Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05)
Congressman Biggs led a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick urging his department to reverse its plan to terminate the Tomato Suspension Agreement (TSA) and instead pursue substantive negotiations that strengthen American businesses and protect American jobs through a bilateral arrangement.
Since its inception in 1996, the TSA has been renegotiated every five years, ensuring fair and enforceable trade deals that support American tomato growers and keep prices stable for consumers. According to economic analysis, terminating the agreement now risks up to 50,000 jobs in Arizona and Texas alone.
“President Trump’s America First trade policies have delivered real results for American workers, and abandoning the TSA now would undermine those achievements,”said Congressman Biggs.
“The TSA has safeguarded tens of thousands of American jobs, stabilized markets, and strengthened our vital agriculture sector. Pulling the plug on the TSA would only hurt American families still struggling from the radical Biden-Harris regime’s inflationary policies.
“This is an opportunity for President Trump to do what he does best: Make a deal that benefits American businesses, workers, and consumers. I will continue to defend our hardworking farmers and fight for fair trade agreements in Congress.”
Source: United States Small Business Administration
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Kansas to offset economic losses caused by drought beginning March 18.
The disaster declaration covers the Kansas counties of Clark, Comanche, Ford, Gray, Haskell, Kiowa, Meade and Seward as well as the Oklahoma counties of Beaver and Harper.
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 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 3.62% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months after the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
Submit completed loan applications to SBA no later than Feb. 2, 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, D.C. – 6/12/25… Today, Reps. Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Josh Riley (NY-19) introduced the Leveraging Efficiency Awareness for Pumping Systems (LEAPS) Act, a commonsense, bipartisan bill to help farmers, ranchers, and aquaculture producers save money on energy costs, conserve water, and reduce carbon emissions by modernizing irrigation and water management systems.
The legislation directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide clear, accessible information and tools to farmers on the benefits of upgrading to energy-efficient pumping systems. These systems are essential to agricultural irrigation, livestock watering, aquaculture, and waste management operations across the country.
The LEAPS Act requires USDA to:
Publish user-friendly educational materials on cost and energy savings, water conservation, and emissions reductions achievable through energy-efficient pumping systems.
Develop an online pre-assessment tool to help farmers estimate potential energy and cost savings from upgrades.
Provide targeted training for USDA energy auditors on pumping system efficiency.
Expand USDA’s Conservation Stewardship Program to explicitly include energy-efficient pumping systems.
According to the bill’s findings, over 600,000 irrigation pumping systems are currently in use across the United States, many of which still rely on outdated and inefficient equipment. Upgrading these systems could save farmers over $1.8 billion annually in energy costs and eliminate more than 8 million metric tons of carbon emissions each year.
“In today’s economy, farmers are already grappling with rising input costs and increasing weather challenges,” said Congressman Lawler. “This is about using smarter tools to support the people who feed our country. By equipping farmers with the right resources, we can boost productivity, cut waste, and strengthen rural economies—all while protecting our environment.”
“Farmers know it when their systems are outdated, but figuring out what to upgrade, how much it costs, and where to start is harder than it should be,” said Congressman Riley. “This bill gives farmers the tools they need to make smart decisions—and when they upgrade, it creates work for manufacturers right here in Upstate New York. It’s a win for our farmers, our factories, and anyone who wants Washington to actually get something done.”
Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.
STOPPING RADICAL ENVIRONMENTALISM: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum revoking an executive action issued by the prior administration that called for “equitable treatment for fish.”
Today’s Memorandum revokes the Biden Administration’s “Restoring Healthy and Abundant Salmon, Steelhead, and Other Native Fish Populations in the Columbia River Basin” Memorandum, which placed concerns about climate change above the Nation’s interests in reliable energy resources.
This Memorandum directs the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works to withdraw from agreements stemming from Biden’s misguided executive action, including the December 14, 2023 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) filed in connection with related litigation.
The specified agencies will coordinate with the Council on Environmental Quality to review and revise environmental review processes related to the matters in the MOU, save Federal funds, and withdraw from the MOU.
RESTORING AMERICAN ENERGY DOMINANCE AND SECURING AMERICAN PROSPERITY: President Trump continues to prioritize our Nation’s energy infrastructure and use of natural resources to lower the cost of living for all Americans over speculative climate change concerns.
President Trump recognizes the importance of ensuring the future of wildlife populations in the Columbia River Basin, while also advancing the country’s energy creation to benefit the American public.
The MOU required the Federal government to spend millions of dollars and comply with 36 pages of onerous commitments to dam operations on the Lower Snake River.
Dam breaching would have resulted in reduced water supply to farmers, eliminated several shipping channels, had devastating impacts to agriculture, increased energy costs, and eliminated recreational opportunities throughout the region.
The dam breaches would have eliminated over 3,000 megawatts of secure and reliable hydroelectric generating capacity—which is enough generation to power 2.5 million American homes.
PUTTING AMERICA FIRST: President Trump continues to deliver on his promise to end the previous administration’s misplaced priorities and protect the livelihoods of the American people. Unlike the previous administration, the Trump Administration understands that policies that promote environmental quality and economic growth are not mutually exclusive.
President Trump champions the needs of the American people and prioritizes U.S. interests in reliable, affordable energy resources.
President Trump signed an Executive Order reinvigorating America’s beautiful clean coal industry to support grid stability and hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs.
President Trump is committed to unleashing American energy dominance, reversing all executive actions that impose undue burdens on energy production and use.
On Day One, President Trump declared a National Energy Emergency to unlock domestic energy production and bring down costs for everyday Americans.
President Trump’s commonsense approach to environmental conservation empowers the American people to take full advantage of our nation’s vast and great natural resources.
President Trump reversed the burdensome regulations that impeded Alaska’s ability to develop its vast natural resources, unleashing the state’s potential to create a safe and prosperous future for the entire Nation.
STRENGTHENING WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND RESPONSE: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order returning common sense to wildfire prevention and response.
The Order directs the Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Agriculture to consolidate their wildland fire programs.
The Order supports local wildfire preparedness and response by improving Federal partnerships, as well as driving responsible land management and prevention at the State and local level.
The Order directs the use of available technology, including AI, data sharing, innovative mapping, and weather forecasting, to enhance State and local wildfire identification and response capabilities.
The Order directs Federal agencies to modify rules to facilitate preventive prescribed fires and appropriate fire-retardant use, promote innovative use of woody biomass and other forest products to reduce fuel loads that strengthen fires, and minimize wildfire ignition risks from the bulk-power system.
The Order modernizes wildfire prevention and response by instructing Federal agencies to declassify historical satellite data to improve wildfire prediction and revise or eliminate rules that impede wildfire detection, prevention, and response.
The Order directs the Secretary of Defense to prioritize the sale of excess aircraft and aircraft parts to support wildfire mitigation and response.
EMPOWERING STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS: President Trump is empowering State and local leaders to combat wildfires effectively.
For too long, State and local wildfire responses have been slow and inadequate due to reckless mismanagement and lack of preparedness.
Wildfires threaten every region, yet many local government entities continue to disregard commonsense preventative measures.
Firefighters are forced to rely on outdated technology and face challenges in quickly responding to wildfires because of unnecessary regulation and bureaucracy.
Immediate action is essential to ensure the devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires never occurs again.
By streamlining Federal wildfire capabilities, States can leverage an efficient and straightforward approach concerning wildfire response and mitigation.
RESTORING COMMON SENSE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: President Trump has consistently demonstrated a commonsense approach to safeguard and protect the environment and American communities.
On Day One, President Trump signed a Memorandum to prioritize routing water to Southern California in the wake of the destructive wildfires.
In President Trump’s first week back in office, he and First Lady Melania Trump visited Los Angeles to inspect wildfire damage, promising immediate Federal support and relief.
Upon visiting Los Angeles, President Trump immediately issued measures to provide increased water resources in California and promote expedited recovery procedures for Californians after their State government’s disastrous mishandling and misuse of resources and lack of preparation for the January 2025 wildfires.
In March 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order to enhance forest management, promoting responsible use of American timber to reduce wildfire risks.
class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section1. Purpose. The devastation of the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires shocked the American people and highlighted the catastrophic consequences when State and local governments are unable to quickly respond to such disasters. In too many cases, including in California, a slow and inadequate response to wildfires is a direct result of reckless mismanagement and lack of preparedness. Wildfires threaten every region, yet many local government entities continue to disregard commonsense preventative measures. Firefighters across the country are forced to rely on outdated technology and face challenges in quickly responding to wildfires because of unnecessary regulation and bureaucracy. The Federal Government can empower State and local leaders by streamlining Federal wildfire capabilities to improve their effectiveness and promoting commonsense, technology-enabled local strategies for land management and wildfire response and mitigation.
Sec. 2. Streamlining Federal Wildland Fire Governance. Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall, to the maximum degree practicable and consistent with applicable law, consolidate their wildland fire programs to achieve the most efficient and effective use of wildland fire offices, coordinating bodies, programs, budgets, procurement processes, and research and, as necessary, recommend additional measures to advance this objective.
Sec. 3. Encouraging Local Wildfire Preparedness and Response. (a) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall: (i) expand and strengthen the use of partnerships, agreements, compacts, and mutual aid capabilities that empower Federal, State, local, tribal, and community-driven land management that reduces wildfire risk and improves wildfire response, including on public lands; and (ii) develop and expand the use of other measures to incentivize responsible land management and wildfire prevention, mitigation, and response measures at the State and local levels. (b) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies) represented at the National Interagency Fire Center, shall: (i) develop a comprehensive technology roadmap, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), to increase wildfire firefighting capabilities at the State and local levels, including through artificial intelligence, data sharing, innovative modeling and mapping capabilities, and technology to identify wildland fire ignitions and weather forecasts to inform response and evacuation; and (ii) promote the use of a risk-informed approach, as consistent with Executive Order 14239 of March 18, 2025 (Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness), to develop new policies that remove barriers to preventing and responding to wildfires, including through year-round response readiness, better forest health, and activities outlined in Executive Order 14225 of March 1, 2025 (Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production).
