Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
June 26, 2025
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Alan Hollenbeck, State President of AARP Illinois, to discuss the impact of Republican’s budget reconciliation bill which will slash Medicaid, Medicare, and SNAP for millions of Americans. Republicans’ so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act will raise prices and slash Medicaid and Medicare coverage for working Americans in order to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, Republicans’ reconciliation bill will force 16 million Americans to lose their health insurance.
Durbin and Mr. Hollenbeck also touched on Durbin’s Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act, which would help prevent scammers from stealing Americans’ savings through cryptocurrency schemes. Each year, Americans, especially seniors, lose tens of millions of dollars to scams involving cryptocurrency ATMs, and this legislation would crack down on crypto scams by adding layers of protections to crypto ATM transactions and requiring greater transparency from cryptocurrency ATM operators.
“Many seniors in Illinois rely on Medicare and SNAP to lead a healthy life, but Republicans are willing to slash these programs in order to offer a substantial tax break for billionaires,” said Durbin. “In my meeting with AARP Illinois leadership today, I made clear that I will push back against this atrocious, dangerous proposal to eliminate health care coverage for 16 million Americans and nutrition benefits for millions more.”
A photo of the meeting is available here.
Under Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act, people earning $40,000 a year will see an average tax decrease of $442 per year while people making more than $1 million will see their taxes go down by $79,000 per year. The Congressional Budget Office’s latest analysis found that the lowest-income households in the U.S. would lose $1,600 a year in federal resources while the highest-income households would see a $12,000 annual boost from tax cuts paid for by slashing Medicaid and SNAP benefits.
Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday emphasized that a developed agriculture sector and prosperous farmers are crucial for a developed India. Speaking at a press conference in Indore, he highlighted India’s rapid progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, noting that the country has become the world’s fourth-largest economy. He stressed that increasing agricultural production, reducing costs, compensating for crop losses, ensuring fair prices, and promoting natural farming are key priorities.
The government has launched the ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan,’ a nationwide initiative to address critical agricultural challenges. This strategy focuses on enhancing the productivity of major crops through crop-specific and state-specific interventions. Addressing soybean productivity, Chouhan noted that food grain production has surged by 44% over the past 11 years. However, a gap between laboratory research and field application has persisted despite the efforts of over 16,000 agricultural scientists.
To bridge this gap, the government introduced the ‘Lab-to-Land’ approach during the ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan,’ with 2,170 teams engaging over 13.5 million farmers to align research with on-ground needs. Chouhan announced a significant shift in agricultural research, stating that topics will no longer be decided solely by scientists in Delhi but through direct discussions with farmers in the fields. Recognizing farmers’ insights into practical challenges, he highlighted their innovative practices, which scientists will now refine and scale for broader impact.
During the campaign, farmers raised concerns about substandard seeds, pesticides, and seed availability. In response, a detailed workshop was held, leading to plans for comprehensive discussions with farmers, agricultural universities, and stakeholders. Chouhan outlined plans to boost per-hectare productivity using techniques like genome editing for improved seeds and new technologies to combat issues like root rot in soybean crops. With agricultural labor shortages, he emphasized the need for greater mechanization, alongside research into disease-resistant crop varieties, seed treatment, and timely disease identification.
Chouhan also highlighted soybean’s role as a key protein source, advocating for increased use and export of soymeal and promotion of value-added products like tofu and soy milk. Progressive farmers achieving yields of 20 quintals per acre have shared their methods, which will inform future research. Upcoming consultations will focus on cotton in Coimbatore, sugarcane in Meerut, and pulses in Kanpur to enhance productivity across major crops.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, Chouhan said, “Our mantra is: One Nation – One Agriculture – One Team. All stakeholders must unite for comprehensive and sustainable agricultural growth.”
In a landmark achievement for India’s space ambitions, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, hailed the successful docking of the Dragon spacecraft with the International Space Station (ISS). Onboard is Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the Indian astronaut who will be conducting seven fully indigenous microgravity experiments during his stay — a significant step in India’s space exploration journey.
