Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)
June 18, 2025
SAN ANTONIO, TX — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a senior member of both the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement on the Israel-Iran conflict:
“I represent Military City, USA — San Antonio, Texas. So many in our city have proudly served their country in the armed forces throughout the years, including during times of war.
“Each Memorial Day, the Edgewood District Veterans honor their classmates who died or were missing in action in the Vietnam War. The name of each service member is called out and parents, siblings or other remaining family members step forward in a procession of remembrance at Edgewood Veterans Stadium. Almost sixty years have passed but the pain and grief of loss is still strong. The war took the service members’ lives while it devastated the spirit of life for their families.
“No place, no city or community has a monopoly when it comes to military sacrifice. I know there are many ceremonies just like Edgewood’s across the country every Memorial Day. But I am certain that the neighborhoods where I grew up, the families of the city that I represent, have sacrificed their fair share.
“They served because they believed in the values of this country. But that trust and goodwill was sometimes abused by political leaders who sent our service members to fight in wars under false pretenses based on bad or biased intelligence, and without a long-term plan or exit strategy. As we witness the first days of the war between Israel and Iran, I feel we’re on the verge of making the same old mistake in a new war in the Middle East.
“I remain hopeful that there is a diplomatic breakthrough to address Iran’s nuclear program, despite the best efforts of Benjamin Netanyahu to sabotage negotiations. Even absent such a breakthrough, based on the military, intelligence, and diplomatic assessments I have seen as a senior member of the House Intelligence and Foreign Affairs Committees, I do not believe our participation in this war is in our interest.
“If the President truly believes going to war with Iran is in the national interest, he must make his case to the Congress and the American people and secure an authorization for the use of military force. He has not done so.
“I will support the War Powers resolution introduced by Representatives Massie and Khanna. Much like the vote to go to war with Iraq, this resolution will force members of Congress to make their position on this war clear. I urge them to oppose the war.”
Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced a resolution to designate June 19, 2025 as “World Sickle Cell Awareness Day” to increase public awareness about sickle cell disease and the continued need for research, early detection, and effective treatments that lead to a cure. U.S. Representative Danny Davis (D-IL-12) will introduce companion legislation in the House.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a rare, inherited disorder that causes a person’s red blood cells to become deformed and get stuck in their veins, blocking oxygen flow throughout the body. In the United States, 100,000 people are affected by SCD, including 1 in every 365 African-American births, and 1 in every 16,300 Hispanic-American births. Around the world, sickle cell disease affects millions of people, particularly in some areas of sub-Saharan Africa, South and Central America, the Caribbean, South Asia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean basin. In countries with fewer resources, more than 90 percent of children diagnosed with sickle cell disease do not live to see adulthood. Despite being the most common inherited blood disorder in our country, research, treatment, and awareness efforts for the disease still lag far behind other chronic illnesses.
“Sickle cell disease is the most common inherited blood disorder in our county, but despite its prevalence and severe health consequences, Americans battling sickle cell still face barriers to accessing care they need,” said Senator Booker. “We must continue allocating resources for research and treatment of this disease that primarily affects communities of color. I’m proud of the progress we have made over the past few decades in combating sickle cell, but know we must do more. I’m introducing a resolution to designate June 19 as World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, and am committed to continuing to fight for improved, comprehensive, high-quality care for those diagnosed with sickle cell.”
“Sickle cell disease has claimed the lives of too many people here in the U.S. and around the world far too soon, including a former staff member of mine, John Amara. With this resolution, we recognize all those we’ve lost to this terrible disease – and reinforce our commitment to working toward a better future for today’s sickle cell warriors and their families. We will not stop fighting to raise awareness, strengthen networks of care and support, and ultimately make sickle cell disease a thing of the past,” said Senator Van Hollen.
“I’m proud to join my colleagues in recognizing June 19th as World Sickle Cell Awareness Day. Considering the health difficulties that sickle cell disease creates for millions of individuals both in the United States and globally, we need to invest more resources in improving awareness, comprehensive care, better treatments, and new cures that are accessible for those sickle cell warriors suffering from this dreadful disease,” said Representative Davis.
To read the full text of the resolution, click here.
Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) led a group of 20 of his colleagues in calling on Senate leadership to oppose any efforts to limit existing state and local authority to regulate pesticides in the upcoming Farm Bill or any other legislation.
“More than thirty states and hundreds of cities and counties have adopted pesticide laws and ordinances to protect workers, children, rural communities, and wildlife. State and local governments have long acted to supplement federal pesticide laws to protect people from the serious health problems—including neurological and behavioral issues, cancer, and Parkinson’s Disease—that can be caused by unsafe exposure to pesticides,” the lawmakers wrote. “States and localities have implemented protective measures that fit their local needs, such as posting warnings when pesticides have been sprayed near schools and parks, protecting drinking water supplies, protecting and informing workers, and restricting the use of some pesticides on playgrounds. States and localities have also taken measures to protect endangered species that are especially susceptible to pesticides, like pollinators.”
The lawmakers continued, “While federal regulations provide a base level of protection against the harms of pesticides, only localities and states are in the position to implement protective measures that are designed specifically to meet the needs of their citizens… Preempting these state and local laws prevents state and local officials from addressing local needs in favor of a one-size-fits-all approach.”
The lawmakers also expressed strong opposition to any proposed legislation which would prohibit states from requiring manufacturers to disclose known risks about their pesticide products, such as carcinogenicity.
“Preemption proposals like these would eliminate laws that give consumers the ability to make informed decisions about using a pesticide product, based on the product’s risks to their health. These proposals would also take away consumers’ opportunity for redress if a manufacturer fails to issue warnings,” the lawmakers concluded.
The letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
To read the full text of the letter, click here.
The Senators are joined by 133 state and local leaders and 187 organizations, who called on Congress to oppose federal pesticide preemption. You can read their letters here and here.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
St. Petersburg, June 19 /Xinhua/ — The Iranian-Israeli conflict can be resolved in a way that ensures both Iran’s interests in the peaceful nuclear sector and Israel’s interests in terms of its security, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in St. Petersburg during a meeting with heads of leading global news agencies.
“It would be right for everyone to look for ways to end the hostilities and find ways for all parties to this conflict to reach an agreement with each other in order to ensure both the interests of Iran on the one hand in its nuclear activities – including peaceful nuclear activities, of course, I mean both peaceful nuclear energy and peaceful nuclear energy in other areas – and to ensure the interests of Israel, from the point of view of the unconditional security of the Jewish state,” noted V. Putin.
As the Russian leader emphasized, this is a very delicate issue, the solution of which must be very careful. “In general, such a solution can be found,” he added. But the decision, according to him, is up to Iran and Israel. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
St. Petersburg, June 19 /Xinhua/ — Interest in the Chinese language is growing in Russia, which is connected with the expansion of contacts and the growth of economic activity in Russian-Chinese relations. This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, answering a question from the Director General of the Chinese news agency Xinhua Fu Hua during a meeting with heads of international news agencies on the sidelines of the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which is being held in St. Petersburg from June 18 to 21.
“I can say that interest in the Chinese language is growing in Russia. There is nothing surprising here, and there is nothing that would distinguish Russian-Chinese relations in this case from any other relations of our country with other countries in the event of an expansion of the volume of contacts and economic activity,” the Russian leader noted.
As V. Putin said, contacts between Russia and China are growing in all areas. In particular, student exchanges continue. “We have 51 thousand Chinese students studying in Russia, and approximately 25 thousand Russian young people studying in China,” he said, adding that direct contacts have been established between Russian and Chinese universities.
The Russian President also noted contacts in the cultural and humanitarian fields, which are facilitated by the regular holding of thematic cross-years of Russia and China.
“And if my memory serves me right, we started these thematic years with the Year of the Chinese Language in Russia and the Year of the Russian Language in China. It is no coincidence. I think we did it very correctly, since it stimulated the interest of both nations in each other,” he emphasized.
V. Putin explained that when he previously spoke about his close relatives studying Chinese, he was talking about his granddaughter, who speaks Chinese fluently with her teacher from Beijing.