Sec. 4. Strengthening Wildfire Mitigation. Within 90 days of the date of this order: (a) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall consider modifying or rescinding, as consistent with applicable law, Federal rules or policies that impede the use of appropriate, preventative prescribed fires. (b) The Secretary of Agriculture and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall consider modifying or rescinding, as consistent with applicable law, Federal rules or policies hindering the appropriate use of fire retardant to fight wildfires. (c) The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall consider promoting, assisting, and facilitating, as consistent with applicable law, innovative uses of woody biomass and forest products to reduce fuel loads in areas at risk of wildfires. (d) The Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Energy, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shall consider initiating rulemaking proceedings to establish, as consistent with applicable law, best practices to reduce the risk of wildfire ignition from the bulk-power system without increasing costs for electric-power end users, including through methods such as vegetation management, the removal of forest-hazardous fuels along transmission lines, improved engineering approaches, and safer operational practices. (e) The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior, shall review pending and proposed wildfire-related litigation involving electrical utility companies to ensure the Department’s positions and proposed resolutions in such matters advance the wildfire prevention and mitigation efforts identified in this order.
Sec. 5. Modernizing Wildfire Prevention and Response. (a) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of OSTP, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, and the heads of relevant agencies, shall, as appropriate, identify, declassify, and make publicly available historical satellite datasets that will advance wildfire prevention and response and improve wildfire prediction and evaluation models. (b) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the heads of agencies represented at the National Interagency Fire Center, shall: (i) Identify rules that impede wildfire prevention, detection, or response and consider eliminating or revising those rules, as consistent with applicable law. This consideration and any resulting rulemaking proceedings shall be reflected in the Fall 2025 Unified Regulatory Agenda. (ii) Develop performance metrics for wildfire response, including metrics related to average response times, annual fuels treatments, safety and cost effectiveness, and other subjects, as appropriate for inclusion in strategic and annual performance plans. (c) Within 210 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense shall evaluate and, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, prioritize the sale of excess aircraft and aircraft parts to support wildfire mitigation and response.
Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. (d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior in equal shares.
Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
Senator Marshall Joins RFD-TV to Discuss the Reconciliation Benefits for Farmers and Ranchers
Washington – On Thursday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), joined Suzanne Alexander on RFD-TV to discuss President Trump’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill,’ and how it will help farmers and ranchers by preventing the largest tax increase in American history and allocate $100 billion to crop insurance and Title One funding.
Click HERE or on the image above to watch the full interview.
On how the OBBB presents the largest tax increase in American history:
“… This bill is going to prevent the largest tax increase in American history. This is going to mean $1,000 a month of Americans getting to keep their own hard-earned money. Look, it is tense up here in its own world, but I just never seen the Republican caucus so together, and this is a Republicans only exercise right now. The Democrats will not support these tax cuts.”
On what the OBBB will do for farmers and ranchers:
“I’m just so, so proud of what we’ve done on the agriculture portion of this, first of all, $50 billion for crop insurance, $50 billion for the Title One programs, the ARC and the PLC, and that’s mandatory spending … over the next 10 years, you put those together, there’s $100 billion that we’re going to help with crop insurance and the Title One funding.
“But you know, first and foremost, farmers are businessmen and women, right? So, making these Trump tax cuts permanent, and I’m talking about bonus depreciation, and 199A – your listeners know exactly what I’m talking about – Those are very important.
“There’s also a tax credit called 45Z, which is vitally important to rural America. This is how we’re going to take soybeans or corn and turn it into jet fuel. But we need a tax credit to get that, to get that industry up and going as well. So those are just a few examples of how this is going to help American farmers and rural America.”
On protecting Medicaid and Medicare for rural Americans:
“Well, look, we’re going to protect Medicaid. We’re going to make it better. We want to strengthen it for those who need it the most. And like you said, I know as much about a rural hospital as anybody does up here. They’re actually much more dependent upon Medicare, but Medicaid has a little bit of influence, so we’re going to do our best to make sure there’s a carve-out to protect those rural hospitals. There aren’t that many of them; the critical access hospital system is much different; they’re guaranteed a Medicare Plus rate as well. So, we’ll do our very best.
“But the very best thing we could do for those hospitals is give them a strong agricultural economy. Hospitals are a reflection of the economy. They don’t drive the economy. So anything we can do to help the American farmer is going to help those hospitals as well.”
On strengthening SNAP and making it better for those who need it most:
“Look, we’ll probably not go quite as deep with this as maybe the House did, but 80, at least 70% of Americans want some type of work requirements. And that’s what our focus will be is a work requirement. We have 7 million healthy American men out there, working age, who are not working. 7 million of them. And they’re on Medicaid and they’re on food stamps – let’s help those people find a job. I hear there are a lot of jobs in rural America, so if you don’t have a job, we’ll train you up. We’ll get you out there working on the pipeline or the oil field or out there on some of these farms as well.”
“… I don’t want anyone to go to bed hungry – we’re not going to let that happen. But on the other hand, it would be good for the health of these people who can work, to get them back and work. And again, I think 70% of Americans generally support these, some type of work requirements if you’re on government aid.”
On the next steps for the OBBB:
“Look, we’re still in the seventh inning here. It’s the seventh inning stretch when we get pen to paper by this weekend, I think the real debates will start next week, as we start trying to move, you know, a million dollars here and a million dollars there. But I just want everyone to rest assured, I’m going to be out there speaking for rural America – speaking for agriculture, protecting 45Z, protecting crop insurance, protecting these reference prices, [and] trying to grow the rural American economy as well.
“So, I just can’t emphasize enough, I was just with the President, I think it was last Thursday, I was at the White House again yesterday, that this President has the back of farmers and ranchers, and we’re going to do everything we can to make them successful as well.”
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today grilled Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on the Trump Administration’s reckless trade policies, which are raising costs for Vermont businesses, manufacturers, farmers, and families. Senator Welch pressed Secretary Bessent on how President Trump’s unpredictable economic policies have wrought instability for Vermonters in every corner of the Green Mountain State.
Senator Welch asked Secretary Bessent: “Let me ask you this: predictability. The Trump tariff timelines—February 1: Executive Order, 10% on China, 25% on Mexico, and Canada. February 3: 30-day pause on 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada. February 10: 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum. March 4: an additional 10% on China, 25% on Mexico, and Canada. This goes on and on—22 different tariffs. And it looks like the President wakes up, kind of checks his mood, and changes the tariff regime.
“I’ve talked to manufacturers where they’ve had products coming to a port, and if they arrive Monday, they’re cool. If they arrive on Wednesday, it’s going to cost them another $75,000. Just in terms of implementation, 22 different tariffs over the course of a few months.”
Secretary Bessent responded: “I’m just saying, Senator, if you’re familiar with game theory, it’s called ‘strategic uncertainty,’ and it’s also called ‘negotiations.’ Thirteen days ago, on a Friday, President Trump threatened the E.U. with 50% tariffs. The E.U. was not negotiating in good faith. Within ten hours, we had calls from five European leaders and a call with Ursula Vanderlinden. So, you may call this a flip-flop, I call this a negotiating strategy, and this is the way negotiating strategies works.”
Senator Welch: “Vermonters call it pretty painful as a way to run their business.”
Watch the full exchange between Senator Welch and Secretary Bessent below:
Senator Welch opposed Secretary Bessent’s nomination. In his confirmation hearing, Senator Welch pushed Bessent to avoid protectionist trade policies. The Trump Administration has since imposed sweeping global tariffs and waged an all-out trade war with our closest trade allies, including Canada, Mexico, and the EU.
Senator Welch has been a leading voice in pushing back against the Trump Administration’s deeply misguided and disastrous economic policies. Senator Welch has blasted Trump’s tariffs and trade war and shared stories from constituents about how President Trump’s economic policies have impacted their businesses, farms, and communities. This week, Senator Welch welcomed Steve Wright, President and General Manager of Jay Peak Resort to the Senate for a forum on the impact of tariffs and President Trump’s trade war, highlighting the detrimental impact the Trump Administration’s rhetoric toward Canada has had on businesses in Vermont.
Senator Welch is a cosponsor of a bipartisan resolution to repeal the tariffs on Canada, a bipartisan bill to restore congressional tariff authority, a bill to restrict the Executive Branch’s authority to impose tariffs through the International Economic Emergency Powers Act, and a bill to exempt small businesses from the April 2nd global tariff Executive Order. Senator Welch also led a bipartisan resolution to end President Trump’s ruinous global tariffs.
Last month, Senator Welch joined a bipartisan delegation and traveled to Ottawa to meet with Canadian dignitaries, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, to discuss bipartisan support for a U.S.-Canada partnership and their commitment to a strong trading relationship between the United States and Canada. The Senator has hosted roundtables in Stowe, Newport, St. Albans, Manchester, and virtually to hear concerns and first-hand stories from Vermont and Canadian leaders impacted by the trade war.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
On June 6, the Chinese Embassy in Namibia donated a batch of mattresses to pediatric patients in Gobabis District Hospital. Namibian Officials including Hon. Pijoo Nganate, Governor of Omaheke Region, Hon. Ruth Masake, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Ms. Tuyakula Haipinge, Executive Director of the Office of the Prime Minister attended the handover ceremony and gave speeches respectively. The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) covered the event on the scene.
In her speech on behalf of Namibian Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dr. Elijah Ngurare, Ms. Haipinge expressed sincere gratitude to the Chinese government for its long-term strong support in the areas of health, education, agriculture to Namibia in achieving national objectives. Governor Nganate and Deputy Minister Masake said that the mattresses donated by the Chinese Embassy are very handy for child patients in the hospital to get through winter warmly.
On behalf of Ambassador Zhao Weiping, Minister Counselor Shen Jian delivered a speech saying that the sector of health has always been a priority for China’s development assistance cooperation with Namibia. During the FOCAC 2024 Beijing Summit, President Xi Jinping announced that China will work with Africa to take Ten Partnership Actions for Modernization, which included the partnership action for health. China is actively implementing relevant achievements and is ready to work with Namibia to strengthen cooperation in the field of health.
– on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Namibia.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California
Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) joined President Trump at the White House for the signing of three Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions that block California’s sweeping vehicle emissions mandates from taking effect nationwide. The signing marks the successful conclusion of a major legislative effort backed by LaMalfa in the House.