Lauding the milestone, Dr. Singh said the mission reflects the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and Vishwabandhu Bharat (India as a friend to the world), ideals envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He noted that all the experiments to be carried out by Shukla have been entirely developed by Indian institutions and that the scientific findings will be shared globally to benefit all of humanity.
“India’s role in space exploration is no longer limited to the launchpad,” said Dr. Singh, who also holds responsibility in the Prime Minister’s Office, Department of Space, and Department of Atomic Energy. “We are now shaping the future of life and science in space. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla carries India’s scientific dreams to the frontiers of microgravity.”
The Axiom-4 mission marks India’s most direct contribution to space biosciences. The seven experiments being undertaken aboard the ISS, Dr. Singh announced, are poised to make vital contributions to sustainability in space and innovation on Earth.
The first experiment, developed by ICGEB and BRIC-NIPGR New Delhi, examines the behavior of edible microalgae in microgravity. The study will look at growth, metabolism, and oxygen-carbon dioxide recycling potential, which are critical for sustaining life on long-duration space missions.
The second experiment, a collaboration between UAS Dharwad and IIT Dharwad, explores the germination and nutritional profiles of sprouting seeds like moong and methi in space. The study is expected to help develop nutrient-rich, medicinal food options for astronauts.
The third experiment, from BRIC-InStem Bengaluru, investigates muscle regeneration in microgravity, aiming to understand and prevent the muscle loss astronauts typically experience during extended missions. Its findings may also inform rehabilitation therapies for patients on Earth.
In the fourth project, researchers from IISc Bengaluru are studying the survival and reproduction of tardigrades—microscopic organisms known for their resilience—in space conditions. This research is expected to provide insights into human survival strategies in extreme environments.
The fifth experiment, also by IISc, focuses on how astronauts interact with electronic displays in zero gravity. The data will guide the future design of spacecraft control systems to improve usability and safety.
Another experiment from ICGEB explores the growth of cyanobacteria using urea as a nitrogen source in space. Cyanobacteria’s ability to recycle carbon and nitrogen could make it a cornerstone of sustainable life support systems in extraterrestrial habitats.
The final experiment involves exposing seeds of rice, cowpea, sesame, brinjal, and tomato to space conditions to test their resilience. This research could pave the way for space agriculture and the development of climate-resilient crops for Earth.
“These pioneering efforts represent India’s emergence as a global leader in space biosciences,” Dr. Singh said. “We are no longer followers; India is now leading missions of planetary relevance. These experiments will open new frontiers for sustainable life in space and resilient ecosystems on Earth.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative John R Carter (R-TX-31)
Representative John Carter’s (TX-31) Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act passed the House this afternoon, 218-206.
“I’m proud that the House has passed the first FY26 appropriations bill—my Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill—which reflects House Republicans’ commitment to taking care of our servicemembers, veterans, and their families,” said Subcommittee Chairman John Carter. “This legislation invests in critical infrastructure, such as barracks and child development centers, and fully funds veterans’ healthcare, with a significant focus on mental health services and housing programs that our veterans have earned. As Chairman of the subcommittee, I will continue fighting to ensure those who serve our nation have the support they deserve, and I know my colleagues who voted in favor today share that same commitment. I want to sincerely thank Chairman Cole for his leadership and focus on getting solid bills across the finish line.”
Key Takeaways
Champions our veterans by:
Fully funding veterans’ health care programs.
Fully funding veterans’ benefits and VA programs.
Supporting President Trump’s efforts to combat veteran homelessness by investing in the new Bridging Rental Assistance for Veteran Empowerment program.
Maintaining funding levels for research, mental health programs, and other programs relied upon by veterans.
Supports the Trump Administration and the mandate of the American people by:
Protecting the 2nd Amendment rights of veterans, preventing the VA from sending information to the FBI about veterans without a judge’s consent.
Syncing up with President Trump’s Executive Orders on no funds for DEI, gender affirming care, and protecting Hyde-like language at the VA.
Prohibiting the VA from processing medical care claims for illegal aliens.
Bolsters U.S. national security and border protections by:
Providing robust funding for military construction, enabling continued investment in the Indo-Pacific region, and infrastructure necessary to support the United States’ advanced weapons systems.
