of these purchases on a case-by-case basis. You know who’s really purchasing the land, right? Is it some proxy, or are they really connected to a country of concern as well?
“It is absolutely common sense. We brought this to the Biden Administration as we saw this acceleration of these land purchases. The President has the ability to appoint her, Congress can codify it, and we do have legislation that would codify that appointment, make it permanently legal, so that if, heaven forbid, we have another Joe Biden in office, that he wouldn’t take the Secretary of Agriculture off that off that post.”
On how China has used the land they have purchased:
“I don’t have any insider information, except to say obviously they’re spying on us. It’s an easy spy spot. But I think what’s more important is what the Trump Administration is going to do here. Basically, they’re going to have an executive order that says China, country of origin, cannot buy any further agricultural land in the United States, period. And they’re going to start a program to start taking land back from them. And you know, Governor Huckabee Sanders, down in Arkansas, has already done that. So, states can do things as well. The state laws, the state governors, can move a little bit more quickly on this. So, I would encourage them to get behind this situation as well. So, I think that the Trump administration is moving again, moving agriculture up to a level of national security.”
On Secretary Rollins’ statements around ‘No Amnesty’:
“No amnesty. Period, full stop, end of paragraph, end of sentence, no amnesty. The President made that very clear, and Secretary Rollins reiterated that five times yesterday. Republicans in the Senate are not in favor of amnesty.
“But two points I’d like to make, though. Number one, we could not have ever even had this discussion until the border was secure. It’s amazing, the border is secure again, The One Big, Beautiful Bill is going to build 2000 miles of barrier, and it’s going to fund that border security for the next four years. Usually, we have to fight every year with the Democratic senators on funding that. But we’re going to double the number of ICE removal agents. I think what we heard Secretary Rollins say yesterday is that they’re going to continue to prioritize the 400,000 violent illegal criminals in this country. And that’s why, I think that’s why you saw DHS Secretary Noem there, and you know, all the different secretaries, the Attorney General, were there saying, look, this is all the above problem that we’re trying to solve. We want to make our farmland secure, and we want to make your family safer as well.
On Joe Biden’s physician testifying about the former President’s mental decline:
“You know, I’m a physician as well. I practiced obstetrics and gynecology for 25 years, and maybe I can share a couple analogies from there. Look, this doctor has a legal obligation to come and testify, just like if I had a legal obligation. Let’s say again, I’m an obstetrician. I see a patient in the morning, and she goes out and kills somebody that night. And I’m subpoenaed to the court to come and testify – they would ask me questions. What was her mental status? I’d be obligated to talk about that. Did she say anything that she was interested in killing somebody or herself? I would testify to that.
“Now, if they ask me if she ever had herpes, has she ever had an STD, has she ever had a miscarriage, I would say, look, that’s patient doctor privilege. It has nothing to do with this case, right? But in this situation, this doctor has every obligation to come talk about the, you know, national security issues regarding the neurogenerative decline of one Joe Biden and how there was an abuse of power with the auto-pen. So, I think that’s fair game, that the law trumps his ethical obligation.
On the obligation to know who was really in charge during the Biden-Harris Administration:
“I want my good friend Jamie Comer to go through with this trial. I’m just telling us not to overplay our hand. We cannot stop talking about all the great victories under President Trump, that we’re doing as well. We cannot make this the focus of the Republican Party, but absolutely this doctor absolutely has an obligation to talk about the neurodegenerative decline of one Joe Biden… this is an impact on national security. I think that Congressman Comer is well within his constitutional rights to come in and say, did this President put us at some type of national security threat level? Who was really planned this Afghanistan evacuation debacle? Are there any types of notes? I want to see the notes as the auto pin signed all these pardons. Is there a discussion, you know, with the President that records some of those as well? That would be minimal that I would want to see. So, where there’s smoke, there’s fire, full speed ahead. But we got a great story to tell beyond just Joe Biden’s decline.”
On the legislation to cut funding to PBS and NPR:
“I think it’ll come to the floor next week, but I’m embarrassed to tell you that there’s people, Senate Republicans, that are having heartburn about it. Look to your point, $37 trillion of national debt, a trillion dollars a year on interest, and the Senate doesn’t have the kahones to cut $9 billion of total waste, fraud, and abuse. When I sat down with Elon Musk the first time, I gave him a list of the top 10 things that Doge should do, USAID was the top of it, and I put beside it, ‘burn it to the ground.’ Based upon my experiences traveling, seeing what USAID was doing, I knew that there was a lot of fraud and abuse going on with it.
“And this is also going to defund National Public Radio, Television as well. Look, Kansans back home are tired of their taxpayer money being spent on basically one propaganda unit for the left, right. So, but, but it’s we’ve got some heartburn going on here. Hopefully, we can get it through.”
On why it’s time to cut funding to USAID, NPR, and PBS:“For over 20 years, we have spent billions of dollars treating people for AIDS in Africa. And I’m so glad we got to do it, but do we need to keep spending a billion dollars a year on that? When does Africa take care of their own problems? When are they going to realize what’s causing AIDS, that there’s ways to prevent it, other than taking a medicine that costs tens of thousands of dollars a month as well. So that’s one piece, the humanitarian part of it as well.
“And look, there are some moderates within the Republican Party that think National Public Radio should be funded by the government. I disagree. And with today’s media opportunities. I don’t see why the federal government needs to be subsidizing anybody out there in the media, let alone someone who’s so biased as NPR is.”
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The following issues are planned to be considered at the meeting:
1. On the national report on the progress and results of the implementation in 2024 of the State Program for the Development of Agriculture and Regulation of Agricultural Products, Raw Materials and Food Markets
The national report is presented by the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia and is a public form of reporting and monitoring of the implementation of the goals, objectives, indicators and targets of the state program.
2. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 924067–8 “On Amendments to the Budget Code of the Russian Federation”
The draft amendments are aimed at clarifying the provisions of the draft federal law adopted by the State Duma in the first reading.
3. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 782260–8 “On Amendments to Part One of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation and Articles 12 and 30 of the Federal Law “On Enforcement Proceedings”
The draft amendments are aimed at taking into account the comments and suggestions made during the consideration of the bill in the first reading in the State Duma.
4. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” (in terms of establishing additional grounds for reviewing court decisions that have entered into legal force)
The adoption of the bill will bring the provisions of the Civil Procedure Code, the Arbitration Procedure Code and the Code of Administrative Procedure into line with the legal position of the Constitutional Court.
5. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 487723–8 “On Amendments to Articles 194 and 202 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation”
The draft amendments are aimed at improving the procedure for granting a license to carry out entrepreneurial activity in the management of apartment buildings.
6. On the allocation of budgetary appropriations from the reserve fund of the Government of the Russian Federation to the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia in 2025 for the provision of a subsidy from the federal budget to the budget of the Tula Region in 2025
The draft order is aimed at co-financing the expenditure obligations of the Tula region arising from the implementation of measures to create the infrastructure of the innovative scientific and technological center “Innovative Scientific and Technological Center “Composite Valley”.
Moscow, July 9, 2025
The content of the press releases of the Department of Press Service and References is a presentation of materials submitted by federal executive bodies for discussion at a meeting of the Government of the Russian Federation.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
1. On the national report on the progress and results of the implementation in 2024 of the State Program for the Development of Agriculture and Regulation of Agricultural Products, Raw Materials and Food Markets
The national report is presented by the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia and is a public form of reporting and monitoring of the implementation of the goals, objectives, indicators and targets of the state program.
2. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 924067–8 “On Amendments to the Budget Code of the Russian Federation”
The draft amendments are aimed at clarifying the provisions of the draft federal law adopted by the State Duma in the first reading.
3. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 782260–8 “On Amendments to Part One of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation and Articles 12 and 30 of the Federal Law “On Enforcement Proceedings”
The draft amendments are aimed at taking into account the comments and suggestions made during the consideration of the bill in the first reading in the State Duma.
4. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” (in terms of establishing additional grounds for reviewing court decisions that have entered into legal force)
The adoption of the bill will bring the provisions of the Civil Procedure Code, the Arbitration Procedure Code and the Code of Administrative Procedure into line with the legal position of the Constitutional Court.
5. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 487723–8 “On Amendments to Articles 194 and 202 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation”
The draft amendments are aimed at improving the procedure for granting a license to carry out entrepreneurial activity in the management of apartment buildings.
6. On the allocation of budgetary appropriations from the reserve fund of the Government of the Russian Federation to the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia in 2025 for the provision of a subsidy from the federal budget to the budget of the Tula Region in 2025
The draft order is aimed at co-financing the expenditure obligations of the Tula region arising from the implementation of measures to create the infrastructure of the innovative scientific and technological center “Innovative Scientific and Technological Center “Composite Valley”.
Moscow, July 9, 2025
The content of the press releases of the Department of Press Service and References is a presentation of materials submitted by federal executive bodies for discussion at a meeting of the Government of the Russian Federation.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The cold winter snaps might make it hard to get out and about, but new research led by the University of South Australia has found that frequently attending in-person events can significantly boost wellbeing.
A study by tourism and event management experts at UniSA and Flinders University has found that regularly attending events such as festivals, exhibitions, sporting events, farmer’s markets and food events can lead to greater positive emotions and feelings such as joy, contentment, happiness and excitement.
It is also significantly related to higher levels of engagement and being fully absorbed and immersed in an activity, so time seems to slip away unnoticed.
Researchers surveyed more than 350 South Australians about how often they attended in-person and online events and how this related to their wellbeing.
The results revealed an association between the frequency of attending in-person events and higher well-being through higher levels of positive emotions, such as joy, happiness and excitement, as well as a stronger sense of being absorbed in an activity.
UniSA’s Associate Professor Sunny Son says although it is often claimed that event experiences can enhance people’s wellbeing, there is limited research examining their overall impact.
“Our study took a holistic approach by looking at the relationships between attending events and wellbeing. We found evidence that attending events can meaningfully improve individuals’ wellbeing, encouraging communities to leverage events to improve general well-being,” she says.
“Wellbeing has become an increasingly important focus for individuals and communities and is linked to many benefits related to health, work, family and community.
“Previous studies have shown that higher levels of wellbeing can lead to a reduced risk of illness and injury and increase longevity. People with high levels of wellbeing tend to perform better in the workplace and contribute positively to their community, so it’s important not only for public health but also for building strong socially sustainable and connected communities.”
The study also found that attending virtual events – such as an online concert or livestream experience – contributes to people’s sense of accomplishment. However, unlike in-person events, virtual events have no impact on other dimensions of wellbeing.
Flinders University Senior Lecturer Dr Eliza Kitchen says organisations can take advantage of the benefits of in-person events by incorporating them into employee reward programs, inviting clients, partners or other stakeholders to events or distributing free event tickets to staff.
“These strategies not only enhance employee satisfaction and morale but also foster a more engaged and productive workforce,” she says.
“We believe that universities and schools can also use events to support student wellbeing, which is particularly important given the high prevalence of mental health issues among young people.
“Special events can provide students with valuable opportunities to interact with one another, relieve stress and achieve personal growth. This is also the case for local councils who can host free events to help their residents to connect with their neighbours and foster a stronger sense of community, support and wellbeing.”
“What we found is that events do much more than just drive tourism and boost the economy; they also play a critical role in enhancing wellbeing. This gives us another strong reason to support events, not just for visitors, but for the benefits of locals as well.’
Fertilizer Canada and Alberta Grains have developed a 4R memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines how Agriculture and Irrigation, the agriculture industry and farmers can work together to bolster data collection and communication to increase 4R practice adoption levels. The MOU, a three-year agreement, was signed by Agriculture and Irrigation, Environment and Protected Areas, Alberta Grains and Fertilizer Canada.