“But my daughter, back in the early 2000s, before all these significant and well-known events, she began to study Chinese on her own initiative. Simply because she wanted to. She hired a teacher and studied,” the Russian president added. –0–
Data released by Stats NZ today shows that the economy grew on a quarterly basis by 0.8% but fell on an annual basis by 1.1% said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. “This is positive data for the first quarter of this year, but the fact that the economy is about the same size it was in March 2023 tells you that essentially we have had almost zero economic growth (0.3%) over the past two years.”
“GDP per capita ($52,872) is now lower than it was in March 2022 ($53,100). It took another fall on an annual basis of 2.4%. There were falls in 11 of the 16 sectors of the economy annually – led by construction (-9.3%), wholesale trade (-3.6%) , and business services (-2%). Both goods producing industries and service industries saw contraction this year.”
“The data shows that workers incomes aren’t keeping up with profits. Stats NZ shows that compensation of employees rose 1.5% this quarter before inflation. Gross operating surplus and gross mixed incomes (a broad measure of profit) rose 2%. Employee compensation was revised down in the December quarter to -0.2%.”
“The lack of business confidence in the economy is present in the business investment data. Business investment fell this year. Non-residential building investment fell 2.9%. Transport equipment purchases fell 6%. Households are feeling it to, with purchase of durable goods being lower than they were in December 2023,” Renney said.
“This data shows us how far we fell over the past year in economic terms. The growth in GDP this quarter is welcome – but the economy is still smaller than at the election in real terms. With more recent data suggesting that the economy is struggling to grow, there is a real danger that we return to slow, no, or negative growth.”
“It’s time for the Government to realise that its economic growth plan isn’t working. There are 23,000 more people on Jobseekers this year. 48% of workers in New Zealand got a pay cut in real terms. Business and consumer confidence are at levels associated with recessions. One quarter of data shouldn’t blind the government of the need for change.”
Today’s surprise economic result is great news for workers, families and businesses, Finance Minister Nicola Willis said today. “Stats NZ reported today that the economy grew 0.8 per cent in the first three months of the year, twice the rate forecast by the Treasury and the Reserve Bank a short time ago. “This is the second consecutive quarter in which growth outstripped forecasters’ assumptions and confirms the economy was gaining momentum late last year and at the start of this year. “Since then, global conflict has increased and new tariffs have been introduced, but New Zealanders should take heart that the country is back on track after six years of economic mismanagement that fuelled inflation, discouraged investment and ratcheted up prices. “I know many households and businesses are still doing it tough but the steps the Government has taken to stop wasteful spending, grow the economy and provide more support to households are paying dividends. So are the efforts of the private sector. “It is also pleasing to see that Gross Domestic Product per person grew by 0.5 per in the quarter, the highest rate since September 2022 and the second consecutive quarter of growth after eight quarters of negative or no growth. “Inflation is down, interest rates are down, and many families have a little more money in their pockets. “That money is flowing through to business tills aided by the steps the Government has taken to reduce red tape, incentivise investment and boost tourism, and the export records being set by New Zealand farmers and growers,” Nicola Willis says.
Juneteenth is a pivotal moment in American history. On June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally heard news of their freedom—three years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Let’s not just remember this day, but actively celebrate the resilience and fight for justice it represents. Let’s recommit to the ongoing journey toward true equality. We should all be proud that the IAM Union stands firmly on this legacy of overcoming struggle and achieving triumph.
Together, we are using our collective strength to dismantle systemic injustices and create real pathways to economic security and dignity for every worker. Our contracts are powerful tools for progress, designed to secure rights, elevate standards, and resist the forces that try to divide us.
To this end, I hope you’ll join us at the 2025 IAM Human Rights Conference this September in Atlanta. This year’s theme, “Breaking Barriers,” reflects the IAM’s shared commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive union. The conference will bring together IAM human rights activists, women’s rights advocates, young workers, and community leaders across North America. We are confronting threats to voting rights, racial equity, and workplace fairness head-on, and we will fiercely protect every member’s voice at the ballot box, at the negotiating table, and throughout our communities.
We are united, empowered by our diversity, and driven by our mission for justice. The IAM Union has always led the charge for racial and economic justice, understanding these struggles as inseparable. Real progress happens when we champion them together.
This Juneteenth, let’s reignite our resolve and turn remembrance into action. Let us stand together, with unwavering purpose and pride, and build a more just, inclusive, and democratic future for all.
Sincerely,
Brian Bryant IAM Union International President @IAMBrianBryant
The post A Message From International President Brian Bryant for Juneteenth appeared first on IAM Union.
Juneteenth is a pivotal moment in American history. On June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally heard news of their freedom—three years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Let’s not just remember this day, but actively celebrate the resilience and fight for justice it represents. Let’s recommit to the ongoing journey toward true equality. We should all be proud that the IAM Union stands firmly on this legacy of overcoming struggle and achieving triumph.
Together, we are using our collective strength to dismantle systemic injustices and create real pathways to economic security and dignity for every worker. Our contracts are powerful tools for progress, designed to secure rights, elevate standards, and resist the forces that try to divide us.
To this end, I hope you’ll join us at the 2025 IAM Human Rights Conference this September in Atlanta. This year’s theme, “Breaking Barriers,” reflects the IAM’s shared commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive union. The conference will bring together IAM human rights activists, women’s rights advocates, young workers, and community leaders across North America. We are confronting threats to voting rights, racial equity, and workplace fairness head-on, and we will fiercely protect every member’s voice at the ballot box, at the negotiating table, and throughout our communities.
We are united, empowered by our diversity, and driven by our mission for justice. The IAM Union has always led the charge for racial and economic justice, understanding these struggles as inseparable. Real progress happens when we champion them together.
This Juneteenth, let’s reignite our resolve and turn remembrance into action. Let us stand together, with unwavering purpose and pride, and build a more just, inclusive, and democratic future for all.
Sincerely,
Brian Bryant IAM Union International President @IAMBrianBryant
The post A Message From International President Brian Bryant for Juneteenth appeared first on IAM Union.
Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
Washington – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) applauded the inclusion of his Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today (SHORT) Act in the Senate reconciliation text. If signed into law, the legislation would remove the unconstitutional taxation, registration, and regulation of short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and any other weapons under the National Firearms Act (NFA).
“Short-barreled weapons are the weapons of choice for self-defense, and I am proud to have gotten the SHORT Act into the President’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill,’” said Senator Marshall. “‘Shall not be infringed’ is crystal clear, and the SHORT Act takes a step toward rolling back nonsensical regulations that the National Firearms Act has placed upon gun owners. The Biden-era abuses of the constitutionally protected rights of gun owners will be undone.”
Additionally, using the NFA, the Biden Administration argued that people who own pistols with stabilizing braces own illegal short-barreled rifles. The ATF used that argument to facilitate a ban, forcing gun owners to violate their rule or participate in an unconstitutional registry titled “Amnesty Registration of Pistol Brace Weapons,” to keep their firearms. Eliminating unconstitutional and unnecessary restrictions, taxation, and registration placed on NFA firearms will ensure that the ATF does not enact any future version of this ban.
To learn more, watch Senator Marshall’s interview with Newsmax – click here or on the image below to watch.
Background
Senator Marshall has introduced the SHORT Act in the 117th Congress, the 118th Congress, and the 119th Congress.
In addition to removing the unconstitutional taxation, registration, and regulation of firearms, this legislation would also require the ATF to destroy all records relating to the registration, transfer, or manufacture of these NFA firearms, preventing the ATF from further harassing owners or confiscating these firearms.
Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
Washington – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) praised the United States Supreme Court decision upholding Tennessee’s ban on dangerous puberty blockers and hormone therapy for children.
“Today was not just a win for basic biology and common sense, but for human decency, sound medicine, and the dignity and safety of children everywhere,” said Senator Marshall. “As a doctor for over 25 years, I understand the gravity of these harmful so-called treatments radical activists have been pushing on children. They leave permanent scarring, sterilization, and other horrible side effects. Make no mistake, there’s more work to do, and I remain committed to eliminating taxpayer-funded transgender procedures on both minors and adults.”