Maintaining the prohibitions on the closure of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the use of military construction funds to build facilities for detainees on U.S. soil.
Prohibiting the VA from purchasing resources directly or indirectly from the People’s Republic of China.
A summary of the bill, before adoption of amendments, is available here.
Bill text, before adoption of amendments, is available here.
Bill report, before adoption of amendments, is available here.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal jury in Columbia has convicted Yashawnus Leekean Patterson, 44, of Columbia, of being a felon in possession of a firearm after a two-day trial.
Evidence presented at trial included testimony and body worn camera footage showing two Columbia Police Department officers responding to a hotel in downtown Columbia to assist in removing Patterson, who was no longer staying at that hotel. After being asked to place Patterson on trespass notice, officers learned he was wanted on a bench warrant from the Cayce Police Department, and he was arrested. During a search of his person, officers located a loaded 9mm pistol in the front of his waistband, a 30-round extended magazine in his backpack, and a total of 74 rounds of 9mm ammunition among his person and his other belongings. Patterson acknowledged to officers that he knew he was not legally allowed to possess a firearm.
Patterson has an extensive record of felony convictions dating back to 1998, including convictions for criminal sexual conduct with a minor, strong-arm robbery, and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis presided over the trial and will sentence Patterson after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. Patterson faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Sanford and Elizabeth Major are prosecuting the case.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
While investigating Aden Mohamed for illegal firearm purchases, investigators found child sexual abuse material on his phone
PORTLAND, Maine: A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to conspiring to straw purchase firearms, conspiring to distribute controlled substances, and producing child sexual abuse material.
According to court records, from late 2020 until at least July 2023, Aden Mohamed (a/k/a “Mike,” a/k/a “AD”), 26, was among the leaders of a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy to traffic firearms purchased by straw purchasers in Maine to sell to customers in Syracuse, New York and Springfield, Massachusetts. Mohamed was often paid in drugs, primarily cocaine, which he used to facilitate the firearms trafficking activity by paying straw purchasers in drugs for their services. Mohamed regularly bought and sold hundreds of grams per week of cocaine as part of this scheme.
During the investigation into the firearms trafficking conspiracy, law enforcement seized Mohamed’s phone and discovered child sexual abuse material on the device. The resulting investigation revealed that Mohamed had compelled two minors into sexually explicit situations for the purpose of producing child sexual abuse material.
Mohamed faces up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 on the firearms charges, up to 20 years in prison and a maximum $1 million fine on the drug charges, and at least 15 years imprisonment (up to a maximum 30 years) and a fine up to $250,000 on the production of child sexual abuse material charge. The Court may also order him to pay restitution to the victims. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
As part of a plea agreement with the government, Mohamed – a Somalian national – has agreed to the entry of a judicial order of removal, which will result in his deportation from the United States following a term of at least 15 years of incarceration.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the cases.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as “child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
STRAW PURCHASING: A straw purchase is an illegal firearm purchase where the actual buyer of the gun, being unable to pass the required federal background check or desiring to not have his or her name associated with the transaction, uses a proxy buyer who can pass the required background check to purchase the firearm for him/her.
Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.
Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, met with representatives of the Moroccan General Confederation of Enterprises (CGEM) led by General Vice-President of CGEM, Mr. Mehdi Tazi, in Casablanca, Morocco, on 26 June 2025. The meeting explored opportunities to enhance business-to-business connectivity, strengthen trade promotion, and discussed ways to unlock the untapped market potential between ASEAN and Morocco.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with representatives of the Moroccan General Confederation of Enterprises (CGEM) appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, met with representatives of the Moroccan General Confederation of Enterprises (CGEM) led by General Vice-President of CGEM, Mr. Mehdi Tazi, in Casablanca, Morocco, on 26 June 2025. The meeting explored opportunities to enhance business-to-business connectivity, strengthen trade promotion, and discussed ways to unlock the untapped market potential between ASEAN and Morocco.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with representatives of the Moroccan General Confederation of Enterprises (CGEM) appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, met with representatives of the Moroccan General Confederation of Enterprises (CGEM) led by General Vice-President of CGEM, Mr. Mehdi Tazi, in Casablanca, Morocco, on 26 June 2025. The meeting explored opportunities to enhance business-to-business connectivity, strengthen trade promotion, and discussed ways to unlock the untapped market potential between ASEAN and Morocco.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with representatives of the Moroccan General Confederation of Enterprises (CGEM) appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Republican Governors Association (RGA) today released the following statement in response to JB Pritzker announcing his campaign for a third term as Illinois Governor:
“People are fleeing Illinois by the hundreds of thousands and Illinois families continue to suffer the consequences of JB Pritzker’s abject record of failure at home while he spends his time on a national vanity project trying to further his own political career. Opportunities for working Illinois families are in the garbage, criminal illegal immigrants are protected over law-abiding citizens, and Pritzker’s tax hikes are destroying family budgets,” said RGA Rapid Response Director Kollin Crompton. “Pritzker’s reign in Illinois has left families trapped in an economic disaster, and taxpayers are the ones left to shoulder the burden. It’s time to bring common sense to Illinois and end Pritzker’s feast on Illinois’ working families.”
The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill’s comments embracing Socialist Zohran Mamdani, Republican Governors Association Communications Director Courtney Alexander released the following statement:
“It’s not that hard to disavow socialism, and Mikie Sherrill’s official comments saying she shares the goals of Socialist Zohran Mamdani is not only absurd, but it is disqualifying, period full stop. It should alarm New Jerseyans that Mikie Sherrill, in her words, wants to ‘throw out the old playbook’ and ‘share his voters’ goal.’ Just a few of Mamdani’s top agenda items include defunding the police, ending cooperation with ICE, and government-run grocery stores. New York City’s failures have always become New Jersey’s problems and Mikie Sherrill’s new embrace of Socialist Zohran Mamdani is a terrifying risk New Jerseyans cannot afford.”
With 500 days to go until the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the Youth Charter (www.YouthCharter.org) has launched a Global Call 2 Action to establish a bold new legacy vision for Africa and the world through sport, education, and community empowerment.
This milestone moment comes as the Olympic Movement celebrates the historic appointment of Kirsty Coventry, the first female and African President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Youth Charter is calling on the IOC, African Union (AU), and global stakeholders to ensure the Dakar Games leave a lasting impact beyond the sporting arena by investing in young people and their communities.
“Dakar 2026 must be more than a celebration, it must be a catalyst for lasting change,” said Youth Charter Founder and Chair, Geoff Thompson. “We are calling on global institutions, governments, and civil society to back a pan-African legacy of safe spaces, opportunity, and hope for our youth.”
Community Campus Legacy Proposal
At the heart of the Youth Charter’s proposal is the Community Campus model—a place-based, people-led ecosystem of support that integrates education, sport, culture, enterprise and health.
The Youth Charter is proposing the establishment of:
26 Community Campuses across Africa, beginning in Senegal,
A continent-wide network of 100 trained Social Coaches,
A digital engagement platform to link youth voices to decision-makers,
A tri-partite legacy partnership between the IOC, AU, and Youth Charter.
The proposal aligns with the IOC’s Olympism365 strategy, the AU’s Agenda 2063, and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Voices from the Movement
Young people and communities from Cheetham Hill in Manchester to Soweto in South Africa have already begun mobilising through Youth Charter-supported consultations, highlighting an urgent need for action in response to rising violence, inequality and disconnection from opportunity.
The press release follows a formal submission made by the Youth Charter to the IOC and AU, requesting urgent steps to embed youth-led, community-driven legacy planning into Dakar 2026 and future Olympic movements.
“We must move from events to legacies, from promises to places, where young people are engaged, equipped and empowered with hope and social, cultural and economic opportunities,” said Geoff Thompson.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Youth Charter.
Youth Charter @ Social Media: LinkedIn: @ YouthCharter Facebook: @ YouthCharter Instagram: @ youthchartersdp YouTube: @ YouthCharter X: @ YOUTHCHARTER
About Youth Charter: The Youth Charter is a UK registered charity and UN accredited non-governmental organisation. Launched in 1993 as part of the Manchester 2000 Olympic Bid and the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the Youth Charter has Campaigned and Promoted the role and value of sport, art, culture and digital technology in the lives of disaffected young people from disadvantaged communities nationally and internationally. The Youth Charter has a proven track record in the creation and delivery of social and human development programmes with the overall aim of providing young people with an opportunity to develop in life.