The objectives of the MOU are to improve production and environmental stewardship through greater awareness of 4R practices and principles. It also aims to establish mechanisms to pursue common objectives and priorities related to soil health/quality and nutrient management, and to support the Alberta government’s commitments to the crop industry’s sustainable growth.
“I’m so happy to announce the government’s MOU with Fertilizer Canada and Alberta Grains, set to increase awareness of 4R principles and practices. The bottom line is that this approach helps producers minimize nutrient losses and supports profitable and sustainable crop production in Alberta while protecting and conserving Alberta’s soil, water and air. Together we can continue to build and support an innovative and thriving agriculture sector.”
Properly managed fertilizers support cropping systems that provide economic, social and environmental benefits for Alberta farmers. This MOU will help farmers adopt science-based nutrient stewardship practices in Alberta. It also tells the world that we grow our food in an environmentally sustainable way.
“This memorandum of understanding reflects a strong, shared commitment to sustainability through 4R Nutrient Stewardship from industry, government and the agriculture sector. We are proud to collaborate with the Government of Alberta and Alberta Grains, who are dedicated and forward-thinking partners to support Alberta farmers and advance both the environmental and economic benefits that 4R practices deliver.”
“As a farmer, I’m always looking for ways to make the most efficient use of my inputs and improve the overall viability of my operation. Alberta farmers are already leading the way in responsible fertilizer use, and this MOU helps build on that by strengthening the tools and metrics we use to continue to measure progress. This commitment is a great example of industry and government working together to support practical tools that benefit farmers in the field that allow us to better demonstrate our stewardship to domestic and global customers who buy Alberta grains and other crops.”
Programs like Alberta’s Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership On-Farm Efficiency program support producers in meeting 4R nutrient stewardship objectives.
Quick facts
4R Nutrient Stewardship, established and championed by Fertilizer Canada, is a science-based suite of best management practices for farmers that optimize nutrient uptake by using the right source of nutrient at the right rate, right time and in the right place.
Fertilizer Canada has signed 4R memorandum of cooperations with Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec, and 4R MOUs with Manitoba and Prince Edward Island.
According to Fertilizer Canada’s 2024 Fertilizer Use Survey, 65 per cent of farmers in Alberta self-report that they comply with at least a basic level of 4R practices.
In 2024, 2,152,586 acres in Alberta were reported as 4R.
overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that four New York State Police staff and three canines will deploy to Kerr County, Texas to support search efforts following devastating floods. This assistance was primarily deployed as part of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), the nation’s all-hazards national mutual aid system. EMAC has been ratified by the U.S. Congress (PL 104-321) and is law in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands. EMAC’s Members can share resources from all disciplines, protect personnel who deploy and be reimbursed for mission-related costs.
“Our hearts break for the tragic loss of life in Texas, and we are sending our prayers as they continue to heal and recover from this devastating flooding,” Governor Hochul said. “New York State is committed to helping those in need, and I am grateful for our State Police personnel who will be assisting officials in Kerr County as they continue their search efforts.”
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “Disaster recovery requires an immense amount of resources and we are grateful to be able to answer the call to help when needed. New York is always prepared to support our neighbors in moments of need, and our thoughts are with the people of Texas.”
New York State Superintendent Steven G. James said, “The New York State Police is proud to support the people of Texas during this difficult time. Our Troopers and canines are trained for exactly these types of missions, and we are honored to assist in the search and recovery efforts. Whether here at home or across the country, we stand ready to help when called.”
New York State has a history of deploying resources to neighbors in need. In 2024, More than 200 emergency management staff members from numerous State agencies responded to calls for help in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida following Hurricanes Helene and Milton in October and November. Team members included staff from the National Guard, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Police, Thruway Authority, Agriculture and Markets, Office of Information Technology Services, New York City and Ulster and Montgomery counties.
Green hydrogen is touted by some as the future – a way for Australia to slowly replace its reliance on fossil fuel exports. The energy-dense gas has the potential to reduce emissions in sectors challenging to decarbonise, such as steelmaking and fertiliser manufacturing.
The Albanese government wants it to be a massive new export industry and has laid out a pathway through its National Hydrogen Strategy.
Unfortunately, there’s a real gap between rhetoric and reality. Despite ambitious plans, no green hydrogen project has yet succeeded in Australia. The technology’s most prominent local backer, billionaire miner Twiggy Forrest, has dialled down his ambition. Globally, just 7% of announced green hydrogen projects are up and running.
Economic viability is one problem. But there’s a much larger issue flying under the radar: water. Hitting the 2050 target of 15 million to 30 million tonnes of hydrogen a year would use 7–15% of the amount Australia’s households, farms, mines and black coal power plants use annually. That’s simply not sustainable.
Splitting water
Green hydrogen uses renewable energy to power electrolyser machines, which split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.
On the surface, this is an appealing use of clean energy, especially during solar peak periods.
But what the government hasn’t properly accounted for is the water cost for green hydrogen. The strategy states water use is likely to be “considerable but not prohibitive”.
This is questionable. For every kilogram of hydrogen produced through electrolysis, nine litres of water are directly consumed.
That’s not all. The water needed to make hydrogen has to be extremely pure. Salt water has to be desalinated, and even fresh water needs purification. Equipment also needs cooling, which consumes even more water.
All these processes incur substantial indirect water losses, such as the water used for industrial processes and cooling. The volumes used are highly uncertain. They can be up to 20 times greater than the direct water use.
A key input value for the government’s hydrogen strategy modelling is taken from a 2015 report by the Argonne National Energy Laboratory in the United States, which assumes each kilogram of green hydrogen produced requires just over 30 litres of water.
The Australian hydrogen strategy suggests 30 litres per kilogram of hydrogen would cover “all system losses including purification processes and cooling water required”. But it’s not clear if this figure covers other uses of water in making hydrogen, such as water treatment.
Green hydrogen could help industrial sectors transition from fossil fuels. The problem is the water use. Audio und werbung/Shutterstock
How much water would this use?