Senator Marshall’s legislation – the No Subsidies for Gender Transition Procedures Act – is the framework for the text in the President’s One Big, Beautiful Bill that would bar Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) from covering gender-transition procedures (including surgeries and hormone therapy) for all ages. This provision would save taxpayers $2.5 billion over ten years and would prevent irreversible surgical interventions, which often lead to significant health complications, sterilization, and long-term medical costs.
Background:
Senator Marshall has long fought to protect the safety, health, and dignity of children from the pernicious forces of the radical left by:
Introducing the Safeguarding the Overall Protection of Minors Act, which prohibits any person, or the minor in question, from engaging in interstate commerce to perform, attempting to perform, conspiring to perform, or providing a referral for any gender transition procedure, including surgeries, hormone treatments, and other therapies, on a minor.
Bringing together a coalition to sound the alarm on the extreme gender ideology war being waged against America’s children and to talk about solutions, including the Safeguarding the Overall Protection of Minors Act.
Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
Washington – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) introduced the Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) English Proficiency Act, which would require those applying to operate CMVs to be tested for English proficiency before receiving a CMV license.
“Common sense would tell us that anyone driving on American roads, especially those operating large trucks and trailers, should be capable of understanding what the road signs say or how to communicate with police,” said Senator Marshall. “Kansans deserve to know that commercial operators are held to the highest safety standards. I am proud to introduce legislation that ensures those driving the largest vehicles on the road can understand the official language of America: English.”
U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi) joined Senator Marshall in sponsoring the bill.
“English proficiency for commercial truck drivers isn’t just practical, it can be a matter of life and death. The unwillingness of previous administrations to enforce this commonsense regulation undermines roadway safety and puts all drivers at risk,” said Senator Hyde-Smith. “I’m proud to work with Senator Marshall to restore this critical safety standard. This legislation is a straightforward, sensible step that will make our roads and highways safer for everyone.”
Under the bill, all CMV applicants will be tested on their ability to read and understand traffic signs, communicate in English with law enforcement, and provide and receive feedback and directions in English. Additionally, this bill prohibits these tests from being administered in languages other than English.
This bill comes on the heels of President Trump’s executive order to enhance enforcement of English language requirements for drivers on the road and rescind Obama-era guidance relaxing the enforcement of these requirements.
Click here to read the full text of the legislation.
Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
Communities From North Country, Finger Lakes, CNY, Capital Region Win Funding For Critical Community Projects Such As Upgrading Wastewater Infrastructure, Expanding Access To Healthcare & More
Schumer, Gillibrand: Fed $$ Is Flowing To Improve Upstate NY Infrastructure, Expand Healthcare & Create Jobs!
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $12,349,291 in federal funding for 14 projects across Upstate New York through the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), which the senators recently fought to reauthorize and expand. Schumer and Gillibrand said these projects will help address critical needs across the region, including upgrading wastewater infrastructure, expanding access to healthcare services, and more to improve quality of life and spur economic development in the region.
“From expanding wastewater systems in the Finger Lakes Region to boosting access to healthcare in the North Country, this $12+ million in federal money via the excellent Northern Border Regional Commission will support major infrastructure upgrades and increase in vital services in Upstate New York. These federal investments will help create new jobs, strengthen our infrastructure, expand healthcare and boost quality of life across the region,” said Senator Schumer. “I have long fought to secure and increase funding for the Northern Border Regional Commission and expand this important federal support because it has played a unique and pivotal role in spurring economic development, upgrading infrastructure, improving quality of life, and creating jobs in communities across Upstate New York. I’m proud to have delivered this critical funding to help families and communities lay the foundation for a better future here in Upstate New York.”
“These federal investments will support essential upgrades to infrastructure, expand access to health care, create jobs, and drive economic growth across Upstate New York,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The Northern Border Regional Commission has already backed more than 75 projects in our state, and this additional $12 million will build on that progress and help communities thrive. I’m proud to have helped secure this funding, and I’ll keep fighting to protect the NBRC to ensure our families, workers, and small businesses have the resources they need to succeed.”
A full list of projects can be found below:
Recipient
Region
County
Amount
Description
Town of Hunter
Capital Region
Greene
$1,000,000
The Town of Hunter will design, construct, and equip the Mountaintop Community Hall, supporting workforce development, business incubation, community programming, and emergency preparedness.
Village of Whitehall
Capital Region
Washington
$1,000,000
The Village of Whitehall will upgrade its water infrastructure following a State of Emergency due to water supply disruptions. This project will safeguard drinking water for residents and businesses by enhancing the Pine Lake reservoir and Village Water Treatment Plant with modern monitoring and control systems.
East Hill Family Medical, Inc
Central NY
Cayuga
$1,000,000
East Hill Family Medical, Inc will transform a newly acquired site in Sennett, NY into a state-of-the-art healthcare facility. The project will improve access to primary care, behavioral health, and dental services, serving an estimated 4,500 additional patients and addressing regional provider shortages.
Town of Schroeppel
Central NY
Oswego
$80,000
The Town of Schroeppel will conduct a comprehensive water infrastructure feasibility study, ensuring long-term access to safe and reliable water for residents and businesses.
Town of Webb
Mohawk Valley
Herkimer
$485,000
The Town of Webb will modernize its aging wastewater collection system, addressing critical infrastructure deficiencies and environmental risks. This project will rehabilitate high-risk sewer lines, improve wastewater conveyance, and enhance treatment facility operations.
Lake Champlain-Lake George Regional Planning Board
North Country
Essex
$240,000
The Lake Champlain-Lake George Regional Planning Board will identify development sites, conduct buildout analyses, and complete pre-development work for workforce housing in four Essex County communities. This initiative will address housing shortages while supporting workforce growth, economic stability, and community sustainability in the region.
City of Plattsburgh
North Country
Clinton
$100,000
The City of Plattsburgh will conduct a feasibility study of its wastewater system in the Rugar Street corridor, ensuring capacity for future development. This study will assess infrastructure needs to support 150 new workforce housing units, additional commercial growth, and industrial expansion at the former Clinton County airport.
Lake Placid Association for Music, Drama and Art
North Country
Essex
$1,000,000
Lake Placid Association for Music, Drama and Art will renovate and modernize a 52-year-old theatre, enhancing accessibility, energy efficiency, and performance capabilities. This revitalization will transform the auditorium, expand stage space, upgrade theatre technology, and improve visitor experience, ensuring the venue remains a vital hub for cultural tourism and community engagement.
United Cerebral Palsy Association of the North Country, Inc.
North Country
St.Lawrence
$615,625.72
United Cerebral Palsy Association of the North Country, Inc. will expand pediatric healthcare services at its Federally Qualified Health Centers in Canton and Ogdensburg, NY. This project will increase clinic capacity by constructing exam rooms, improving patient flow, and enhancing access to preventive care, vaccinations, and chronic disease management for children in medically underserved communities.
Village of Waddington
North Country
St.Lawrence
$793,000
The Village of Waddington will replace deteriorating water mains in its downtown district, ensuring reliable access for residents and businesses while preventing further economic decline.
Livingston County Water and Sewer Authority
Rochester Finger-Lakes
Livingston
$1,000,000
Livingston County Water and Sewer Authority will implement the LCWSA/Geneseo Water Interconnection Project, enhancing water system capacity, resiliency, and regional connectivity across multiple municipalities in Livingston County, NY.
Village of Dansville
Rochester-Finger Lakes
Livingston
$1,979,586.00
The Village of Dansville will construct a public sewer extension, pedestrian infrastructure, and ADA-accessible playground equipment, improving community health and economic development. This project will provide wastewater service to Noyes Memorial Hospital and the planned YMCA, facilitating expansion and workforce growth, while new sidewalks, a walking trail, and a pedestrian bridge will enhance accessibility and safety.
Village of Waterloo
Rochester-Finger Lakes
Seneca
$3,000,000
Village of Waterloo will improve storm sewer infrastructure, road drainage, sidewalks, and curbing, ensuring resilience against frequent flooding and supporting downtown revitalization efforts. These upgrades complement the Village’s recent $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) funding, enhancing economic stability, pedestrian safety, and stormwater management.