“I was honored to be at the White House today as President Trump signed these critical resolutions I helped lead into law,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “California’s extreme vehicle mandates would have made it harder and more expensive for Americans to buy the cars and trucks they need, whether they live in California or not. These rules were designed to go national and force consumers, truckers, and most industries into costly electric vehicles with fewer options. These new laws are a major win for anyone who relies on a vehicle to get to work, run a business, or support their family. With his signature President Trump permanently stopped some of California’s most ridiculous rules.”
Congressman LaMalfa co-led the resolutions with Representatives John Joyce (R-PA), John James (R-MI), and Jay Obernolte (R-CA). The Senate passed the resolutions earlier this month, sending them to the president’s desk.
Background
Under the Clean Air Act, states are generally prohibited from setting their own tailpipe emission standards for cars and trucks. However, California has a unique exemption, which allows the state to establish its own emissions regulations if it submits a waiver to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and receives approval. Once granted, these California standards can also be adopted by other states. Currently, about a dozen states follow California’s emissions policies, effectively turning the state’s regulations into a nationwide mandate.
The Biden administration approved several controversial waivers requested by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), allowing the state to impose extreme emissions rules that impact car and truck costs and availability across the country. These include:
Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC2) – Approved in December 2024, this regulation mandates that 35% of new car sales be zero-emission by 2026, increasing to 100% by 2035. At least 12 states have already adopted ACC2. Failure to meet this goal means a maximum penalty of up to $25,000 per non-compliant gas-powered vehicle sold to consumers.
Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) – Approved in March 2023, this regulation forces truck manufacturers and retailers to meet strict zero-emission quotas by 2035, including 55% of Class 2B-3 truck sales, 75% of Class 4-8 straight truck sales, and 40% of truck tractor sales. At least 11 states have adopted ACT.
Omnibus Low-NOx Emissions Rule – Approved in December 2024, this regulation imposes aggressive emissions reductions on medium- and heavy-duty truck and other engines, requiring NOx emissions to be cut by 75% below current standards for Model Year 2024-2026 compared to 2010 levels and particulate matter emissions to be cut by 50%.
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.
The Strategic Dialogue calls for a Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) that is fit for purpose. It recommends that CAP support should be delivered in a more targeted way, ‘moving away from current non-degressive area-based payments’.
This should not be read as a call for abandoning area-based payments, but rather as recommending a more targeted distribution of CAP support across beneficiaries.
The Commission’s Vision for Agriculture and Food[1] reflects this recommendation by announcing a fairer, simpler and more targeted support under the future CAP, relying notably on an enhanced use of measures such as degressivity and capping. The setting up of a dedicated task force on the targeting of income support is not envisaged.
The Commission services possess robust and published[2] data and analysis of the distribution of CAP income support that will be used to design the future policy.
On 19 and 20 May 2025, the Commission discussed the future of the CAP, including the targeting of direct support, with the newly created European Board on Agriculture and Food (EBAF)[3]. A further EBAF discussion on the CAP is planned for 19 June 2025.
Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
06.12.25
Washington, DC — U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Representative Nick Begich (all R-Alaska), introduced the Chugach Alaska Land Exchange and Oil Spill Recovery Act to direct a land exchange between the federal government and Chugach Alaska Corporation (Chugach). This exchange would resolve conflicts that exist between the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) Trustee Council’s Habitat Protection Program (the “Program”) goals for federal habitat conservation of surface lands impacted by EVOS and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) promises to Chugach for economic development of subsurface rights under these same lands.
The land exchange directed by this legislation would require Chugach to trade 231,000 acres of subsurface estate (under surface fee and conservation easements on surface land owned by the federal government) for 65,403 acres of fee simple land owned by the federal government. Most of the lands that would be exchanged were identified in the Chugach Region Land Study and Report to Congress from December 2022. Congress directed the study in Section 1113 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act (Public Law 116-9; 133 Stat. 614) which Murkowski authored.
“The effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on Native people in the Chugach region are still felt –environmentally, socially and economically. We must continue to take steps to move forward with recovery and that includes fulfilling the promises of ANCSA to Chugach, the Alaska Native Regional Corporation,” Senator Murkowski said. “I am proud to reintroduce this legislation, which is a “win-win” for Chugach and the federal government’s EVOS program goals.”
“In the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez spill, Chugach Alaska Corporation not only had to deal with the devastating environmental consequences for the region, but also misguided federal restrictions on their ability to develop resources on their lands,” said Senator Sullivan. “Senator Murkowski, Congressman Begich and I are reintroducing legislation to amend ANCSA—as has been done many times throughout history—and facilitate a commonsense land exchange already studied extensively by BLM and the Forest Service. Our legislation will help address the evolving needs of Prince William Sound communities and create economic opportunities and cultural benefits for thousands of Alaska Native shareholders in the Chugach region, as intended under ANCSA.”
“This land exchange corrects a decades-old misstep that has kept Chugach shareholders from fully benefiting from their own land and resources. With this legislation, we’re protecting our resources while restoring the rights of Alaska Native landowners,” said Congressman Begich. “I am proud to lead this legislation in the House and look forward to working with the delegation to continue restoring Alaska’s right to self-determination and ensuring responsible stewardship of our state’s resources.”
“We are deeply grateful to Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Dan Sullivan, and Representative Nick Begich for their unwavering leadership and advocacy on behalf of Chugach and our people and communities,” said Sheri Buretta, Chairman of the Chugach Board. “Their decision to reintroduce this legislation underscores the significance of this exchange resolving long-standing split-estate conflicts in the region — not only for our corporation, but for the broader public interest, the State of Alaska, and the federal government. Chugach stands ready to work in close partnership with Congress, federal agencies, and all stakeholders to help advance this process. Our commitment to cooperation is rooted in a shared vision of responsible stewardship, economic opportunity, and enduring respect for our connection to these lands that have sustained our people for millennia.”?
BACKGROUND:
On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez oil spill discharged approximately 11 million gallons of crude oil (enough to fill 17 Olympic-sized swimming pools) into Prince William Sound and adjoining waters in Alaska. It was one of the most environmentally damaging disasters in world history.
The Chugach Region experienced great social and economic harm from the oil spill. Government recovery efforts, though well-intentioned, also had negative impacts and did not always include the voices of the Alaska Native people who have stewarded these lands for millennia. Thirty-five years later, the people and the environment are still recovering.
Through Section 1113 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act of 2019 (sponsored by Murkowski; Public Law 116-9), Congress directed the Secretary of the Interior, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture and in consultation with Chugach Alaska Corporation, to conduct a study and provide a report to Congress assessing the social and economic impacts of the EVOS Trustee Council’s Program on Chugach, Chugach lands, and on the Chugach Region. The study was also required to identify sufficient acres of accessible and economically viable federal land that could be exchanged with Chugach.
Under the Program, the Trustee Council used funds acquired from the companies responsible for EVOS to purchase fee title to 134,121 acres of surface estate lands, and purchased conservation easements on an additional 66,073 acres of surface estate lands, from four of the five Village Corporations in the Chugach Region that had been conveyed to them under ANCSA. Chugach was not a party to any of these acquisitions but owns the subsurface, or mineral estate, for all of the lands in which interests were acquired by the federal government from the Village Corporations under the Program.
Some surface lands and conservation easements on surface lands acquired by the federal government under the Program went into the state and federal park systems, but most went into the Chugach National Forest, managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
The EVOS Program lands (fee surface estate lands and conservation easement lands) are subject to restrictions on any surface development that is inconsistent with maintaining their wilderness characteristics. Therefore, Chugach is effectively prohibited from taking any steps to develop its subsurface interests and needs alternative lands to realize the meaningful economic benefits promised in ANCSA.
ALBUQUERQUE – A Little Water man pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from his involvement in a violent April 2024 shooting and subsequent homicide on the Navajo Nation.
According to court records, on April 24, 2024, Dewayne George, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, accompanied Brittania Navaho to a pawn shop in Gallup where she purchased a .22 caliber revolver and ammunition for Rydell Happy, who is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. Later that day, the group, joined by John Doe, drove through the Gallup area and encountered a vehicle on U.S. Highway 491 within the Navajo Nation.
Happy initially fired a shot into the air, then, after a pursuit, multiple shots were fired at the vehicle by Happy, George, and John Doe. George admitted to reloading and discharging the firearm several times at the fleeing vehicle, which was struck by multiple bullets. Fortunately, the occupants were not injured.
After the shooting, the group drove near Shiprock, New Mexico, where a confrontation led to Happy fatally shooting John Doe. George helped Happy drag John Doe’s body over a cliff in an attempt to conceal the body and avoid arrest and prosecution.
Brittania Navaho pled guilty to federal charges related to the straw purchase of the firearm and faces up to 15 years in prison.
Rydell Happy is charged with first degree murder, two counts of using and carrying a firearm during and relation to a crime of violence and discharging said firearm, assault with a dangerous weapon and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He remains in custody pending trial, which is currently scheduled for July 14, 2025.
George pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact, assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm, and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and discharging said firearm. At sentencing, George faces not less than 10 years and up to life in prison. Upon his release from prison, George will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from Navajo Nation Police Department, the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney R. Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners.
June 12, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, will travel to Saskatchewan later this week on a multi-day visit to meet with key stakeholders from the agriculture industry in Saskatchewan, a province that accounts for more than 40% of Canada’s cultivated farmland.
Members of the media are invited to join Minister MacDonald and Daryl Harrison, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Agriculture, on June 14.
Quote
“There’s no question – Saskatchewan is essential to agriculture and agriculture is essential to Saskatchewan. I want to get my boots on the ground, meet with folks face-to-face, on their land, and deliver on the things that matter to producers across the province.”
– The Honourable Heath MacDonald, federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister
Date
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Registration
Media are asked to contact aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@agr.gc.ca by Friday at 12 pm CST to register and get directions to the media availability, which is at a farm located approximately 40 minutes south of Regina.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) issued the following statement thanking President Donald J. Trump for signing legislation overturning California’s electric-vehicle mandates:
“I thank President Trump for signing legislation ending California’s radical EV mandates and restoring consumer choice. This decisive action will lower costs for American families, protect homegrown liquid fuels, support our farmers, and reduce our reliance on China and foreign supply chains. President Trump is keeping his promises to the American people by overturning egregious EV mandates and preventing liberal California policies from spreading nationwide.”