According to the government’s modelling, making 15 million tonnes would require 740 billion litres of water. That would be about 7% of the 10,450 billion litres used by all of Australia’s households, farms, mines and black coal power plants.
That’s substantial. One and a half Sydney Harbours worth, every year. But it might be a major underestimate. After all, estimates on indirect water use differ widely. The government’s figures are at the very bottom of the range.
For instance, the latest research gives water consumption figures of about 66 litres per kilogram – more than twice as large. Other sourcesgive values between 90 and 300 litres per kilogram of hydrogen – three to ten times higher.
Uncertainty in modelling is normal. But the wide research suggesting much higher water use should give rise to real concern.
If we take a middle-of-the-range figure of 95 litres per kilogram, this would mean that making 15 million tonnes of green hydrogen would use up 22% of the 10,450 billion litres used by households, farms, mines and black coal power plants annually by 2050.
If hydrogen was even thirstier at 310 litres per kilogram, that would translate to 72% of that figure.
These estimates are enormous. Even under the most optimistic scenario, the draw on Australia’s scarce freshwater resources would simply be too much. Where would this water come from? Farmers? Groundwater? Environmental flows from rivers?
As the Queensland Farmers Federation pointed out in its response to the hydrogen strategy, the figures on water use “beg the question if they are in fact sustainable”.
The Water Services Association of Australia has called for much greater attention to the water demands of green hydrogen, which it says are “often seriously underestimated”.
What about saltwater? Australia has no shortage of oceans. The problem here becomes energy and wastewater. Desalination is still very energy intensive. Converting saltwater to fresh also produces large volumes of super-salty brine, which must then be managed as waste.
Which way forward?
Does this mean green hydrogen is a non-starter? Not necessarily. Improved electrolyser technology might offer ways to slash water use, while circular economy approaches such as resource recovery from brine could also reduce losses.
But these concerns about water must be front and centre in future discussions about the shape and size of the industry in Australia.
Madoc Sheehan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United States Small Business Administration
ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in New Jersey of the Aug. 11 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by drought and excessive heat occurring June 1, 2024.
The disaster declaration covers the New Jersey counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean as well as counties of Bucks and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania.
Under this declaration SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and PNPs with 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 small 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.
“Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”
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 Aug. 11, 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
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today the opening of Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOC) in Douglas County to assist small businesses, private nonprofit (PNP) organizations and residents affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides occurring March 13-20. Beginning Monday, July 14, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in Myrtle Creek and Drain to answer questions and assist with the disaster loan application process. No appointment is necessary, walk-ins are welcome. Those who prefer to schedule an in-person appointment in advance can do so at appointment.sba.gov.
The centers’ hours of operation are as follows:
DOUGLAS COUNTY Disaster Loan Outreach Center Myrtle Creek Community Center 425 NW Second Ave. Myrtle Creek, OR 97457 Opens at 9:00 a.m., Monday, July 14 Monday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Permanently closes at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 15
DOUGLAS COUNTY Disaster Loan Outreach Center Drain Civic Center Meeting Room 205 West A Ave. Drain, OR 97435 Opens at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 16 Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Permanently closes at 4:00 p.m., Thursday, July 17
The following DLOC locations are open on the days and times as shown below:
COOS COUNTY Disaster Loan Outreach Center Myrtle Point City Hall Conference Room 424 Fifth St. Myrtle Point, OR 97458 Opens at 9:00 a.m., Thursday, July 10 Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Permanently closes at 4:30 p.m., Friday, July 11
DOUGLAS COUNTY Disaster Loan Outreach Center Roseburg Public Safety Center Third Floor – Salmon Conference Room 303 700 SE Douglas Ave. Roseburg, OR 97470 Mondays – Fridays, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
“When disasters strike, SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Centers perform an important role by assisting small businesses and their communities,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the U.S. Small Business Administration. “At these centers, our SBA specialists help business owners and residents apply for disaster loans and learn about the full range of programs available to support their recovery.”
Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.
Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.
The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofit organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to these disasters. 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.
Interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses, 3.625% for nonprofits, and 2.75% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA determines eligibility and 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 filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Aug. 25, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is March 24, 2026.
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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.
WASHINGTON—This week, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson wrote an op-ed in the Washington Reporter regarding securing a stable, legal workforce for American agriculture. “President Trump recently emphasized his commitment to protecting America’s farmers while removing violent criminals who have no place in our country. He is absolutely right. Our focus should remain on deporting dangerous criminals, not law-abiding farmers and ranchers. Let me be clear: making meaningful reforms to the H-2A visa program and establishing a strong, legal immigration workforce for agricultural producers is not an amnesty deal. Our country needs a stable labor force to protect our food supply and ensure farmers can continue to do their jobs.” The full op-ed is available here and below. Whether we realize it or not, every American depends on agriculture every single day. From the milk in our morning coffee to the produce on our dinner plates, our farmers and ranchers help meet the needs of millions of Americans. Idaho is home to nearly 25,000 farms and ranches, producing more than 185 commodities. As the representative of one of the most productive agricultural districts in the nation, I have been proud to fight for the interests of farmers and ranchers in Washington. However, as I’ve spoken with farmers over the years, the most common issue brought to my attention is the need for a stable and reliable agricultural workforce. Agriculture throughout the nation faces a growing workforce crisis. If Congress doesn’t act to reform our agricultural immigration system, all Americans will feel the painful impact. That said, Americans nationwide felt the impact of President Biden’s disastrous open-border policies. Reforming this comprehensive immigration policy to create a stable and legal workforce was impossible under the Biden administration because President Biden’s policies created an unprecedented crisis. President Trump entered the Oval Office and secured the southern border. His administration has taken the necessary steps to remove dangerous illegal immigrants from our communities. It has sent a clear message to these individuals