Genesee Finger Lakes Regional Planning Commission
Rochester-Finger Lakes
Wyoming
$56,080
The Genesee Finger Lakes Regional Planning Commission will conduct a Housing Needs Assessment and Market Analysis, evaluating demographic and economic trends to inform comprehensive housing strategies. This study will identify gaps in the housing market and guide planning for projects that address the needs of low-to-moderate-income households, seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.
After years of advocacy, Schumer and Gillibrand announced late last year that they had successfully reauthorized the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) for another 5 years, increasing funding and expanding the critical grant program that has delivered tens of millions of dollars for the North Country and Upstate NY. Despite the wide bipartisan support to reauthorize the NBRC, President Trump’s recent budget for Fiscal Year 2026 calls for the elimination of this program, an effort that the senators are actively pushing back against to ensure NBRC continues to be funded to provide critical investment to Upstate NY. From 2010-2024, the NBRC has invested in over 78 projects, totaling more than $48 million in federal funding for Upstate New York. Schumer introduced the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) Reauthorization Act of 2023 which paved the way for these key changes.
In addition to reauthorizing the NBRC for an additional 5 years, the bill that passed into law at the end of last year also increased funding for the program from $33 million to $40 million. The bill made critical enhancements to the range of projects the NBRC is able to support to foster growth in the region, including a new program focused on addressing childcare and healthcare needs, increasing support for addiction treatment, and new support for capacity building for business retention, job training, and job creation. The NBRC reauthorization was included as part of the Economic Development Administration reauthorization in the bipartisan, bicameral Water Resources Development Act.
Schumer and Gillibrand have a long history of championing the Northern Border Regional Commission and its positive economic impacts on Upstate New York. In 2021, the senator successfully secured $150 million for the NBRC, over triple its funding from previous years, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act.
Established in 2008, the NBRC is a federal-state partnership focused on the economic revitalization of communities across the Northern Border region, which includes New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The Commission is composed of the governors of the four Northern Border states and a federal co-chair and provides financial and technical assistance to communities in the region to support entrepreneurs, improve water, broadband, and transportation infrastructure, and promote other initiatives to improve the region’s economy. The northern border region of New York State currently includes 30 counties: Cayuga, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Montgomery, Niagara, Oneida, Orleans, Oswego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Seneca, St. Lawrence, Sullivan, Washington, Warren, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Scientists comment on final NICE draft guidance on the use of donanemab and lecanemab for Alzheimer’s disease.
Prof Charles Marshall, Professor of Clinical Neurology, Queen Mary University of London, said:
“This will be very disappointing news to people living with Alzheimer’s disease. However, the decision is understandable given the high cost to the NHS of giving the drugs for a relatively modest benefit. There are several things which would help to get disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer’ disease approved in the future. Firstly, we need better information about the true impact of living with Alzheimer’s disease for both the person affected and their family, so that we can better capture all of the benefit on quality of life that these drugs might have. Secondly, we need improved NHS clinics that can offer high quality diagnosis and monitoring of dementia so that the costs of setting up this diagnosis and monitoring are not weighed against the benefit of the drugs. Finally, we need more effective drugs so that the magnitude of benefit becomes indisputable, and there is currently good reason to be hopeful about this.”
Prof Rob Howard, Professor of Old Age Psychiatry, UCL, said:
“Nobody should be surprised that NICE have confirmed their earlier view that the new Alzheimer’s disease treatments would not be cost-effective if used within the NHS. Well-conducted clinical trials demonstrated that the actual size of benefits experienced by patients were too small to be noticeable, treatment carries risks of side-effects, and the annual cost of the drugs and safety monitoring required would have been close to the cost of a nurse’s salary for each treated patient.
“We need better treatments that can make an appreciable difference to the lives of people with dementia and these can only come from further research and study.”
Prof Paresh Malhotra, Head, Division of Neurology, Imperial College London, said:
“The draft guidance documents from NICE on lecanemab and donanemab mean that these treatments will not be available for people with Alzheimer’s Disease via the NHS. This is not totally unexpected but does create a significant gap between what is done in other countries as well as the private sector, and what will be done for NHS patients. The modest effects and significant costs of these drugs have, understandably, been used to justify these decisions. The treatments would require major infrastructure changes to deliver to all those who are potentially eligible. Perhaps the biggest impact (or lack of it), is that there will be no impetus to change our general approach to make dementia diagnosis faster and to provide longer-term specialist input for people living with Alzheimer’s Disease. New and initially controversial treatments catalysed services and healthcare provision for other neurological conditions such as MS and stroke. People with Alzheimer’s Disease, and Dementia more broadly, will have to continue to wait. In the meantime, we will try to push against the more nihilistic attitudes that are sometimes associated with this very common devastating disease.”
Hilary Evans-Newton, Chief Executive at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“This rejection is a painful setback for people affected by Alzheimer’s — but sadly not a surprising one. The drugs’ modest benefits, combined with the significant costs of delivering them in the NHS, meant they faced insurmountable challenges. People with early Alzheimer’s in England and Wales now face a long wait for innovative new treatments as they won’t be able to access lecanemab or donanemab unless they can afford to pay privately.
“This decision sends a troubling signal to the life sciences sector — undermining confidence in the UK as a home for research, innovation and clinical trials. That risks lasting damage to both patients and the economy. NICE’s decision should ring alarm bells for a government that, only a year ago, pledged to make the UK a global leader in dementia treatments.
“While these drugs are not a cure and do come with potentially serious side effects, they represent an important first step in changing the course of Alzheimer’s. With over 30 Alzheimer’s drugs now in late-stage trials globally, momentum is building – and more will enter regulatory systems in the years ahead. Without intervention from government, people with Alzheimer’s will continue to miss out — not because science is failing, but because the system is. Government must work with NICE, the NHS and industry to pilot licensed drugs, gather more data, and prepare the health system for what’s ahead.
“One major barrier remains early and accurate diagnosis. Without it, patients can’t access current – or future – treatments. Alongside piloting, urgent investment in diagnostic services is vital if we are to give people a fair chance at the vast progress dementia research is making.”
Professor Fiona Carragher, Alzheimer’s Society’s Chief Policy and Research Officer, said:
“There is no doubt that today’s decision is a setback for people with Alzheimer’s disease. It is highly disappointing that we are in a situation where treatments that slow the progression of the condition are not available on the NHS.
“The reality we’re faced with is that these treatments remain out of reach of both the NHS and most eligible people with Alzheimer’s disease. In other diseases like cancer, treatments have become more effective, safer and cheaper over time. It’s essential we see similar progress in dementia.
“The fact is, even if donanemab and lecanemab were made available on the NHS tomorrow, too many patients wouldn’t be able to access them because the health system isn’t ready to deliver them. The science is flying but the system is failing.
“What we need now is for the UK government to commit to the long-term investment needed to fundamentally change dementia diagnosis so that we are ready for new treatments. This relies on an early diagnosis and access to specialist diagnostic tests, yet currently a third of people with dementia don’t have a diagnosis at all.
“The needs of people with dementia have long been overlooked and this cannot continue. We are heading towards a future where disease-slowing treatments reduce the devastating impact of dementia, and we cannot afford to delay preparing the NHS for them.”
NICE publishedfinal draft guidance on donanemab and final draft guidance on lecanemab at 00:01 UK time on Thursday 19th June.
Declared interests
Prof Charles Marshall: I have received personal fees from Lilly, Eisai and Roche
Prof Rob Howard: No COI
Prof Paresh Malhotra:
National Specialty Lead for Dementia and Neurodegeneration, NIHR Research Delivery Network
Honorary Consultant Neurologist, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Serviced Practice Consultant Neurologist, Cleveland Clinic London
NHSE Working Group Member (Lecanemab and Amyloid PET)
Trustee, Alzheimer’s Society
Recipient of ‘Drugs Only’ Grant for NIHR funded Trial, Shire/Takeda
Independent Data Monitoring Committee, J&J
Research funding from NIHR, ARUK, Alzheimer’s Society, MRC, DPUK, BHF, Lifearc, FIFA, FA, UK DRI
For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.