LEEDS, United Kingdom, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As BTC reclaims $110,000 and Etherum poised to break it’s early high, early talks of recovery in the crypto markets are here, however while it might seem a bit late to take a position in the rally markets, valuable Altcoins such as Nimanode is poised to give those explosive returns in the markets.
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Nimanode is a decentralized AI agent platform built on the XRP Ledger, offering no-code and developer tools to deploy on-chain AI agents that automate blockchain activity, optimize protocol interaction, and monetize intelligent services. By bridging AI with decentralized infrastructure, Nimanode is building the next evolution of digital work and Web3 automation.
Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by Nimanode. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.
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Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Abbas Yazdinejad, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Artificial Intelligence, University of Toronto
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the world, from diagnosing diseases in hospitals to catching fraud in banking systems. But it’s also raising urgent questions.
As G7 leaders prepare to meet in Alberta, one issue looms large: how can we build powerful AI systems without sacrificing privacy?
The G7 summit is a chance to set the tone for how democratic nations manage emerging technologies. While regulations are advancing, they won’t succeed without strong technical solutions.
In our view, what’s known as federated learning — or FL — is one of the most promising yet overlooked tools, and deserves to be at the centre of the conversation.
As researchers in AI, cybersecurity and public health, we’ve seen the data dilemma firsthand. AI thrives on data, much of it deeply personal — medical histories, financial transactions, critical infrastructure logs. The more centralized the data, the greater the risk of leaks, misuse or cyberattacks.
The United Kingdom’s National Health Service paused a promising AI initiative over fears about data handling. In Canada, concerns have surfaced about storing personal information — including immigration and health records — in foreign cloud services. Trust in AI systems is fragile. Once it’s broken, innovation grinds to a halt.
Why is centralized AI a growing liability?
The dominant approach to training AI is to bring all data into one centralized place. On paper, that’s efficient. In practice, it creates security nightmares.
Centralized systems are attractive targets for hackers. They’re difficult to regulate, especially when data flows across national or sectoral boundaries. And they concentrate too much power in the hands of a few data-holders or tech giants.
But instead of bringing data to the algorithm, FL brings the algorithm to the data. Each local institution — whether it’s a hospital, government agency or bank — trains an AI model on its own data. Only model updates — not raw data — are shared with a central system. It’s like students doing homework at home and submitting only their final answers, not their notebooks.
This approach dramatically lowers the risk of data breaches while preserving the ability to learn from large-scale trends.
In Canada, researchers have already used FL to train cancer detection models across provinces — without ever moving sensitive health records.
Artificial intelligence has been used to train cancer detectiom models. (Shutterstock)
Projects like those involving the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network have demonstrated how FL can be used to predict chronic diseases such as diabetes, while keeping all patient data securely within provincial boundaries.
Banks are using it to detect fraud without sharing customer identities.Cybersecurity agencies are exploring how to co-ordinate across jurisdictions without exposing their logs.
FL allows different jurisdictions to work together on shared challenges without compromising local control or sovereignty. It turns policy into practice by enabling technical collaboration without the usual legal and privacy complications.
And just as importantly, adopting FL sends a political signal: that democracies can lead not just in innovation, but in ethics and governance.
Hosting the G7 summit in Alberta isn’t just symbolic. The province is home to a thriving AI ecosystem, institutions like the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute and industries — from agriculture to energy — that generate vast amounts of valuable data.
Picture a cross-sector task force: farmers using local data to monitor soil health, energy companies analyzing emissions patterns, public agencies modelling wildfire risks — all working together, all protecting their data. That’s not a futuristic fantasy — it’s a pilot program waiting to happen.
A foundation for trust?
AI is only as trustworthy as the systems behind it. And too many of today’s systems are based on outdated ideas about centralization and control.
FL offers a new foundation — one where privacy, transparency and innovation can move together. We don’t need to wait for a crisis to act. The tools already exist. What’s missing is the political will to elevate them from promising prototypes to standard practice.
If the G7 is serious about building a safer, fairer AI future, it should make FL a central piece of its plan — not a footnote.
Abbas Yazdinejad 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.
Jude Kong 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 Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
June 11, 2025
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—founding co-chair of the Senate Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Caucus—met with Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) President Brian Duncan and IFB members to discuss shared priorities to grow Illinois’s agriculture industry and support our farmers. Duckworth and the members discussed the importance of supporting our family farmers by expanding the biofuels market, increasing agricultural exports and improving farm safety net programs as Donald Trump continues to threaten critical federal agricultural programs. Photos from today’s meeting can be found on the Senator’s website.
“America has always depended on our nation’s farmers to grow the food and fuel we need, and I’m proud to advocate for them on both the national and international stage,” Duckworth said. “The work of Illinois’s farmers is so important to the strength of our state and our nation, and I will continue to do everything I can to support the Illinois Farm Bureau and farmers across the state at the federal level.”
In the Senate, Duckworth has been a leader in supporting biofuels, including expansion of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and permanent authority to use E15 fuel year-round. To help increase the availability of E15 biofuels, Duckworth helped introduce the bipartisan Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act and the bipartisan Next Generations Fuel Act to allow the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10 percent. Duckworth additionally helped introduce the bipartisan Home Front Energy Independence Act to ban Russian oil and expand use and production of biofuel that’s grown in the American heartland, while providing American families with a less expensive option to fuel their vehicles. Earlier this year she helped introduced the Farm to Fly Act to help accelerate the production and development of SAF.
As a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Duckworth has been an advocate for Illinois agriculture across the globe and helped secure significant wins for Illinois and American agriculture. After Duckworth’s visit in 2023, Japan announced a regulatory change that will lead to an increase in imports from U.S. biofuel producers, supporting our farmers and growing Illinois’s economy, and following a prior trip to Taiwan in 2022, she helped secure a commitment from Taiwan to purchase an estimated $2.6 billion of our Illinois’s corn and soybeans.
Today, the Governments of Canada, British Columbia, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba, together with the CIFFC, announced a total investment of $104 million through the Government of Canada’s Resilient Communities through FireSmart (RCF) Program.
June 12, 2025 Ottawa, Ontario Natural Resources Canada
Wildfire season is in full effect across much of Canada, with many Canadians currently facing severe wildfire conditions. The Government of Canada, along with the provinces, territories and the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), is seized with the importance of supporting Canadians whose lives and livelihoods are at stake.
Today, the Governments of Canada, British Columbia, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba, together with the CIFFC, announced a total investment of $104 million through the Government of Canada’s Resilient Communities through FireSmart (RCF) Program.
FireSmart™ Canada is a key part of our national wildfire prevention and mitigation efforts. Led by CIFFC, the program identifies and reduces wildfire risks and provides actionable guidance for homeowners and communities. The funding announced today will help enhance FireSmart™ programming and support the provinces and territories in increasing capacity and assisting community-based projects to help prevent wildfires and mitigate their impacts, including Indigenous communities that are disproportionately threatened by wildfires.
These investments are strengthening the federal government’s actions and efforts to enhance and expand wildfire prevention and mitigation across all levels of government. By working together with provinces, territories, Indigenous communities and international allies, the Government of Canada continues to support the fight against wildfires in communities across the country.
Quotes
“No Canadian should have to worry about a wildfire threatening their community — but as extreme weather increases, the Government of Canada is providing provinces, territories, Indigenous communities and partners with the support they need to fight wildfires. I would like to thank all Canadians, especially first responders, for working to protect one another. The federal government stands with you and is working to build resilience for this wildfire season, and the future.”
The Honourable Tim Hodgson Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
“Across Canada and around the world, climate change is forcing us to change how we think about wildfires — I see this in every community I visit in British Columbia. Preventing wildfires is a shared responsibility, and the only way forward is by working together. From supporting grassroots community projects and education, to expanding government’s role in building a safer, more-resilient future, our shared investment with the Government of Canada is testament to a whole-of-society approach for living with wildfire.”
The Honourable Ravi Parmar British Columbia Minister of Forests
“Building wildfire resilience involves an approach focused on prevention, mitigation and being ready to respond to wildfires threatening our homes and communities. This investment will help communities apply FireSmart principles that will enhance collaboration, build greater awareness and help reduce wildfire risk.”
The Honourable Todd Loewen Alberta Minister of Forestry and Parks
“Preparing for the threat of wildfire is a shared responsibility — we all have a part to play. FireSmart’s practical, effective and science-based programs help residents reduce the risk of wildfires in our communities and ensure residents are better prepared when wildfires occur. Through the FireSmart program, we will continue our ongoing work with Newfoundland and Labrador communities to help keep our residents safe.”
The Honourable Lisa Dempster Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
“Canadians — especially those of us in the North — are focused on preparing for wildfires. This investment, from both our government and the Government of Canada, will support important wildfire prevention efforts in the Yukon. This includes developing Community Wildfire Protection Plans and a territorial prevention and mitigation strategy; constructing large-scale fuel breaks and improving our training; and modelling and risk assessment. Together, we are building wildfire-resilient communities across the Yukon.”
The Honourable Richard Mostyn Yukon Minister of Community Services
“Wildfire is everyone’s responsibility, and we thank Nova Scotians for their vigilance that’s helping keep our people and our communities safe. Through our partnership with the federal government, we’re continuing to help people adopt the FireSmart principles around their homes and in their communities so we can avoid the devastation and upheaval that wildfires can cause.”
The Honourable Tory Rushton Nova Scotia Minister of Natural Resources
“Prince Edward Island is in a good position to respond to fire thanks to local, provincial and federal support that we are using to continually build our wildland fire fighting capacity. It is great to see more Islanders and local communities embracing FireSmart principles, and we are committed to increasing our prevention, mitigation and response efforts.”
The Honourable Gilles Arsenault Prince Edward Island Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action
“As Manitobans bravely pull together to battle one of the most challenging fire seasons in recent memory, wildfire preparedness is more crucial than ever. We thank and honour the incredible work of our wildfire service, local firefighters, Indigenous and municipal leadership and members of the public who are working together to ensure that the thousands of displaced residents remain safe and healthy. The entire government of Manitoba strongly supports any and all initiatives that recognize the need for investing in firefighting preparedness, and we congratulate the federal government on its continuing efforts to address the needs of firefighters and evacuees.”
The Honourable Ian Bushie Manitoba Minister of Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures
“Through this funding, Canadians will be in a better position to protect themselves from the dangers of wildland fire. By working together, using the core FireSmart principles, we can become more resilient and more prepared to face the challenges ahead.”