that they are no longer welcome to come into the United States. Our country is once again prioritizing the safety of border patrol agents, rural communities, and American families. President Trump recently emphasized his commitment to protecting America’s farmers while removing violent criminals who have no place in our country. He is absolutely right. Our focus should remain on deporting dangerous criminals, not law-abiding farmers and ranchers. Let me be clear: making meaningful reforms to the H-2A visa program and establishing a strong, legal immigration workforce for agricultural producers is not an amnesty deal. Our country needs a stable labor force to protect our food supply and ensure farmers can continue to do their jobs. That’s why I have long supported the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, a bipartisan solution that will protect our farms and the nation’s food supply. This legislation is a common-sense fix to one of the most urgent challenges facing our farmers and ranchers. It has a record of bipartisan support, passing the House in both the 116th and 117th Congresses. This bill addresses undocumented workers, reforms the H-2A program to provide more flexibility for employers, consolidates the H-2A filing process, expands the H-2A program to include dairy and other year-round agricultural employment, and reduces labor costs by freezing wages for one year and capping future growth. Importantly, this bill does not circumvent the requirements to search for domestic workers first and maintains that employers looking to utilize the H-2A program must demonstrate that efforts to recruit U.S. workers were unsuccessful. Additionally, the bill establishes a mandatory E-Verify system for all agricultural employment once the H-2A reforms are enacted, ensuring that future workers are authorized to be in the country. For anyone who doubts the importance of enacting the reforms in this legislation, I encourage them to speak with the people who farm and produce the food they put on tables nationwide. Additionally, I would like to ask: how much are you willing to pay for a gallon of milk? $4? $8? $12? $15? Farmers and producers are looking for certainty. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act provides the certainty they are seeking. And now that we finally have an administration that takes the border crisis and immigration seriously, it’s time for Congress to do its part. President Trump has always stood with our farmers, and I believe he is the only President with the courage to lead on this issue. I am ready to work with my colleagues in both parties to get the Farm Workforce Modernization Act across the finish line and to the President’s desk for his signature. Our farmers, ranchers, and producers feed and clothe the nation. For that, they deserve our action. It’s well past time we address this crisis, and President Trump has our support.
On Wednesday, MEPs stressed that cohesion and agriculture policies must remain strong and distinct in the EU’s long-term budget (MFF), ahead of next week’s Commission proposal.
Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration Piotr Serafin told MEPs “we are united in belief that EU budget has to be modernised, the world around us is changing rapidly, and new challenges require smarter responses.” This means, he said, a more flexible and simple multiannual financial framework (MFF). In the search for flexibility, predictability must be preserved as well, he added, noting that the national and regional partnership plans could help achieve that. The EU must also face the debate on new revenue sources, as from 2028 onwards, around €25 billion will be committed annually to repaying loans from the NextGenerationEU instrument. He advocated new revenues that neither overburden national budgets, nor create extensive financial obligations
Siegfried Mureșan (EPP, RO), co-rapporteur for the MFF file, said that, while the budget needs to be open to unexpected developments, it must also offer certainty to those who invest and keep the economy going, and to farmers, students, researchers and small and medium-sized enterprises. Mureșan said the “Parliament’s utmost priority is that the identity and strength of the common agriculture and cohesion policies be preserved.” This entails a distinct budget for farmers, separate legal bases for cohesion and agriculture, and a clear role for regions in cohesion policy. “You cannot have security without food security and you cannot have a competitive economy without an investment policy. This is why our traditional policies, the common agriculture policy and the cohesion policy are today more relevant than ever,” he said. Mureșan added that the EU also needs to improve its security and defence, for which only 1.2% of the previous MFF was allocated. “Our new priorities have to be security, defence, and competitiveness, and these are interlinked,” Mureșan said.
Article 162 of the EU Treaty underscores that it is a key instrument to strengthen the social dimension of the EU. “Nor do we want to fragment cohesion policy, which must continue to be the EU’s main investment tool“, she said, noting that only if the current financing level is maintained can the EU stay competitive and resilient.
During the debate, MEPs also asked the Commission to focus on modernisation and reform, ensure simplification and transparency, cut bureaucracy and insist on efficiency and better spending of available resources. They insisted the new EU budget should be able to tackle current challenges in agriculture, deal with migration, protect cohesion and enhance growth without hurting employment and social standards. Some speakers insisted on involving regional and local authorities and non-profit sector institutions in budget decision-making to ensure a balanced and inclusive outcome for the benefit of EU citizens.
Others called for new own resources for the EU and increased investment, including private investment in defence, green and social objectives and infrastructure. The Commission should, in their view, take citizens’ concerns seriously and enhance the fight against poverty and climate change, support education, health and research, and boost innovation, energy and digital security.
Background
Parliament adopted its priorities on the post-2027 long-term budget during the May plenary session. The co-rapporteurs will hold a press conference on Tuesday 15 July at 09:30 in the Parliament’s press conference room in Brussels, on Parliament’s key points ahead of the Commission’s proposal expected the next day. To be adopted, the next long-term budget will need the approval of the Parliament, granted by a majority of its component members.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
A local man was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for 20 months at the District Court today (July 9) for illegal possession of local wild and endangered turtles. The case marks the first time that the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has successfully applied to the court under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 455) for enhanced sentencing for the charge of illegal possession of endangered species.
A spokesman for the AFCD said that the offender was active on social media platforms and instant messenger groups, posting messages about poaching wild animals online and offering regulated species of unknown origin for sale through these groups. In July 2023, the AFCD and the Police mounted a joint operation and seized 29 endangered turtles from the offender’s residential premises in Tai Po District, including 14 big-headed turtles (Platysternon megacephalum) listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix I; two yellow-margined box turtles (Cuora flavomarginata), four Southeast Asian box turtles (Cuora amboinensis), two giant Asian pond turtles (Heosemys grandis) and four wattle-necked softshell turtles (Palea steindachneri), listed in CITES Appendix II; and three Reeve’s turtles (Mauremys reevesii) listed in CITES Appendix III. All the turtles are listed as “Endangered” or “Critically Endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, and regulated under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586). Scientific testing confirmed that all seized big-headed turtles were taken from the wild in Hong Kong and are protected under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170).