A major international conference in Auckland is putting the spotlight on how to better support female founders and highlighting wāhine Māori perspectives on entrepreneurship.
What do female entrepreneurs really want and why is the system still stacked against them? These are a couple of the big questions due to be tackled at the world’s leading research conference on women’s entrepreneurship held in Aotearoa New Zealand for the first time ever this year.
The Diana International Research Conference from 1-4 July, brings together top researchers and industry experts from around the world to tackle funding inequities, structural barriers and discuss the future of women-led enterprise, with a spotlight on te ao Māori perspectives.
“This is the only conference that focuses solely on women’s entrepreneurship research, and it’s an opportunity to garner insights from interested attendees, researchers and founders,” says Professor Chris Woods, the Business School’s Theresa Gattung Chair for Women in Entrepreneurship, and Diana Conference co-chair.
“We’ll be asking: What do women entrepreneurs want? How do we bridge the gap between academic research and industry, and how can we tackle the barriers women face when building businesses?”
Hosted by the Business School’s Aotearoa Centre for Enterprising Women, the conference includes keynote talks, academic sessions, and a public-facing Impact Day on Friday 4 July, a one-day forum featuring panels on capital access, wāhine Māori leadership, and entrepreneurial futures.
The day opens with ‘A boomer, Gen X, millennial and Gen Z walk into a panel’: Mana wāhine across the generations’.
Business School senior lecturer Dr Kiri Dell (Ngāti Porou) says the panel will spotlight the unique strengths wāhine Māori bring to entrepreneurship. The kōrero will also explore te ao Māori concepts of sovereignty and entrepreneurship.
“It’s about being role models, sharing networks and giving each other emotional support, challenging mainstream models of the ‘hyper solo, winner takes all’ entrepreneur model,” says Dell. “We’ll discuss what values-led approaches, honouring both the past and the present, can look like.”
Next up, ‘The Supply and Demand Challenge: Getting More Capital to Women-Led Businesses’ panel will discuss why women still receive just 2 percent of global venture capital investment, with insights from venture capital, angel investment, and female founders actively raising capital.
In the final session, business leader, author, philanthropist and investor Dame Theresa Gattung joins Darsel Keane (Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship), Sophie Bradley (co-CEO, Girls Mean Business), and research fellow Dr Amanda Elam (co-founder, Galaxy Diagnostics) to explore what the future holds for wāhine entrepreneurs in Aotearoa and beyond.
Panel MC and conference co-host Dr Janine Swail, a senior lecturer at the Business School, says it’s a privilege to host a conference that spans academic research, PhD students, practitioners and community voices.
“This is the only global conference that bridges academic research with real world insights and perspectives, with a dedicated focus on women’s entrepreneurship, and it’s happening here in Tāmaki Makaurau.”
Data released by Stats NZ today shows that the economy grew on a quarterly basis by 0.8% but fell on an annual basis by 1.1% said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. “This is positive data for the first quarter of this year, but the fact that the economy is about the same size it was in March 2023 tells you that essentially we have had almost zero economic growth (0.3%) over the past two years.”
“GDP per capita ($52,872) is now lower than it was in March 2022 ($53,100). It took another fall on an annual basis of 2.4%. There were falls in 11 of the 16 sectors of the economy annually – led by construction (-9.3%), wholesale trade (-3.6%) , and business services (-2%). Both goods producing industries and service industries saw contraction this year.”
“The data shows that workers incomes aren’t keeping up with profits. Stats NZ shows that compensation of employees rose 1.5% this quarter before inflation. Gross operating surplus and gross mixed incomes (a broad measure of profit) rose 2%. Employee compensation was revised down in the December quarter to -0.2%.”
“The lack of business confidence in the economy is present in the business investment data. Business investment fell this year. Non-residential building investment fell 2.9%. Transport equipment purchases fell 6%. Households are feeling it to, with purchase of durable goods being lower than they were in December 2023,” Renney said.
“This data shows us how far we fell over the past year in economic terms. The growth in GDP this quarter is welcome – but the economy is still smaller than at the election in real terms. With more recent data suggesting that the economy is struggling to grow, there is a real danger that we return to slow, no, or negative growth.”
“It’s time for the Government to realise that its economic growth plan isn’t working. There are 23,000 more people on Jobseekers this year. 48% of workers in New Zealand got a pay cut in real terms. Business and consumer confidence are at levels associated with recessions. One quarter of data shouldn’t blind the government of the need for change.”
Successor fund transfers can have a significant impact on members and their contributing employers. You should engage with your members, employers and gateways early for a smooth transition.
Unique superannuation identifier (USI) details should be updated 28 days before they become effective so gateways, clearing houses and payroll providers can adjust their systems to reflect the changed details. This ensures rollovers and contributions go to the correct destination.
At least 10 business days’ notice should be provided when updating non critical details and for best practice, submit critical changes at least 28 days before they become effective. Critical updates include changes to bank accounts, end-point service addresses, or end-dating a USI (product or fund is merging or winding up).
You must provide an electronic service address for each USI, including both primary and secondary. If you use different gateway intermediary services for contributions and rollovers, we treat the contributions address as the primary service address and the rollover address as the secondary.
Plan for availability of a fund Unique superannuation identifier (USI) through the SFT process.
Any limited-service period should prioritise minimal impact to employers and members. Black-out periods around quarterly super guarantee dates have adverse impacts for employers.
Notify members, employers, administrators, gateway operators, clearing houses and other service providers.
Discuss any applicable limitations and have ongoing discussions including solutions such as catch and hold.
Ensure all intermediaries have their access updated.
Looking for the latest news for Super funds? You can stay up to date by visiting our Super funds newsroom and subscribingExternal Link to our monthly Super funds newsletter and CRT alerts.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China’s vice premier urges efforts to promote high-quality development of foreign trade
QINGDAO, June 18 — Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng has called for enhanced efforts to stabilize foreign trade, strengthen support and services for foreign trade enterprises, and utilize the competitive advantages of those enterprises fully to drive the high-quality development of China’s foreign trade.
He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour in Shandong Province which began on Tuesday and concluded on Wednesday.
He acknowledged that amid a complex international environment, China’s manufacturing exporters have this year surmounted significant challenges and demonstrated remarkable resilience. Offering high-quality products at competitive prices, these exporters have not only bolstered domestic economic development but also contributed to greater stability in the global economy.
By leveraging their strengths fully and maintaining focus on core businesses, exporters should deepen their presence in international markets while continuously innovating and upgrading their products, technologies and business models, the vice premier said.
He also encouraged manufacturing exporters to coordinate their export expansions with meeting domestic demand.
He also called on local authorities to address the practical concerns of foreign trade enterprises, and to enhance support and services for those enterprises to advance the high-quality development of foreign trade.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
GENEVA, June 18 — China has notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of its expanded zero-tariff policy for least developed countries (LDCs) that maintain diplomatic relations with Beijing, raising product coverage from 98 percent to 100 percent.
The new policy, which took effect on Dec. 1, 2024, is part of China’s broader efforts to further open up to LDCs and African nations, the Chinese delegation said at a WTO meeting in Geneva on Wednesday.
The delegation also briefed WTO members on a recent China-Africa declaration, in which China expressed readiness to extend the zero-tariff treatment to cover 100 percent of tariff lines for all 53 African countries that have diplomatic ties with China.
In addition to the zero-tariff initiative, China pledged further steps to promote trade in goods, and to strengthen skills and technical training programs for African LDCs.
According to the delegation, these measures aim to create new development opportunities and growth momentum for African countries and LDCs, while also contributing to the stability and positive momentum of global trade.
Amid ongoing turbulence in international trade, China called on all WTO members to jointly uphold a free and open international economic and trade order, and to promote inclusive and universally beneficial globalization.