Kelsey Winter Executive Director of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre
Quick facts
The Government of Canada is providing $9.1 million over five years to the CIFFC under the RCF program. This is in addition to the $1.2-million investment provided to the CIFFC that started in 2023–24 and was announced on May 9, 2024.
Canada and British Columbia are each providing an additional $17.9 million over five years through the RCF program. This is in addition to the $950,122 joint investment between Canada and British Columbia that started in 2023–24 and was announced on September 18, 2024.
Canada and Alberta are each providing $17.9 million over four years through the RCF Program.
Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador are each providing $6.4 million over four years through the RCF program.
The Government of Canada is providing $5.5 million and the Government of Yukon $1.8 million over four years through the RCF program.
Canada and Nova Scotia are each providing an additional $821,130 over five years through the RCF program. This is in addition to the $3.9-million joint investment between Canada and Nova Scotia that started in 2023–24 and was announced on October 1, 2024.
Canada and Prince Edward Island are each providing $510,300 over four years through the RCF program.
Canada and Manitoba are each providing a contribution of $150,000 through the RCF program. Discussions are ongoing to conclude a multi-year agreement.
Visit Canada.ca/wildfires for a complete list of links to various federal supports for individuals impacted by wildfires.
Ministry of Forests Government of British Columbia Media Relations 250 380-8491 Forest.Media@gov.bc.ca
Neil Singh Press Secretary, Forestry and Parks Government of Alberta (587) 385-9649 Neil.Singh@gov.ab.ca
Linda Skinner Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture Government of Newfoundland and Labrador 709-637-2284 lindaskinner@gov.nl.ca
Julia Duchesne Communications, Community Services Government of Yukon 867-332-4188 julia.duchesne@yukon.ca
Adèle Poirier Communications Director Department of Natural Resources 902-430-0997 Adele.Poirier@novascotia.ca
Katie Cudmore Communications Officer, Environment, Energy and Climate Action Government of Prince Edward Island 902-314-3996 Katiecudmore@gov.pe.ca
Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures Government of Manitoba newsroom@gov.mb.ca (media requests for general information) cabcom@manitoba.ca (media requests for ministerial comment)
Alexandria Jones Acting Communications Manager Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre www.ciffc.ca media@ciffc.ca
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On June 11, 2025, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) secured key commitments from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to address urgent issues affecting rural New Mexico — including frozen food security funding, wildfire readiness, and broken federal contracts. She also committed to visiting New Mexico and meeting with Rep. Vasquez’s Agriculture Advisory Group.
WATCH: REP. VASQUEZ SECURES COMMITMENTS FROM SECRETARY ROLLINS IN HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE
“I represent one of the largest and most rural districts in the country — a district that elected both me and President Trump,” said Vasquez. “Farmers, ranchers, food banks, and wildfire crews in my district rely on a functioning USDA — not just for support, but for survival.”
Vasquez raised the abrupt funding freeze to Frontier Food Hub in Silver City, which serves as the only food pantry for hundreds of miles and the only organization supporting small-scale rural producers in the region. Secretary Rollins committed to reviewing the matter and working with Vasquez on food insecurity issues.
On wildfire preparedness, Vasquez described how essential USDA trail crews responsible for cutting fire lines and maintaining forest access have been laid off ahead of peak fire season in New Mexico. He secured a commitment from Secretary Rollins to assess staffing cuts and their impact on New Mexico’s wildfire response capabilities.
Vasquez also called on USDA to honor existing agreements with producers and nonprofits and urged support for hisHonor Farmers Contracts Act, which would ensure the agency follows through on executed contracts.
Secretary Rollins accepted Vasquez’s invitation to visit New Mexico’s 2nd District to hear directly from his Agriculture Advisory Group, which consists of producers, hunger advocates, local business owners, and land conservationists throughout NM-02.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Hedley Twidle, Associate Professor and head of English Literary Studies, University of Cape Town
Across three decades of democracy, South Africa has – like many places undergoing complex and uneven social change – seen an outpouring of remarkable nonfiction. The Interpreters is a new book that collects the work of 37 authors, all of it writing (plus some drawing) concerned with actual people, places and events.
The anthology is the product of many years of reading and discussion between my co-editor Sean Christie (an experienced journalist and nonfiction author) and me (a writer and professor who teaches literature, including creative nonfiction).
The book is a work of homage to the many strains of ambitious and artful writing that shelter within the unhelpful term “nonfiction”. These include: narrative and longform journalism; essays and memoir; reportage, features and profiles; life writing, from private diaries to public biography; oral histories, interviews and testimony.
To give an idea of the range, energy and risk of the pieces collected in the anthology, here I discuss five of them.
1. Fighting Shadows by Lidudumalingani
We debated for a long time which piece to start the anthology with, and ultimately went for this one, which begins:
One afternoon my father and the other boys from the Zikhovane village decided to walk across a vast landscape, two valleys and a river, to a village called Qombolo to disrupt a wedding.
It’s a quietly compelling opening. First of all, there is intrigue: why the disruption? It could also easily be the first sentence of a novel (maybe even one by famous Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe). And so we begin with a reminder of how storytelling is such a deep, ancient and fundamental part of societies – an impulse that long predates writing and moves across and beyond the fiction/nonfiction divide. (Lidudumalingani won the 2016 Caine Prize for a short story, so he works across both.)
Fighting Shadows is about the tradition of stick fighting, and how it’s transported from rural areas to urban ones. But it’s also about so much more, about “the dance between then and now”, as the writer puts it later on. The prose is so deft and graceful, as if the author is trying to match the “dance” of expert stick fighters with his own verbal arts. For me it’s a story that could only have emerged from this part of the world: it has a distinct voice, precision and poetry to it.
2. The End of a Conversation by Julie Nxadi
This is the shortest piece in the anthology, but for me one of the most affecting. It traces how a young girl comes to realise that the (white) family she is being brought up with are not really her family. She is the daughter of the housekeeper, the domestic worker:
I was not ‘the kids’.
I was not their kin.
It’s probably best described as autofiction, a kind of writing that lies somewhere in the borderlands between autobiography and fiction. Nxadi has spoken of how she decided to write in a way that contained her own life story – the “heartbreak” of that moment – but was also able to carry and represent the experience of others who had gone through something similar.
The piece is also a product of the #FeesMustFall student protests (2015 onwards), when many young South Africans felt able to share unresolved, awkward or shameful stories for the first time.
The End of a Conversation is such a deft, wise and subtle handling of a difficult subject, with no easy targets or easy resolutions. Somehow the writer has found just the right distance – emotionally and aesthetically – from this moment of childhood realisation.
3. South African Pastoral by William Dicey
I co-own a pear farm with my brother. I attend to finances and labour relations, he oversees the growing of the fruit.
This essay by William Dicey thinks hard, very hard, about what it means to manage a fruit farm in the Boland (an agricultural region still shaped by South Africa’s divided past). It is one of the most frank and unflinching accounts of land and labour I’ve ever come across. The writer makes the point that he could easily have stayed in the city, lived in “liberal” circles and not thought about these issues much.
But becoming a farmer confronts him with all kinds of difficult questions (How much should he intervene in the lives of his employees? In family and financial planning, in matters of alcohol abuse?) as he is drawn into an awkward but meaningful intimacy with others on the farm.
The US essayist Philip Lopate suggests that scepticism is often the tool for moving towards truth in personal nonfiction writing:
So often the “plot” of a personal essay, its drama, its suspense, consists in watching how the essayist can drop past his or her psychic defences toward deeper levels of honesty.
This is very much what happens in South African Pastoral, and why it is such a mesmerising piece (even while written in such a plain and restrained style).
4. Hard Rock by Mogorosi Motshumi
My co-editor said from the start we should include graphic nonfiction (drawn stories and comics) and I’m so grateful he did. Mogorosi Motshumi’s warm, zany but also harrowing account is about coming of age under apartheid and then the heady days of the 1990s transition.
In his early career, Motshumi was widely known for his comic strips and political cartooning, but this graphic autobiography is far more ambitious. The style of drawing changes and evolves as the protagonist gets older; also, there is something intriguing about seeing weighty subjects like detention, disability, substance abuse and HIV/AIDS stigma approached through the eyes of a wry cartoonist with a keen sense of the absurd.
Hard Rock is a prologue to the graphic nonfiction memoir that he has been working on for many years, the 360 Degrees Trilogy. The first two instalments have appeared – The Initiation (2016) and Jozi Jungle (2022) – and I would urge anyone to seek them out. Mogorosi’s work is a major achievement in South African autobiography and life writing (or life “drawing”).
5. The Interpreters by Antjie Krog, Nosisi Mpolweni and Kopano Ratele
This co-authored piece is what gave the anthology its name. The Interpreters is a reflection on being a language interpreter during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings (1996-1998) into gross human rights violations during white minority rule.
A series of individuals recall the challenges of that process. Sitting in glass booths in the middle of proceedings, they had to move across South Africa’s many official languages in real time, translating the words of victims, perpetrators, grieving families, lawyers and commissioners.
The chapter is also a reminder of how our English-language anthology faces the challenge of doing justice to a multilingual, multivocal society where all kinds of cultural translations happen all the time.
The piece is a blend of many people’s voices, testimonies and reminiscences. As such, it also seemed to symbolise the larger project of The Interpreters: trying to record, render and honour the many voices that make up our complex social world.
Hedley Twidle worked with Soutie Press in the creation of this anthology.
Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business Network to discuss President Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” and how the Senate needs to pass it quickly to enact historic tax cuts for Americans. Senator Tuberville also discussed the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) numbers and shared how President Trump’s tariffs are delivering positive results in Alabama.
Excerpts from Senator Tuberville’s interview can be found below and the full interview can be found on Rumble or YouTube.
KUDLOW: “Joining us now is Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, [the] great Senator Tommy Tuberville. Senator, welcome back as always. I just wanna try this thesis out in you. Mr. Trump acted so decisively to stop the riots in Los Angeles, to protect the work of ICE, to keep the deportations going, to make it very clear that criminals would be thrown into jail, if you spit on somebody, you’re going to jail, etc., etc. That was a big win, I mean, I think it was a big win and a big loss for Democrats. But here’s my questions there. I think that kind of action, which is so popular—it’s like an 80/20 issue—plays into passage of the one big, beautiful bill because people want promises made, promises kept. They want the Trump agenda, and they see that he is unhesitatingly defending the Trump agenda on which he was elected last November. What you think? I’m going from LA to one big, beautiful bill.”