The man was prosecuted on three charges for illegal possession of Appendix I and Appendix II endangered species, as well as illegal possession of live protected wild animals taken in Hong Kong. The offender was convicted today at the District Court. The AFCD applied to the court for an enhanced sentence under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance. The application was accepted by the court, and the sentence was increased by 25 per cent. The defendant was sentenced to immediate imprisonment for 20 months.
The spokesman added, “Illegal possession of endangered species is a serious offence. Any person who contravenes the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance is liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years, and the specimens will also be forfeited upon conviction. In addition, the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance also stipulates that unless otherwise permitted, no one shall hunt, wilfully disturb, buy, sell, export, offer for sale or export, possess or control protected wild animals (including all wild chelonians). Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year upon conviction.”
The spokesman added that the Government is committed to combating illegal hunting of and trading in wild animals to protect local wild species and endangered species. The AFCD will remain vigilant and continue to monitor information on various platforms and social media, and proactively take enforcement action against illegal trade in endangered species.
Members of the public may call 1823 to report any suspected irregularities to the AFCD and visit the AFCD website at www.cites.hk regarding the control of endangered species in Hong Kong.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
A local man was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for 20 months at the District Court today (July 9) for illegal possession of local wild and endangered turtles. The case marks the first time that the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has successfully applied to the court under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 455) for enhanced sentencing for the charge of illegal possession of endangered species.
A spokesman for the AFCD said that the offender was active on social media platforms and instant messenger groups, posting messages about poaching wild animals online and offering regulated species of unknown origin for sale through these groups. In July 2023, the AFCD and the Police mounted a joint operation and seized 29 endangered turtles from the offender’s residential premises in Tai Po District, including 14 big-headed turtles (Platysternon megacephalum) listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix I; two yellow-margined box turtles (Cuora flavomarginata), four Southeast Asian box turtles (Cuora amboinensis), two giant Asian pond turtles (Heosemys grandis) and four wattle-necked softshell turtles (Palea steindachneri), listed in CITES Appendix II; and three Reeve’s turtles (Mauremys reevesii) listed in CITES Appendix III. All the turtles are listed as “Endangered” or “Critically Endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, and regulated under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586). Scientific testing confirmed that all seized big-headed turtles were taken from the wild in Hong Kong and are protected under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170).
The man was prosecuted on three charges for illegal possession of Appendix I and Appendix II endangered species, as well as illegal possession of live protected wild animals taken in Hong Kong. The offender was convicted today at the District Court. The AFCD applied to the court for an enhanced sentence under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance. The application was accepted by the court, and the sentence was increased by 25 per cent. The defendant was sentenced to immediate imprisonment for 20 months.
The spokesman added, “Illegal possession of endangered species is a serious offence. Any person who contravenes the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance is liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years, and the specimens will also be forfeited upon conviction. In addition, the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance also stipulates that unless otherwise permitted, no one shall hunt, wilfully disturb, buy, sell, export, offer for sale or export, possess or control protected wild animals (including all wild chelonians). Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year upon conviction.”
The spokesman added that the Government is committed to combating illegal hunting of and trading in wild animals to protect local wild species and endangered species. The AFCD will remain vigilant and continue to monitor information on various platforms and social media, and proactively take enforcement action against illegal trade in endangered species.
Members of the public may call 1823 to report any suspected irregularities to the AFCD and visit the AFCD website at www.cites.hk regarding the control of endangered species in Hong Kong.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak held a meeting of the headquarters on the situation on the domestic oil products market with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Energy, the Federal Antimonopoly Service, the Ministry of Agriculture, Russian Railways, heads of the St. Petersburg Stock Exchange, oil companies, and State Duma deputies.
The parties discussed the current situation on the oil products market during the period of increased summer demand, the terms of their sales on the St. Petersburg Exchange, as well as the supply of fuel to agricultural producers.
According to the Ministry of Energy, prices for diesel fuel and gasoline remain stable, within the inflation rate. Deliveries to agricultural producers during the harvesting campaign are going according to plan, all requests from farmers are being satisfied. A representative of the Federal Antimonopoly Service noted the need to increase gasoline supplies to exchange trading to ensure market balance.
Alexander Novak instructed the Ministry of Energy and the Federal Antimonopoly Service to assess the marginality of gas stations taking into account the mandatory costs of gas stations, and Russian Railways to solve the problem of empty wagons standing idle after unloading goods. This will help ensure timely loading and removal of petroleum products by oil companies to consumers. Oil companies have been instructed to promptly remove refineries from repairs and meet planned fuel production targets.
“We cannot allow a sharp increase in gasoline prices. I ask the Ministry of Energy, together with oil companies, to keep their finger on the pulse and manually balance the supply of fuel to the market in order to meet the increased demand of consumers in the summer and early autumn months. To do this, it is necessary to ensure its uniform sale on the exchange, and also not allow oil companies to purchase goods from each other on the exchange. They must purchase petroleum products under direct contracts,” said Alexander Novak.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Peste des petits ruminants (PPR, also known as sheep and goat plague) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting goats, sheep, camels and wild ruminants. With a mortality rate of up to 90 %, the disease causes severe economic losses, threatening food security and livelihoods. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates annual global losses to stand at €1.3 billion to €2 billion. Since its first occurrence in Bulgaria in 2018, PPR has caused significant losses in Greece, Romania and, more recently, Albania. To address this worrisome situation, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the FAO launched a strategy aimed at eradicating the disease by 2030. The strategy, which was officially launched in 2015 and endorsed by 70 countries, integrates vaccination, diagnostics and veterinary system strengthening. While live-attenuated vaccines (vaccines using weakened live disease-causing pathogens) are available and offer three or more years of protection, it is not possible to serologically distinguish vaccinated from infected animals, which is a crucial difference in eradication strategies. PPR has profound economic and trade impacts, and recent outbreaks within the European Union (EU) have underscored the urgency of transboundary disease management. Effective collaboration between global and EU frameworks, alongside community engagement and innovation, remains critical to achieving PPR eradication and safeguarding smallholder livelihoods. The European Parliament has been advocating for robust policies to address animal health threats.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Almaty, July 9 (Xinhua) — The Almosi Valley in Tajikistan’s Gissar district has been officially recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as a “globally important agricultural heritage system,” the Khovar news agency reported on Wednesday, citing the press center of the FAO office in Tajikistan.