China’s measures were broadly welcomed by WTO members. Representatives from LDCs, African countries and other economies expressed appreciation, highlighting the unprecedented challenges and uncertainties faced by developing nations. They urged more members to follow China’s example by offering targeted preferential policies, capacity-building assistance, and other support to LDCs to advance inclusive and sustainable global trade development.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 18 — The National Development and Reform Commission on Wednesday said that it has allocated 60 million yuan (about 8.36 million U.S. dollars) from China’s central budget to bolster flood relief efforts in Guangdong Province.
The funds will be directed toward restoring infrastructure and public services in Guangdong’s affected regions, according to the commission.
Severe flooding has recently struck the province, with Zhaoqing City among the hardest-hit areas.
As of noon on Wednesday, continuous heavy rainfall had affected approximately 300,000 residents of Huaiji County, which is administered by Zhaoqing City, and about 70,000 people had been relocated to safer areas, according to local authorities.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China’s vision for deeper financial opening-up highlighted at Shanghai Lujiazui Forum
SHANGHAI, June 18 — Multiple government officials have delivered speeches at the annual Lujiazui Forum being held in east China’s Shanghai, pledging efforts to promote high-standard financial opening-up despite mounting global geopolitical uncertainty.
Among the most high-profile measures being discussed at the forum is a plan to establish an international operations center for the digital RMB, which was unveiled by Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC). The move aims to promote the internationalization of the digital currency, as well as the development of financial market services, while supporting innovation in the field of digital finance.
The center’s establishment is one of eight new measures set to be piloted in Shanghai, Pan said. Others include the development of free trade offshore bonds to expand financing channels for companies, and the optimization of the free trade account system to facilitate cross-border trade and investment for enterprises.
Zhu Hexin, deputy governor of the PBOC and head of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), said that to advance the facilitation of cross-border investment and financing, policies will be implemented nationwide to encourage foreign investment in research institutions and ease cross-border financing for technology-based enterprises.
The policy of integrating funding pools for multinational companies in both domestic and foreign currencies will be promoted nationwide to facilitate the utilization of funds within multinational corporate groups, according to Zhu.
A package of innovative foreign exchange policies will be implemented in China’s pilot free trade zones, including policies to optimize new international trade settlements and expand the Qualified Foreign Limited Partner (QFLP) pilot program, Zhu said.
On Wednesday, SAFE unveiled a notice to solicit public advice on deepening reforms of the foreign exchange management of cross-border investment and financing, with the notice also pledging to facilitate cross-border financing further.
China will exempt foreign-invested enterprises from registration requirements for domestic reinvestment, and this pilot policy will be expanded nationwide.
On the capital market, Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, emphasized the role that foreign funds and institutions play in China’s capital market, calling for the promotion of the broad opening-up of markets, products and institutions.
Following Wu’s speech, the securities regulator announced that it would allow qualified foreign investors to participate in on-exchange exchange-traded fund (ETF) options trading from Oct. 9 this year for hedging purposes only.
China has made steady progress in financial liberalization in recent years. According to Li Yunze, head of the National Financial Regulatory Administration, the country has optimized its model of “pre-establishment national treatment plus a negative list for foreign investment,” while most restrictions on foreign access to China’s banking and insurance sectors have now been removed.
Looking ahead, the country plans to continue improving its business environment for foreign investors, aiming to foster a more welcoming, inclusive atmosphere in which foreign institutions can leverage their strengths and grow sustainably, Li added.
Initiated in 2008, the Lujiazui Forum has become a platform for dialogue among policymakers, financial experts and business leaders from around the world. This year’s forum, themed “Financial opening-up and cooperation for high-quality development in a changing global economy,” runs from Wednesday to Thursday.
While O Mahurangi – Penlink is still scheduled for completion in 2028, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) had planned to open some sections of the road earlier near Stillwater and Ara Wēiti. However, a major slip at the project’s largest fill site has now delayed construction of these sections. While NZTA is still working to understand the full scheduling impacts, the project will now open as a single completed corridor.
Cracking in the ground which was first identified in December last year required all activity in the area to pause while it could be assessed. Extensive testing and monitoring showed a deep layer under the surface (deep shear plane layer) was significantly weaker than experienced on other similar sites on the project where earthworks had been undertaken.
Due to the slips continued movement, emergency works were declared in March to allow remediation works to be undertaken sooner. This minimises the risk of the slip damaging existing assets and private property.
Regional Manager Transport Services Stephen Collett acknowledges that this delay will be frustrating to residents of Stillwater and Ara Wēiti, as well as all road users that wanted to use the road to access State Highway 1 earlier.
“As the project uses a cut fill balance approach for earthworks, the material at this location is unable to be stored elsewhere until we can implement a solution. Until the solution can be implemented, earthworks are unable to continue at the previous pace along the alignment.
“Despite the delay, O Mahurangi remains on track to open in line with the Wēiti River bridge, giving people the complete benefit of the project from day one. This will ensure a seamless and more connected journey to and from State Highway 1” says Mr Collett.
While remediation works are completed, construction has continued at pace in other areas of the site, including:
the placement of beams and deck for the future overbridge at State Highway 1 are in place
the ramps from State Highway 1 are starting to be formed
future alignment along Duck Creek Road has had beams placed, decks poured and barriers installed. Next the team will dig out the earth from under the bridge to build the future State Highway 19
the western side abutment of the Wēiti River bridge is completed and the two land-based piers are at their final height. An additional two in river piers are currently being constructed.
landscaping along the alignment has begun
approximately 600,000 cubic meters of earth has been moved (about 250 Olympic sized swimming pools).
Once complete, O Mahurangi – Penlink will unlock long term benefits for the Auckland region, providing a more resilient network to get people where they need to be faster, supporting economic growth and connecting people to new housing developments.
A total of 180 overseas-trained doctors have expressed interest in a new Government-funded training programme aimed at boosting New Zealand’s primary care workforce, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “New Zealand needs more doctors – particularly in primary and rural healthcare care settings – and this Government is taking action to make that happen,” Mr Brown says. “That’s why we’ve launched a new two-year training programme to support up to 100 additional overseas-trained doctors across the country.” Announced in March, the programme supports qualified international doctors to become registered in New Zealand, with a particular focus on those wanting to enter general practice roles – creating a clear pathway for doctors already in the country and ready to contribute to our health system. “It makes no sense that overseas-trained doctors already living here, ready and willing to work in primary care, are held back simply due to a lack of supported clinical training opportunities. We are changing that.” Applications for the programme closed on 31 May, with 184 expressions of interest received – well exceeding the number of places available. The first group of 10 overseas-trained doctors will begin in Waikato this July, with Health New Zealand currently working to match the remaining placement locations with district and primary care providers. “This strong response shows the scale of untapped potential in New Zealand. These doctors are eager to work where they are most needed – and this Government is opening the door for them to do so. “I’ve also requested advice from Health New Zealand on how to provide clear, structured pathways for doctors who have passed the NZREX to begin practising under limited scopes while they wait for a placement in general practice training. “This is part of our broader plan to strengthen primary and rural healthcare and ensure New Zealanders get timely access to the care they need, no matter where they live,” Mr Brown says.
New quarterly data shows the Government is on track to deliver on both law and order targets ahead of schedule, Minister for Children Karen Chhour and Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith say.
“We’re determined to protect communities, reduce victimisation, and to encourage young people not to continue down the path of serious crime and incarceration,” Mrs Chhour says.
“A year ago we set a target of reducing the number of children and young people with serious and persistent offending behaviour by 15 per cent by 2029.
“A 13 per cent reduction in the most recent quarter shows we are hot on the heels of achieving our goal.
“We’ve trialled bold new responses to this long-standing issue and have ensured agencies work in greater collaboration with each other.
“Proactive data-driven regional responses have also helped. It has truly been a team effort.
“Budget 2025 saw further investment in multiple complementary ways to address recidivism amongst young people, including future iterations of the military-style academies and the Youth Serious Offender declaration.
“We continue to want better for, and from, these young people. This is a strong start, but we’re committed to sustained and meaningful success for our communities.”
“This success comes off the back of the Government tracking ahead of its violent crime reduction target,” Mr Goldsmith says.
“Our Government has wasted no time overhauling a culture of excuses left behind by the last administration. Victims are our priority, and we’ve returned them to the heart of the justice system.