TUBERVILLE: “Well, if you just think about this summer coming up, it’s probably gonna be the ‘summer of hate’ instead of the ‘summer of love,’ Larry. We got huge problems. 1,400 protests just this weekend, but at the end of the day, President Trump never hesitated with this. He goes in—this is a third world country run by a communist governor. And the guy should be in jail, and also the mayor. This is an absolute disgrace. The American people—actually the citizens of California—should be treated a lot better than this. But at the end of the day, it is really gonna help, I think, also, as you said, coming back to the big, beautiful bill, President Trump means business. If you look at this bill, about ¾ of it is tax cuts for all Americans. Tax cuts.”
KUDLOW: “Mhmm.”
TUBERVILLE: “And that’s what we need. We gotta get that done. The other—there’s some things in there, that I don’t agree with all of it—a little bit too much spending, but the one thing we have to get done is the tax cuts and all those other things will work itself out as we go through this bill and another reconciliation down the road. But, yeah, President Trump means business. He knows what he’s doing. He’s got huge backing from really smart people like [Secretary Scott] Bessent and [Secretary Howard] Lutnick, and all the people that are working, all the trade and tariff deals. I’m fired up about the big, beautiful bill being passed here in the very near future.”
KUDLOW: “I mean, you—look, you’ve probably seen some of these numbers from the White House Legislative Affairs, but a 15% tax cut to working families, [has] 82% [support], [support for the] child tax credit [is even] higher, [at] 81% percent. Ending taxes on tips, [has] 77% [support] to 18% [non-support]. Cutting taxes on overtime, [has] 74% [support] to 18% [non-support]. I mean, these are like 75% to 80% [support] to 20% [non-support] issues. You know what they’re like, Senator. They’re like law and order, punishing criminals, or deporting murderers and sex traffickers[which are all popular issues]. They’re 80/20 issues too. And I’m just saying, to me it all kind of comes together—I know LA seems a long way from one big, beautiful bill, but in the public’s mind, the guy they hired to be president is doing what folks want, and I think there’s been momentum. That’s why I wanna get the one big, beautiful bill done as soon as possible, sir.”
TUBERVILLE: “Exactly. Take our country back like he’s doing in California. Take our economy back like he’s gonna do with this bill. This bill is gonna help a lot of people, Larry, and it’s gonna build growth. You know, just last week, I talked to a group in Alabama that President Trump saved 300 jobs at this manufacturing textile mill because of what he did with tariffs.”
KUDLOW: “Mhmm.”
TUBERVILLE: “That’s gonna happen. Biden, Obama, Clinton, they all sold our manufacturing out. Anywhere you drive in this country, you’re gonna see manufacturing plants that are just old, dilapidated. Nobody’s working there—small towns gone to heck in a hand basket. But at the end of the day, President Trump means business. He’s gonna get people to come back. He’s gonna tariff everybody that’s against this country, especially China. And we’re gonna get manufacturing back and take care of ourself instead of other people.”
KUDLOW: “Well, you know, full cost expense is gonna help that. But the bigger story is the tariff inflation is missing in action. And I think these exporting countries with their unfair trading practices—you know, Senator, I think they’re eating the tariff. That’s what I think is happening because there’s no inflation. It’s only 1.4% for the past four months. That’s remarkable. Every economist practically in the liberal media was completely wrong.”
TUBERVILLE: “Well, the Democrats have been hollering, ‘Chicken little, the sky is falling. The sky is falling,’ and all we have to do is look at really what’s going on and everything is getting better. You know, we might not have improved a lot, but we haven’t tanked like the Democrats were expecting because look at all the things we’re having to go through, the tariffs, the wars, all these protests. They’re doing everything they can to slow President Trump down. It’s not working. He’s not listening to the nonsense anymore. The media can do what they want to, but he’s gonna do exactly what he told American people he’s gonna do. He’s gonna stick with it. He’s got a game plan. And I’m looking forward to this game plan continuing on. When we get these tax cuts done, the country is gonna take off in the right direction, and you don’t have to worry about inflation. We’re gonna be on the way up.”
KUDLOW: “Senator Tuberville, President Trump is hinting at putting in a new Fed chairman. I mean, this guy, Jay Powell, should have been cutting rates with the absence of inflation. How about you running the Federal Reserve System? A commonsense guy like you—businessman, you know the farm community. We need somebody. I know your eye—you got your eye on the Alabama governorship. I got the Federal Reserve checked off for you.”
TUBERVILLE: “Well, the one thing I will tell you and [you] hit it on one of those ideas there, Larry. The interest rates are killing our farmers. We’re gonna lose our farmers if we don’t get this interest rate down. It’s costing them a fortune. They can’t make a profit. And what happens when we lose our farmers like we did manufacturing, we’re gone go south. And we cannot allow that to happen. We gotta protect our farmers. Yeah, let’s drop the interest rates. Drop them now. They were way too high for way too long.”
KUDLOW: “Senator Tommy Tuberville, that’s the best. Thank you for your wisdom, sir.”
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California
June 12, 2025
Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) delivered the following remarks at the full committee hearing of the FY2026 Interior budget:
Mr. Secretary, welcome. Thanks for being here. I don’t have to tell you, Mr. Secretary, that your department has enormous responsibilities, managing one-fifth of all U.S. lands, helping fulfill trust obligations to tribal nations, managing national parks, water systems, protecting our native fish and wildlife, and, of course, playing a role in wildfire prevention and response.
Across every region and state in this country, for many years, people have been able to rely on Interior to discharge these responsibilities. And then DOGE came along with its directive to cut, fire, eliminate, to literally go fast and break things. And DOGE has been allowed to take a wrecking ball to every part of Interior. The consequences could be devastating for millions of everyday Americans.
So just take wildfire. Our country is heading into another brutal fire season, and yet Interior’s capacity to prepare for and respond to wildfire has been gutted.
Now, you testified in the Senate, Mr. Secretary, only about the number of wildland firefighters between your agency and the Department of Agriculture. But it takes a lot more than that, as anyone who has visited a fire camp understands all too clearly. And those people, those thousands of support personnel, including certified wildfire personnel, are gone.
It also takes money. Congress appropriated a lot of that for fuel treatment and other much-needed prevention work, and it has been inexplicably delayed setting us back. So, these decisions pose real and immediate threats to homes, lives, and livelihoods.
At a minimum, Mr. Secretary, I hope your testimony will acknowledge this reality and this problem.
Ideally, I would like to hear you not only acknowledge what DOGE cuts have done to our fire preparedness, but commit to fix it.
Now, we hear the same problematic story across Interior. In tribal communities, the BIA firings and funding freezes are stalling or stopping everything from housing construction to public safety projects. At our national parks, millions of Americans are visiting these parks and public lands and already starting to find parks understaffed, services cut, maintenance work delayed following massive staff losses. Across the board, we’re seeing an erosion of public services, and yet this administration and this Republican Congress doesn’t seem to want to talk about, much less fix, these problems.
Indeed, they seem to want to exploit this moment.
Now, in the Republican reconciliation bill, there is nothing to improve the way the Department of Interior serves people and communities. The singular focus seems to be, and the priority, giving things away to industry. New oil and gas and coal leasing on millions of acres of public lands, slashing fossil fuel royalty rates, gutting environmental review, creating a new pay-to-play permitting scheme for wealthy polluters to dodge legal challenges. And so, while everyday Americans are losing public services they count on, from wildfire readiness to water infrastructure and park access, billionaires are getting big tax breaks, and polluters are getting our public lands and sweetheart deals. Mr. Secretary, your comments have added to this disturbing picture.
You’ve often described public lands as part of a federal balance sheet, as if they are assets to be liquidated and sold off to please investors and creditors instead of stewarded for current and future generations. And frankly, your talk about balance sheets sounds more like the vulture capitalist approach that has hollowed out the American economy. Strip the asset, extract the value, and move on. I hope today you will assure us that you value more than just monetary interests and fossil fuel development, that healthy ecosystems and recreation, long-term sustainability, our obligation to conserve public lands for future generations, that these are core values and that you’re doing something about it.
As Theodore Roosevelt said, we should turn our natural resources over to the next generation increased and not impaired. So, Mr. Secretary, we will ask some hard questions today. We have to do that because the stakes are huge for millions of Americans, but this is not the first time I’ve asked questions since February.
I have signed seven letters to the Department of Interior to get answers to many of the concerns I’ve outlined this morning. We got our first response late last night. I will read it, but for the most part, our letters have been ignored.
And by this point in 2021, Secretary Haaland had already provided multiple responses to committee Republicans. I’m asking you, Mr. Secretary, to commit to replying to our pending oversight letters by the end of this month.
Will you agree to do that?
Thank you very much. Mr. Secretary, I look forward to your testimony. There is nothing normal about what is happening in Interior and other agencies right now, breaking down of public services affecting millions of Americans. We deserve real answers, and I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you, sir.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Hedley Twidle, Associate Professor and head of English Literary Studies, University of Cape Town
Across three decades of democracy, South Africa has – like many places undergoing complex and uneven social change – seen an outpouring of remarkable nonfiction. The Interpreters is a new book that collects the work of 37 authors, all of it writing (plus some drawing) concerned with actual people, places and events.
Soutie Press
The anthology is the product of many years of reading and discussion between my co-editor Sean Christie (an experienced journalist and nonfiction author) and me (a writer and professor who teaches literature, including creative nonfiction).
The book is a work of homage to the many strains of ambitious and artful writing that shelter within the unhelpful term “nonfiction”. These include: narrative and longform journalism; essays and memoir; reportage, features and profiles; life writing, from private diaries to public biography; oral histories, interviews and testimony.
To give an idea of the range, energy and risk of the pieces collected in the anthology, here I discuss five of them.
1. Fighting Shadows by Lidudumalingani
We debated for a long time which piece to start the anthology with, and ultimately went for this one, which begins:
One afternoon my father and the other boys from the Zikhovane village decided to walk across a vast landscape, two valleys and a river, to a village called Qombolo to disrupt a wedding.