The corresponding decision was made at the meeting of the FAO scientific advisory group held in Rome on July 7-8. The Almosi Valley has become the first and only site in Central Asia with the status of “globally important agricultural heritage system”.
“Until now, only 12 sites in the Europe and Central Asia region have been included in FAO’s Agricultural Heritage List… Now, the Almosi Valley in Tajikistan has joined them, becoming a bridge between Central Asia’s rich natural and cultural heritage and the international community,” said Kaveh Zahedi, Director of FAO’s Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment Division. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: United States Small Business Administration
ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in New Jersey of the Aug. 11 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by drought and excessive heat occurring June 25, 2024.
The disaster declaration covers the New Jersey counties of Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Union, and Warren as well as county of Bucks in Pennsylvania.
Under this declaration SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and PNPs with 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 small 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.
“Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”
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 Aug. 11, 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 Joni Ernst (R-IA)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, are working to mitigate flood risk and improve water quality by ensuring farmers, landowners, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can work together to restore and maintain floodplains.
The bipartisan Restoring America’s Floodplains Act would make clear that the USDA can assist landowners in maintaining floodplain easements in the Emergency Watershed Protection Program by taking part in restoration activities like removing levees and replanting native species that are critical for reducing flood risk and improving natural habitat.
“I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impacts flooding can have on our communities in Iowa, and my heart goes out to all those who have been impacted by destructive natural disasters,” said Senator Ernst. “I’m proud to be working on a bipartisan solution to proactively reduce these impacts that will use existing tools at no additional cost to taxpayers while also improving water quality and protecting our valuable land.”
“The Restoring America’s Floodplains Act will give USDA the tools it needs to help Colorado farmers and landowners reduce flood risk across the state,” said Senator Bennet. “The growing weather challenges we face are putting more pressure on our watersheds and farmland. Investing in natural infrastructure is a common-sense way to mitigate damage and improve our floodplains for future generations.”
“The Restoring America’s Floodplains Act is a real opportunity for farmers and landowners working to restore impacted floodplains and enhance stewardship of vulnerable landscapes to provide wildlife habitat, flood mitigation, and cleaner water,” said Anna Gray, Public Policy Director and Counsel at Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. “INHF supports the Restoring America’s Floodplains Act because it will provide producers critical relief in the face of flooding disasters and options for recovery and restoration that have cascading benefits for Iowa’s land, water, wildlife and communities.”
“As Iowans look for solutions to mitigate flood impacts and improve water quality, we need look no further than nature,” said Amber Markham, Director of External Affairs for The Nature Conservancy in Iowa. “Nature-based solutions like floodplain restorations provide countless benefits to Iowans and we support legislation that advances these goals.”
“Floodplain easements are voluntary, incentive-based tools that enable landowners to restore natural floodplains that lower the risk of flooding, improve water quality and soil health, and preserve waterfowl habitat,” said Chris Fox, Ducks Unlimited Iowa State Policy Chair. “It’s a perfect example of natural infrastructure solutions that benefit people, our communities, and wildlife, and we thank Sens. Ernst and Bennet for introducing the Restoring America’s Floodplains Act.”
Background:
While in the Iowa National Guard, Ernst deployed multiple times to help Iowans recover from devastating floods and has long worked to cut government red tape so disaster victims can better access the tools they need. Most notably, she called for a one-stop shop that connects America’s rural communities to federal resources, now known as the Rural Partnership Network, a direct line of communication that helps coordinate hundreds of rural-focused federal support programs. Following last year’s flooding in Iowa, Ernst called for full resources to support thoseimpacted. She visited the Iowa communities affected and met directly with local leaders and emergency response officials to support recovery efforts. She also conducted oversight of FEMA to ensure recovery efforts remain free from politicization.
Ernst has long held that farmers are the original conservationists and pushed to remove red tape from USDA conservation programs to make these tools more accessible.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, are working to mitigate flood risk and improve water quality by ensuring farmers, landowners, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can work together to restore and maintain floodplains.
The bipartisan Restoring America’s Floodplains Act would make clear that the USDA can assist landowners in maintaining floodplain easements in the Emergency Watershed Protection Program by taking part in restoration activities like removing levees and replanting native species that are critical for reducing flood risk and improving natural habitat.
“I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impacts flooding can have on our communities in Iowa, and my heart goes out to all those who have been impacted by destructive natural disasters,” said Senator Ernst. “I’m proud to be working on a bipartisan solution to proactively reduce these impacts that will use existing tools at no additional cost to taxpayers while also improving water quality and protecting our valuable land.”
“The Restoring America’s Floodplains Act will give USDA the tools it needs to help Colorado farmers and landowners reduce flood risk across the state,” said Senator Bennet. “The growing weather challenges we face are putting more pressure on our watersheds and farmland. Investing in natural infrastructure is a common-sense way to mitigate damage and improve our floodplains for future generations.”
“The Restoring America’s Floodplains Act is a real opportunity for farmers and landowners working to restore impacted floodplains and enhance stewardship of vulnerable landscapes to provide wildlife habitat, flood mitigation, and cleaner water,” said Anna Gray, Public Policy Director and Counsel at Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. “INHF supports the Restoring America’s Floodplains Act because it will provide producers critical relief in the face of flooding disasters and options for recovery and restoration that have cascading benefits for Iowa’s land, water, wildlife and communities.”
“As Iowans look for solutions to mitigate flood impacts and improve water quality, we need look no further than nature,” said Amber Markham, Director of External Affairs for The Nature Conservancy in Iowa. “Nature-based solutions like floodplain restorations provide countless benefits to Iowans and we support legislation that advances these goals.”