“The latest New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey shows that for the year to February, there were 157,000 victims of violent crime. This is 28,000 fewer victims than the baseline set in October 2023. Specifically, there were 12,000 fewer victims in Auckland and 5,000 fewer in Canterbury.
“There is a lot more work to do, but these results are a good early sign we are heading in the right direction.
“We’ve provided police and the courts with extra tools to go after gangs, brought back a revised three strikes sentencing regime, restored real consequences for crime by limiting sentence discounts, and scrapped Section 27 reports.
“We do, however, expect the data to remain volatile, and there’s still more work to do to continue driving these numbers down.”
HVO Bulletin Series, published 1913-1929, now available online
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Bulletin series was an informal publication issued between the years 1913 to 1929. Individual issues contain information on volcanic and earthquake activity, volcano research, and volcano monitoring in Hawaii, and issues often included photographs, sketches, and data plots. These resources were previously only available in print format.
Dr. Thomas Jaggar founded the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory in 1912 and authored many of the Bulletins.
The Bulletin series was published by HVO through the Hawaiian Volcano Research Association. Print archives of these materials are housed by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) and other USGS archival repositories. HVO staff have scanned these resources and made them available digitally through the USGS Publications Warehouse: Hawaiian Volcano Observatory bulletins.
Weekly Bulletins (initially called Reports) were issued between June 28, 1913, and July 1, 1914. Bulletins were issued monthly after July 1, 1914, though they were still named Weekly Bulletins until January 1919. Starting with the February 1919 issue, the Bulletins were named Monthly Bulletins, and they continued to be issued monthly until the series ceased in July 1929.
During a single year, 1915, Seismometric Bulletins were also issued quarterly. These four issues contain summaries of seismic observations recorded by the then-nascent Whitney Laboratory of Seismology, located underground in a vault near the summit of Kīlauea.
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:
Dina El-Tawansy, of San Leandro, has been appointed Director of the California Department of Transportation. El-Tawansy has been District 4 Director at the California Department of Transportation since 2021, where she has held multiple positions since 1998, including District 4 Acting Director, District 4 Chief Deputy Director, District 12 Deputy Director of Operations and Maintenance, Acting Assistant Divisions Chief of Program and Project Management, Regional Project Manager, Project Manager, and Regional Engineer. She earned a Master of Science degree in Construction Management from California State University, Long Beach and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, Pomona. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $227,388. El-Tawansy is a Democrat.
Marta Barlow, of El Dorado Hills, has been appointed Chief Counsel at the Office of the Inspector General. Barlow has been an Attorney IV at the State Personnel Board since 2022. She was a Special Assistant Inspector General at the Office of the Inspector General from 2019 to 2022. Barlow was an Attorney IV at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation from 2011 to 2018. She was a Deputy Attorney General of the Civil Law Division at the Correctional Law Section, California Office of the Attorney General from 2007 to 2010. Barlow was an Associate Attorney at Finnegan, Marks, Hampton & Theofel from 2005 to 2007. She was an Attorney at the Law Offices of Scott Wechsler and Moore & Browning from 2004 to 2005. Barlow was a Contract Attorney at the Law Offices of Panos Lagos from 2004 to 2005. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in International Relations from United States International University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $208,440. Barlow is a Democrat.
Patricia “Patti” Ochoa, of Elk Grove, has been appointed Special Assistant to the Secretary at the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. Ochoa has been Staff Services Manager I at the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency since 2016, where she has held multiple roles since 2013, including Administrative Assistant II and Administrative Assistant I. She was the Administrative/Executive Assistant at the California Air Resources Board from 2008 to 2013. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation, is $108,000. Ochoa is a Democrat.
Press releases, Recent news
Recent news
Jun 18, 2025
News What you need to know: President Trump’s illegal militarization of Los Angeles has already left crews fighting fires across the state short-staffed. SACRAMENTO – As multiple fires burn across the state today, a critical firefighting resource is short-staffed due…
Jun 18, 2025
News Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring June 2025, as “LGBTQ+ Pride Month.”The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below: PROCLAMATIONThis month – and every month – California supports and celebrates the…
Jun 18, 2025
News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an emergency proclamation for the City of Malibu to assist in recovery from the December 2024 Franklin Fire that caused significant damage to the local area and threatened the lives of thousands. The emergency…
New Haven, CT – The U.S. Marshals District of Connecticut Violent Fugitive Task Force on Tuesday arrested in Oxford a man for being in violation of U.S. immigration law and he is wanted in connection with a 2011 homicide in Ecuador.
Richard Cabrera, aka Ricardo Dionicio Cabrera-Erreyes, 50, is accused of fatally stabbing a woman in Loja, Ecuador, on Nov. 24, 2011, and Ecuadoran authorities charged him with femicide. INTERPOL issued a Red Notice on Cabrera for homicide following the attack.
Recent evidence surfaced through international cooperation between Ecuador and the U.S. Marshals Service, with the support of INTERPOL Washington, and Cabrera was eventually located in Connecticut where he had been living under an assumed identity.
U.S Marshals confirmed Cabrera entered the United States without legal documentation and had been residing in the country unlawfully for several years. He is currently in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody pending immigration removal proceedings.
Since the inception of the U.S. Marshals – Connecticut Violent Fugitive Task Force in 1999, these partnerships have resulted in over 11,046 arrests. The task force’s objective is to seek out and arrest violent fugitives and sexual predators. Membership agencies include Hartford, Bridgeport, Norwalk, Naugatuck and Waterbury Police Departments and Homeland Security Investigations. These arrests have ranged in seriousness from murder, assault, unregistered sex offenders, probation and parole violations and numerous other serious offenses. Nationally the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, eight regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.
Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)
TUCSON, Ariz. – Sergio Herran, 47, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced on June 17, 2025, by Senior United States District Judge Raner C. Collins to a term of 8 years in prison and a term of 5 years in prison, to be served concurrently. Following a four-day trial in March, a jury convicted Herran of Distribution of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. Herran will be on lifetime supervision upon release from prison and must register as a sex offender. Herran was also ordered to pay restitution to identified victims.
Herran was previously tried and convicted in 2019 before a jury, but the conviction was reversed on appeal by the Ninth Circuit. On retrial, the evidence presented showed that Herran was responsible for downloading, viewing, and sharing images and videos of child pornography. These videos and images were located on Herran’s computer hard drive, phone SD card, and a tablet, which were found in Herran’s bedroom within an arm’s reach from where he slept. In total, there were over 10,000 images and 1,500 videos of child pornography on Herran’s devices, although only a representative sample was charged in the indictment. Herran was found guilty of distribution of two videos of child pornography, possession of 13 images of child pornography, and possession of eight videos of child pornography.
Homeland Security Investigations’ Tucson Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Sandra M. Hansen and Anshul Krishn, District of Arizona, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-17-01026-TUC-RCC RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-096_Herran
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZfor the latest news.
– Announcement of over US$1 billion new financing: OPEC Fund signs US$362 million new loan agreements during the Forum and announces approval of US$720 million in new financing in the second Quarter
– A Country Partnership Framework agreement with Rwanda earmarks US$300 million financing in the next three years
– At the high-level Mauritania roundtable hosted by the OPEC Fund, the Arab Coordination Group (ACG) announced a pledge of US$2 billion financing over the next 5 years to support Mauritania’s development priorities.
June 18, 2025: The fourth OPEC Fund Development Forum concluded today with a strong slate of new commitments, loan agreements and strategic partnerships to advance inclusive transition and sustainable development. The Forum, which took place in Vienna, Austria brought together more than 600 global leaders, including government representatives, development institutions and private sector stakeholders, under the theme “A Transition That Empowers Our Tomorrow”.
The OPEC Fund announced some US$720 million in new financing to support development efforts across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and saw the signing of US$362 million in new loan agreements. A new Trade Finance Initiative is set to secure vital supplies and help close trade-related liquidity gaps in partner countries.
OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: “The OPEC Fund Development Forum reflects our conviction that partnerships must deliver results. Today we achieved tangible progress – with new signings, new partnerships and new approaches to help our partner countries turn ambition into action. Whether in energy, infrastructure, agriculture or finance, we are responding with solutions that make a difference.”
As part of its Small Island Developing States (SIDS) initiative, the OPEC Fund signed cooperation agreements with Grenada, and the Solomon Islands, expanding support for climate resilience and sustainable infrastructure.
Deepening Country Partnerships for Long-term Impact: New country-level agreements and cooperation frameworks include:
– A US$212 million loan agreement with Oman to finance the Khasab-Daba-Lima Road Project (Sultan Faisal bin Turki Road), improving local and regional connectivity, as well as a Country Partnership Framework (CPF) to strengthen cooperation over the next five years.
– A US$25 million loan agreement with Cameroon to strengthen the Rice Value Chain Development Project, supporting smallholder farmers and strengthening food security in vulnerable regions, in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and the Kuwait Fund.
– A CPF with Rwanda to allocate up to US$300 million in financing for 2025 – 2028, supporting the country’s development priorities, including quality infrastructure, improved essential basic services and the promotion of entrepreneurship and the private sector.
– Other country partnership agreements included: Azerbaijan to support infrastructure, energy transition and sustainable development; Botswana to support infrastructure, renewable energy, innovation and digital transformation, as well as private sector export-led growth over the next three years; Grenada to build resilience through sustainable development initiatives; Kyrgyz Republic to increase cooperation in transport, water supply and sanitation, energy, agriculture and banking sectors; and Solomon Islands to expand engagement and increase cooperation including in the private sector.
Scaling up Private Sector Support : The OPEC Fund continues to prioritize private sector-led growth with targeted financing to financial institutions across Africa:
– In Côte d’Ivoire, a €30 million loan agreement with Coris Bank International Côte d’Ivoire and a €35 million loan agreement with NSIA Banque will facilitate access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
– A US$40 million loan agreement with the East African Development Bank (EADB) will boost economic investments across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, strengthening regional integration and inclusive growth.
New Trade Finance Initiative: At the Forum the OPEC Fund also announced a new Trade Finance Initiative to boost trade resilience in partner countries by facilitating access to essential imports, closing liquidity gaps and strengthening resilience to external shocks in vulnerable economies.
Advancing global cooperation: The Forum also featured new agreements to deepen multilateral cooperation:
– A new cooperation agreement with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) will strengthen collaboration in infrastructure, energy and human development projects across the Latin America and Caribbean region.
– The OPEC Fund and the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) formalized a cooperation agreement to coordinate efforts on climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable food systems.
– A cooperation agreement with the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) will support training programs to promote institutional transparency and anti-corruption capacity building in partner countries.
Ahead of the Forum, the OPEC Fund hosted the Annual Meeting of the Heads of Institutions of the Arab Coordination Group (ACG). Delegates participated in a high-level roundtable with the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani to strengthen development collaboration and mobilize investment flows to Mauritania.
The roundtable resulted in an ACG joint pledge of US$2 billion financing over the next five years. This will be directed to vital sectors, including energy, water, transportation and digital infrastructure to stimulate economic growth. A dedicated Arab Donors Roundtable on the Sahel addressed strategies to mobilize greater support for the region’s urgent challenges. It was organized by the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CLISS) and sponsored by the OPEC Fund’s partner institution, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).
About the OPEC Fund
The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively. The organization works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The OPEC Fund was established in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people. Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed more than US$29 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than US$200 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and S&P Global Ratings. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all.
– Announcement of over US$1 billion new financing: OPEC Fund signs US$362 million new loan agreements during the Forum and announces approval of US$720 million in new financing in the second Quarter
– A Country Partnership Framework agreement with Rwanda earmarks US$300 million financing in the next three years
– At the high-level Mauritania roundtable hosted by the OPEC Fund, the Arab Coordination Group (ACG) announced a pledge of US$2 billion financing over the next 5 years to support Mauritania’s development priorities.
June 18, 2025: The fourth OPEC Fund Development Forum concluded today with a strong slate of new commitments, loan agreements and strategic partnerships to advance inclusive transition and sustainable development. The Forum, which took place in Vienna, Austria brought together more than 600 global leaders, including government representatives, development institutions and private sector stakeholders, under the theme “A Transition That Empowers Our Tomorrow”.
The OPEC Fund announced some US$720 million in new financing to support development efforts across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and saw the signing of US$362 million in new loan agreements. A new Trade Finance Initiative is set to secure vital supplies and help close trade-related liquidity gaps in partner countries.
OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: “The OPEC Fund Development Forum reflects our conviction that partnerships must deliver results. Today we achieved tangible progress – with new signings, new partnerships and new approaches to help our partner countries turn ambition into action. Whether in energy, infrastructure, agriculture or finance, we are responding with solutions that make a difference.”
As part of its Small Island Developing States (SIDS) initiative, the OPEC Fund signed cooperation agreements with Grenada, and the Solomon Islands, expanding support for climate resilience and sustainable infrastructure.
Deepening Country Partnerships for Long-term Impact: New country-level agreements and cooperation frameworks include:
– A US$212 million loan agreement with Oman to finance the Khasab-Daba-Lima Road Project (Sultan Faisal bin Turki Road), improving local and regional connectivity, as well as a Country Partnership Framework (CPF) to strengthen cooperation over the next five years.
– A US$25 million loan agreement with Cameroon to strengthen the Rice Value Chain Development Project, supporting smallholder farmers and strengthening food security in vulnerable regions, in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and the Kuwait Fund.
– A CPF with Rwanda to allocate up to US$300 million in financing for 2025 – 2028, supporting the country’s development priorities, including quality infrastructure, improved essential basic services and the promotion of entrepreneurship and the private sector.
– Other country partnership agreements included: Azerbaijan to support infrastructure, energy transition and sustainable development; Botswana to support infrastructure, renewable energy, innovation and digital transformation, as well as private sector export-led growth over the next three years; Grenada to build resilience through sustainable development initiatives; Kyrgyz Republic to increase cooperation in transport, water supply and sanitation, energy, agriculture and banking sectors; and Solomon Islands to expand engagement and increase cooperation including in the private sector.
Scaling up Private Sector Support : The OPEC Fund continues to prioritize private sector-led growth with targeted financing to financial institutions across Africa:
– In Côte d’Ivoire, a €30 million loan agreement with Coris Bank International Côte d’Ivoire and a €35 million loan agreement with NSIA Banque will facilitate access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
– A US$40 million loan agreement with the East African Development Bank (EADB) will boost economic investments across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, strengthening regional integration and inclusive growth.
New Trade Finance Initiative: At the Forum the OPEC Fund also announced a new Trade Finance Initiative to boost trade resilience in partner countries by facilitating access to essential imports, closing liquidity gaps and strengthening resilience to external shocks in vulnerable economies.
Advancing global cooperation: The Forum also featured new agreements to deepen multilateral cooperation:
– A new cooperation agreement with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) will strengthen collaboration in infrastructure, energy and human development projects across the Latin America and Caribbean region.
– The OPEC Fund and the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) formalized a cooperation agreement to coordinate efforts on climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable food systems.
– A cooperation agreement with the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) will support training programs to promote institutional transparency and anti-corruption capacity building in partner countries.
Ahead of the Forum, the OPEC Fund hosted the Annual Meeting of the Heads of Institutions of the Arab Coordination Group (ACG). Delegates participated in a high-level roundtable with the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani to strengthen development collaboration and mobilize investment flows to Mauritania.
The roundtable resulted in an ACG joint pledge of US$2 billion financing over the next five years. This will be directed to vital sectors, including energy, water, transportation and digital infrastructure to stimulate economic growth. A dedicated Arab Donors Roundtable on the Sahel addressed strategies to mobilize greater support for the region’s urgent challenges. It was organized by the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CLISS) and sponsored by the OPEC Fund’s partner institution, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).
About the OPEC Fund
The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively. The organization works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The OPEC Fund was established in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people. Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed more than US$29 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than US$200 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and S&P Global Ratings. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all.