It’s a quietly compelling opening. First of all, there is intrigue: why the disruption? It could also easily be the first sentence of a novel (maybe even one by famous Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe). And so we begin with a reminder of how storytelling is such a deep, ancient and fundamental part of societies – an impulse that long predates writing and moves across and beyond the fiction/nonfiction divide. (Lidudumalingani won the 2016 Caine Prize for a short story, so he works across both.)
Lidudumalingani has the stick fighting tradition at the centre of his piece.Soutie Press
Fighting Shadows is about the tradition of stick fighting, and how it’s transported from rural areas to urban ones. But it’s also about so much more, about “the dance between then and now”, as the writer puts it later on. The prose is so deft and graceful, as if the author is trying to match the “dance” of expert stick fighters with his own verbal arts. For me it’s a story that could only have emerged from this part of the world: it has a distinct voice, precision and poetry to it.
2. The End of a Conversation by Julie Nxadi
This is the shortest piece in the anthology, but for me one of the most affecting. It traces how a young girl comes to realise that the (white) family she is being brought up with are not really her family. She is the daughter of the housekeeper, the domestic worker:
I was not ‘the kids’. I was not their kin.
It’s probably best described as autofiction, a kind of writing that lies somewhere in the borderlands between autobiography and fiction. Nxadi has spoken of how she decided to write in a way that contained her own life story – the “heartbreak” of that moment – but was also able to carry and represent the experience of others who had gone through something similar.
Julie Nxadi.Soutie Press
The piece is also a product of the #FeesMustFall student protests (2015 onwards), when many young South Africans felt able to share unresolved, awkward or shameful stories for the first time.
The End of a Conversation is such a deft, wise and subtle handling of a difficult subject, with no easy targets or easy resolutions. Somehow the writer has found just the right distance – emotionally and aesthetically – from this moment of childhood realisation.
3. South African Pastoral by William Dicey
I co-own a pear farm with my brother. I attend to finances and labour relations, he oversees the growing of the fruit.
This essay by William Dicey thinks hard, very hard, about what it means to manage a fruit farm in the Boland (an agricultural region still shaped by South Africa’s divided past). It is one of the most frank and unflinching accounts of land and labour I’ve ever come across. The writer makes the point that he could easily have stayed in the city, lived in “liberal” circles and not thought about these issues much.
William Dicey.Soutie Press
But becoming a farmer confronts him with all kinds of difficult questions (How much should he intervene in the lives of his employees? In family and financial planning, in matters of alcohol abuse?) as he is drawn into an awkward but meaningful intimacy with others on the farm.
The US essayist Philip Lopate suggests that scepticism is often the tool for moving towards truth in personal nonfiction writing:
So often the “plot” of a personal essay, its drama, its suspense, consists in watching how the essayist can drop past his or her psychic defences toward deeper levels of honesty.
This is very much what happens in South African Pastoral, and why it is such a mesmerising piece (even while written in such a plain and restrained style).
4. Hard Rock by Mogorosi Motshumi
My co-editor said from the start we should include graphic nonfiction (drawn stories and comics) and I’m so grateful he did. Mogorosi Motshumi’s warm, zany but also harrowing account is about coming of age under apartheid and then the heady days of the 1990s transition.
Mogorosi Motshumi.Soutie Press
In his early career, Motshumi was widely known for his comic strips and political cartooning, but this graphic autobiography is far more ambitious. The style of drawing changes and evolves as the protagonist gets older; also, there is something intriguing about seeing weighty subjects like detention, disability, substance abuse and HIV/AIDS stigma approached through the eyes of a wry cartoonist with a keen sense of the absurd.
Hard Rock is a prologue to the graphic nonfiction memoir that he has been working on for many years, the 360 Degrees Trilogy. The first two instalments have appeared – The Initiation (2016) and Jozi Jungle (2022) – and I would urge anyone to seek them out. Mogorosi’s work is a major achievement in South African autobiography and life writing (or life “drawing”).
5. The Interpreters by Antjie Krog, Nosisi Mpolweni and Kopano Ratele
This co-authored piece is what gave the anthology its name. The Interpreters is a reflection on being a language interpreter during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings (1996-1998) into gross human rights violations during white minority rule.
Kopano Ratele.Soutie Press
A series of individuals recall the challenges of that process. Sitting in glass booths in the middle of proceedings, they had to move across South Africa’s many official languages in real time, translating the words of victims, perpetrators, grieving families, lawyers and commissioners.
Antjie Krog and co-authors write about interpreting language.Brenda Veldtman
The chapter is also a reminder of how our English-language anthology faces the challenge of doing justice to a multilingual, multivocal society where all kinds of cultural translations happen all the time.
The piece is a blend of many people’s voices, testimonies and reminiscences. As such, it also seemed to symbolise the larger project of The Interpreters: trying to record, render and honour the many voices that make up our complex social world.
– 5 great reads by South African writers from 30 years of real-life stories – https://theconversation.com/5-great-reads-by-south-african-writers-from-30-years-of-real-life-stories-258340
Almost all Saskatchewan producers have completed their seeding operations with 100 per cent of the 2025 crop seeded. Rain was welcome in many parts of the province this week. However, in areas that did not receive as much rain, topsoil moisture is continuing to decline.
Rain fell in many areas of the province over the last week with the southeast and east-central regions receiving the highest amounts. The Calder area reported the highest rainfall amount at 36 millimeters (mm) followed by the Stockholm area at 35 mm and the Rocanville area at 34 mm. Regions that did not receive significant amounts of precipitation have noted that rainfall is needed soon to avoid serious crop damage.
With sporadic rain across the province, moisture conditions overall remained at similar levels as last week. However, some areas continued to see a decline in topsoil moisture. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 44 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and 12 per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is reported at 38 per cent adequate, 41 per cent short and 21 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is 29 per cent adequate, 45 per cent short and 26 per cent very short.
Varying stages of crop development are reported given the varied amounts of rain throughout the province.
Thirteen per cent of winter cereals are in the tillering stage, 20 per cent at stem elongation, 26 per cent at flag leaf, 36 per cent are heading and five per cent are in the dough stage.
Nine per cent of spring cereals are at the pre-emergent stage with 47 per cent at the seedling stage, 38 per cent are tillering and six per cent in the stem elongation stage.
Eight per cent of pulse crops are at the pre-emergent stage with 48 per cent at the seedling stage and 44 per cent reported at the vegetative stage of development.
Eighteen per cent of canola and mustard are at the pre-emergent stage, with 67 per cent at the seedling stage and 15 per cent at the rosette stage.
Eighteen per cent of the flax is at the pre-emergent stage with 68 per cent at the seedling stage and 14 per cent starting stem elongation.
Environmental conditions contributing to crop damage this week include dry conditions, heat and wind. Damage overall was reported as minor to moderate. In addition to damage caused by hot, dry and windy conditions, producers also note that some minor damage was being caused by frost and wildlife in many regions of the province. Flea beetles, grasshoppers, cutworms and pea leaf weevil continue to cause crop damage throughout many regions with some areas reporting minor to moderate crop damage.
As producers have mostly wrapped up seeding, they are moving on to applying in-crop herbicides during appropriate weather. Crops will continue to be monitored for insects and environmental damage. As cattle are moved out to pasture, producers will monitor and fix fence where required.
For many producers, this is still a stressful time of year and producers are encouraged to take safety precautions in all the work they do. The Farm Stress Line can help by providing support for producers toll free at 1-800-667-4442.
A complete, printable version of the Crop Report is available online: Download Crop Report.
Follow the 2025 Crop Report on X/Twitter at @SKAgriculture.
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For more information, contact:
Kim Stonehouse Agriculture Tisdale Phone: 306-878-8807 Email: kim.stonehouse@gov.sk.ca
The joint IAEA and FAO Assessment Mission team examine new rice varieties during the first Atoms4Food Initiative Assessment Mission in Burkina Faso. (Photo: Victor Owino/IAEA)
In a critical step toward addressing food insecurity in West Africa, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations have launched their first joint Atoms4Food Initiative Assessment Mission in Burkina Faso.
This mission aims to identify key gaps and opportunities for delivering targeted technical support to Burkina Faso for food and agriculture in a country where an estimated 3.5 million people—nearly 20% of the population—are facing food insecurity. By leveraging nuclear science and technology, Atoms4Food seeks to bolster agricultural resilience and agrifood systems in one of the region’s most vulnerable nations.
The mission, conducted from 26 May to 1 June, assessed how nuclear and related technologies are being used in Burkina Faso to address challenges in enhancing crop production, improving soil quality and in animal production and health, as well as human nutrition.
The Atoms4Food Initiative was launched jointly by IAEA and FAO in 2023 to help boost food security and tackle growing hunger around the world. Atoms4Food will support countries to use innovative nuclear techniques such as sterile insect technique and plant mutation breeding to enhance agricultural productivity, ensure food safety, improve nutrition and adapt agrifood systems to the challenges of climate change. Almost €9 million has been pledged by IAEA donor countries and private companies to the initiative so far.
As part of the Atoms4Food initiative, Assessment Missions are used to evaluate the specific needs and priorities of participating countries and identify critical gaps and opportunities where nuclear science and technology can offer impactful solutions. Based on the findings, tailored and country-specific solutions will be offered.
Burkina Faso is one of 29 countries who have so far requested to receive support under Atoms4Food, with more expected this year. Alongside Benin, Pakistan, Peru and Türkiye, Burkina Faso was among the first countries to request an Atoms4Food Assessment Mission in 2025.
A large proportion of Burkina Faso’s population still live in poverty and inequality. Food insecurity has been compounded by rapid population growth, gender inequality and low levels of educational attainment. In addition, currently, 50% of rice consumed in Burkina Faso is imported. The government aims to achieve food sovereignty by producing sufficient rice domestically to reduce reliance on imports.
“Hunger and malnutrition are on the rise globally, and Burkina Faso is particularly vulnerable to this growing challenge,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “This first Atoms4Food assessment mission marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to harness the power of nuclear science to enhance food security. As the Atoms4Food Initiative expands worldwide, we are committed to delivering tangible, sustainable solutions to reduce hunger and malnutrition.”