“Floodplain easements are voluntary, incentive-based tools that enable landowners to restore natural floodplains that lower the risk of flooding, improve water quality and soil health, and preserve waterfowl habitat,” said Chris Fox, Ducks Unlimited Iowa State Policy Chair. “It’s a perfect example of natural infrastructure solutions that benefit people, our communities, and wildlife, and we thank Sens. Ernst and Bennet for introducing the Restoring America’s Floodplains Act.”
Background:
While in the Iowa National Guard, Ernst deployed multiple times to help Iowans recover from devastating floods and has long worked to cut government red tape so disaster victims can better access the tools they need. Most notably, she called for a one-stop shop that connects America’s rural communities to federal resources, now known as the Rural Partnership Network, a direct line of communication that helps coordinate hundreds of rural-focused federal support programs. Following last year’s flooding in Iowa, Ernst called for full resources to support thoseimpacted. She visited the Iowa communities affected and met directly with local leaders and emergency response officials to support recovery efforts. She also conducted oversight of FEMA to ensure recovery efforts remain free from politicization.
Ernst has long held that farmers are the original conservationists and pushed to remove red tape from USDA conservation programs to make these tools more accessible.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, are working to mitigate flood risk and improve water quality by ensuring farmers, landowners, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can work together to restore and maintain floodplains.
The bipartisan Restoring America’s Floodplains Act would make clear that the USDA can assist landowners in maintaining floodplain easements in the Emergency Watershed Protection Program by taking part in restoration activities like removing levees and replanting native species that are critical for reducing flood risk and improving natural habitat.
“I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impacts flooding can have on our communities in Iowa, and my heart goes out to all those who have been impacted by destructive natural disasters,” said Senator Ernst. “I’m proud to be working on a bipartisan solution to proactively reduce these impacts that will use existing tools at no additional cost to taxpayers while also improving water quality and protecting our valuable land.”
“The Restoring America’s Floodplains Act will give USDA the tools it needs to help Colorado farmers and landowners reduce flood risk across the state,” said Senator Bennet. “The growing weather challenges we face are putting more pressure on our watersheds and farmland. Investing in natural infrastructure is a common-sense way to mitigate damage and improve our floodplains for future generations.”
“The Restoring America’s Floodplains Act is a real opportunity for farmers and landowners working to restore impacted floodplains and enhance stewardship of vulnerable landscapes to provide wildlife habitat, flood mitigation, and cleaner water,” said Anna Gray, Public Policy Director and Counsel at Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. “INHF supports the Restoring America’s Floodplains Act because it will provide producers critical relief in the face of flooding disasters and options for recovery and restoration that have cascading benefits for Iowa’s land, water, wildlife and communities.”
“As Iowans look for solutions to mitigate flood impacts and improve water quality, we need look no further than nature,” said Amber Markham, Director of External Affairs for The Nature Conservancy in Iowa. “Nature-based solutions like floodplain restorations provide countless benefits to Iowans and we support legislation that advances these goals.”
“Floodplain easements are voluntary, incentive-based tools that enable landowners to restore natural floodplains that lower the risk of flooding, improve water quality and soil health, and preserve waterfowl habitat,” said Chris Fox, Ducks Unlimited Iowa State Policy Chair. “It’s a perfect example of natural infrastructure solutions that benefit people, our communities, and wildlife, and we thank Sens. Ernst and Bennet for introducing the Restoring America’s Floodplains Act.”
Background:
While in the Iowa National Guard, Ernst deployed multiple times to help Iowans recover from devastating floods and has long worked to cut government red tape so disaster victims can better access the tools they need. Most notably, she called for a one-stop shop that connects America’s rural communities to federal resources, now known as the Rural Partnership Network, a direct line of communication that helps coordinate hundreds of rural-focused federal support programs. Following last year’s flooding in Iowa, Ernst called for full resources to support thoseimpacted. She visited the Iowa communities affected and met directly with local leaders and emergency response officials to support recovery efforts. She also conducted oversight of FEMA to ensure recovery efforts remain free from politicization.
Ernst has long held that farmers are the original conservationists and pushed to remove red tape from USDA conservation programs to make these tools more accessible.
Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
07.09.25
Senator Secured Funding to Help Producers Recover from Wildfire, Disaster Losses in 2023 and 2024
WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting applications on July 10 for the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP), which will provide $16 billion to help producers recover from weather-related losses occurring in 2023 and 2024. The program comes as part of the $33.5 billion in disaster relief funding that Hoeven secured in the year-end legislation passed in December.
SDRP stage one is open to producers with eligible crop losses who received assistance either under crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) during 2023 and 2024.
Prefilled applications are being mailed to producers today, which then may be submitted in person at county Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices starting tomorrow.
This follows Hoeven’s work encouraging Agriculture Secretary Rollins to utilize a streamlined application process to help ensure an efficient and timely process.
Stage one payments are based on the coverage level the producer purchased for the crop.
A payment factor of 35% will be applied to all stage one payments. If additional SDRP funds remain, FSA may issue a second payment.
Eligible disasters include wildfires, floods, winter storms, excessive moisture and qualifying drought, among other events.
SDRP stage two covers eligible shallow or uncovered losses, with signup beginning in early fall. Additional information on the weather-related assistance can be found on FSA’s website here.
“Our farmers faced severe hardship from disasters over the past two years, which are compounded by the difficulties resulting from challenging markets and trade negotiations. As such, this weather-related disaster assistance that we worked to fund and advance will be a welcome relief,” said Hoeven. “At the same time, the improvements we secured to the farm safety net will build upon this assistance, while reducing the need for future ag disaster funding. That’s a win for both producers and taxpayers over the long-term.”
Today’s announcement builds upon the market-based assistance and livestock assistance that Hoeven worked to fund and advance, for which applications and payments continue to be processed. North Dakota producers have since received more than $570 million under the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) and more than $11 million under the Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP).