The mission was conducted by a team of ten international experts in the areas of crop production, soil and water management, animal production and health and human nutrition. During the mission, the team held high-level meetings with the Burkina Faso Ministries of Agriculture, Health and Environment and conducted site visits to laboratories including the animal health laboratory and crop breeding facility at the Institute of Environment and Agricultural Research, the crop genetics and nutrition laboratories at the University Joseph Ki-Zerbo, and the bull station of the Ministry of Agriculture in Loumbila.
“The Government of Burkina Faso is striving to achieve food security and sovereignty, to supply the country’s population with sufficient, affordable, nutritious and safe food, while strengthening the sustainability of the agrifood systems value-chain,” said Dongxin Feng, Director of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre for Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture and head of the mission to Burkina Faso. “Though much needs to be done, our mission found strong dedication and commitment from the Government in developing climate-resilient strategies for crops, such as rice, potato, sorghum and mango, strengthening sustainable livestock production of cattle, small ruminants and local poultry, as well as reducing malnutrition among infants and children, while considering the linkages with food safety.”
The Assessment Mission will deliver an integrated Assessment Report with concrete recommendations on areas for intervention under the Atoms4Food Initiative. This will help develop a National Action Plan in order to scale up the joint efforts made by the two organizations in the past decades, which will include expanding partnership and resource mobilization. “Our priority now is to deliver a concrete mission report with actionable recommendations that will support the development of the National Action Plan aimed at improving the country’s long term food security,” Feng added.
Crédit Agricole Transitions & Energies becomes a majority shareholder in COMWATT, a specialist in energy optimisation
Crédit Agricole Transitions & Énergies has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in COMWATT, an innovative company based in Montpellier, France, specialising in the production and optimisation of solar energy consumption for individual customers.
This transaction forms part of Crédit Agricole Transitions & Énergies objective to accelerate the development of concrete solutions to support Crédit Agricole Group customers in their plans to decarbonise and manage their energy costs.
With COMWATT, Crédit Agricole Transitions & Énergies is strengthening its solar self-consumption offer. These new services will complement those already offered, such as the “J’écorénove mon logement” platform, which is dedicated to residential energy renovation.
The impact of the transaction on the CET1 ratio of Crédit Agricole S.A. is not significant.
About Crédit Agricole Transitions & Énergies A subsidiary of Crédit Agricole Group, Crédit Agricole Transitions & Énergies supports and facilitates the environmental transitions of its customers through financing and investing in renewable energy projects; the production and supply of direct distribution decarbonised electricity, in cooperation with local players; and providing transition consultancy and solutions, supporting the energy efficiency efforts of the Group’s customers. Crédit Agricole Transitions & Énergies comprises 82 employees and places its expertise at the service of individual customers, professionals, corporates, farmers and local authorities. https://www.ca-transitions-energies.fr/en/Follow us on LinkedIn
About COMWATT COMWATT is a French company established in 2013 that provides intelligent energy management solutions. Recipient of 15 labels and innovation awards, COMWATT has distinguished itself through its ability to offer solutions that are simple to use but extremely efficient. Market leader COMWATT enables its 35,000 users to regain control over their consumption and improve their energy independence. www.comwatt.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/comwatt/
San Francisco, CA, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LambdaTest, a unified agentic AI and cloud engineering platform, today announced the launch of Keyboard Accessibility Semi-Automated Scan in its Accessibility DevTools, a powerful new feature that redefines how teams conduct keyboard navigation audits.
Traditional keyboard accessibility testing often demands time-consuming, manual review of every interactive element to ensure correct tab order and user experience. The new semi-automated scan feature simplifies this process by automatically detecting and highlighting tab stops in the exact order users encounter them. Interactive elements are scanned for accessibility roles, names, and states, while intuitive visual cues streamline validation. The result is faster, more consistent testing with deeper insight.
“This feature helps teams quickly identify and validate keyboard tab stops, roles, and states, making accessibility testing faster, smarter, and more reliable”, said Mayank Bhola, Co-Founder and Head of Product at LambdaTest. “At LambdaTest, our goal is to embed accessibility into every stage of development so that teams can build inclusive, high-quality digital experiences with confidence.”
This advancement marks LambdaTest’s ongoing commitment to simplifying accessibility testing and empowering teams with actionable insights. This feature is now available within LambdaTest’s Accessibility DevTools.
About LambdaTest LambdaTest is an AI-native, omnichannel software quality platform that empowers businesses to accelerate time to market through intelligent, cloud-based test authoring, orchestration, and execution. With over 15,000 customers and 2.3 million+ users across 130+ countries, LambdaTest is the trusted choice for modern software testing.
● Browser & App Testing Cloud: Enables manual and automated testing of web and mobile apps across 10,000+ browsers, real devices, and OS environments, ensuring cross-platform consistency.
● HyperExecute: An AI-native test execution and orchestration cloud that runs tests up to 70% faster than traditional grids, offering smart test distribution, automatic retries, real-time logs, and seamless CI/CD integration.
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Zimbabwe is making significant progress in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within its poultry sector, thanks to a collaborative effort between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Zimbabwe. Through a Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) supported project and the Fleming Fund global project, the initiative has successfully reduced the overuse of antimicrobials in the broiler value chain by empowering farmers with sustainable and biosecure poultry production practices.
Antimicrobial resistance poses a serious threat to global health, food security, and economic stability. The overuse of antimicrobials in livestock production contributes significantly to this problem, leading to the development of resistant bacteria that can spread to humans, making infections harder to treat.
The project, implemented in eight districts – Bubi, Chegutu, Masvingo, Marondera, Murewa, Mutare, Mutasa, and Zvimba – employed the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach to promote improved husbandry practices. This hands-on, participatory method equips farmers with the knowledge and skills to enhance biosecurity, prevent diseases, and ultimately reduce their reliance on antimicrobials.
Speaking at a recent project review meeting, Berhanu Bedane, FAO Livestock Development Officer, emphasized the project’s impact. “This initiative has demonstrated the value and impact of the One Health approach, where sectors across human and animal health collaborated to address the shared threat of antimicrobial resistance,” he stated. He highlighted that FAO’s focus was on delivering practical, evidence-based interventions directly to the animal health sector.
The FFS model proved instrumental in achieving these goals. By providing farmers with tailored training and communication materials, the project fostered a deeper understanding of disease prevention and the importance of responsible use of antimicrobials. A baseline Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) survey informed the development of these materials, ensuring they were relevant and effective.
“The farmer field schools have been empowering poultry farmers through hands-on training in sustainable and biosecure poultry production,” Bedane explained. “This enhances poultry productivity while simultaneously reducing the use of antimicrobials through the reduction of infections, making our health more secure and sustainable.” He also noted similar initiatives in the dairy value chain aimed at understanding and reducing antimicrobial use through prudent biosecurity and animal health management systems.
The Chief Director of the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), Dr Pious Makaya echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the project’s alignment with Zimbabwe’s national development priorities, as outlined in the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and the broader Vision 2030. “What we have heard today is in sync with the national development imperatives that we have,” he said.
He specifically highlighted the project’s contribution to key national priorities such as health and well-being, food security, and food safety. “Our health would be enhanced and improved, and also the health of the animals as well, the health of the environment as well would also be improved,” he stated, adding that enhanced animal health improves livestock production and promotes food safety.
The DVS Chief Director recognized the complexity of tackling AMR, describing it as a “wicked problem” requiring multifaceted solutions. “We cannot have one single solution. It is not a linear problem,” he emphasized, underscoring the importance of the multi-sectoral approach adopted by the MPTF and Fleming fund projects. He also stressed the need for continuous review and adaptation of strategies to keep pace with the evolving nature of AMR.
Looking ahead, both FAO and the Government of Zimbabwe reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining momentum in the fight against AMR. Berhanu Bedane stated that FAO and its partners in the Quadripartite are fully committed to maintaining momentum. He also pointed towards consolidating the achievements realized and identifying clear pathways for continued collaboration in the implementation of Zimbabwe’s AMR National Action Plan 2.0. The country is also being considered for a phase two of the MPTF project.
The success of this collaborative initiative demonstrates the power of partnerships and the effectiveness of empowering farmers with knowledge and tools to adopt sustainable practices. These achievements also contribute to broader global goals under the RENOFARM initiative (Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials on Farms), which promotes reduced antimicrobial reliance through strengthened biosecurity, preventive animal health strategies, and improved farming practices. By reducing the reliance on antimicrobials in livestock production, Zimbabwe is taking a crucial step toward safeguarding public health, promoting food security, and protecting the environment for future generations.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)
Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01)joined Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH),and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02)in announcing that the New Hampshire State Society Event, “Experience New Hampshire,” will return to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. The New Hampshire Congressional delegation and other members of Congress will attend the event, which exhibits Granite State businesses and their first-class products in the U.S. Capitol. This year’s event marks the New Hampshire State Society’s 14th year hosting the reception.
“By highlighting our state’s small businesses and their unique products and services, Experience New Hampshire brings Granite State culture to our nation’s capital,” said Congressman Pappas. “In New Hampshire, small businesses are the fabric of our communities, economy, and way of life. I am once again thrilled to join our federal delegation in welcoming guests to this popular event, and I look forward to seeing fellow Granite Staters and their small businesses in D.C.”
“From our world-famous maple syrup to tourism in the White Mountains, Experience New Hampshire showcases the businesses, institutions and entrepreneurs that make the Granite State a uniquely wonderful place,” said Senator Shaheen. “By allowing businesses to share their products and services and to connect with industry leaders and policymakers, the reception puts New Hampshire on the map. I’m thankful to the New Hampshire State Society for their work year after year to make this event possible.”
“Experience NH provides an opportunity to showcase some of the many small businesses, vendors, foods, and artists that make our state so great,” said Senator Hassan.“I look forward to Experience NH every year and I appreciate all those who are joining for this year’s celebration and helping bring our Granite State spirit to Washington.”
“New Hampshire is home to the best of America,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “I’m proud to partner with New Hampshire’s federal delegation and the New Hampshire State Society to help bring a taste of the Granite State to Congress and connect New Hampshire businesses and innovators with legislators and leaders in our nation’s Capitol.”
Some participating businesses this year will include Echo Farm Puddings, Contoocook Creamery, Shire’s Naturals, Concord Regional Technical Center, the New Hampshire Maple Producers, SkiNH, The Spicy Shark, and more.