Specifically, The Youth Charter Tackles educational non-attainment, health inequality, anti-social behaviour and the negative effects of crime, drugs, gang related activity and racism by applying the ethics of sporting and artistic excellence. These can then be translated to provide social and economic benefits of citizenship, rights responsibilities, with improved education, health, social order, environment and college, university, employment and enterprise.
As you wait in the departure lounge for your flight this summer, you may notice your aeroplane being pumped full of fuel ahead of takeoff. And then you may start to wonder why flying is still so dependent on fossil fuels, and whether you should have booked a holiday destination that’s accessible by a more environmentally friendly form of transport.
So what happened to plans for so-called sustainable aviation fuel? Wasn’t it supposed to be the “game changer” that would make flying a much greener travel option than it used to be?
Clearly, the move to adopt the technology is facing difficulties. One problem seems to be that there simply isn’t enough sustainable fuel to go around.
But the business side of the process is also holding back sustainable fuel uptake.
Research my colleagues and I conducted in 2021 revealed a deeply fragmented landscape at pretty much every step of sustainable fuel development. There are obstacles everywhere, blocking the paths of the producers developing these fuels, the airlines who might use them and the governmental and campaign groups pushing for change.
Everyone seems to agree that sustainable fuel matters. They just don’t all agree about how to really get it off the ground.
Our findings demonstrate that producers, for instance, were understandably focused on more research and development to improve efficient production. They were also worried that scaling up facilities could disrupt production that is already in place.
Airlines meanwhile, are grappling with the economics of moving to sustainable fuel, which is around three to ten times more expensive than conventional fuel. Right now, a litre of conventional aviation fuel costs around £0.96 per litre in the UK – for sustainable aviation fuel it’s around £1.97. (Depending on the length of the journey and the size of the engine, a plane could need around 13,000 litres per hour of flying.)
They spoke about inconsistent supply (especially at major airports), and the need for clearer regulations and incentives across the industry.
“Cost is clearly the most important driver,” one airline executive told us, explaining that dealing with those costs would ultimately depend on passenger demand for greener travel – and how willing those passengers are to pay a premium for sustainable fuel.
Distribution companies that take the sustainable fuel where it needs to go, have found themselves struggling to navigate the complexities of an emerging supply chain. They spoke of the logistical challenges of transporting and storing sustainable fuel, and a lack of clear communication between producers and airlines.
They saw themselves as a crucial part of the sustainable aviation fuel puzzle, but were concerned about investing in logistics and infrastructure without guaranteed demand.
Elsewhere, politicians and climate campaigners tend to view the adoption of sustainable fuel from a broader perspective, stressing the urgency of action on climate change. Their thinking is dominated by environmental strategy and sustainable aviation fuel regulation.
But here, trust becomes an issue. Some of those involved with sustainable fuel development said they doubted government promises to support the sector over the long term. Others are cynical about whether airlines will really prioritise climate action over their very tight profit margins.
Up in the air
So sustainable fuel inspires plenty of different viewpoints and concerns. But one common thread was an overwhelming concern about cost and scale of production.
Aside from being far more expensive than fossil-based jet fuel, building enough production facilities to make more will require billions of pounds of investment.
Some of this will need to be tax funded. For if the UK wants to become a leader in the use of sustainable aviation fuel, as the government says it does, it needs more than ambitious targets. It needs to start making things happen.
And our research suggests that the industry as a whole would benefit from some certainty to encourage investment right across the supply chain. Without a clear and stable regulatory framework, everyone will remain hesitant about committing significant resources to sustainable fuel.
Collaboration between the key players could also be improved, with a better dialogue between those in the industry and regulators, potentially leading to a shared vision for the future of sustainable aviation fuel.
That future is by no means doomed. Major commercial airlines like Air France-KLM, IAG (British Airways) and United Airlines in the US are working with sustainable fuel producers around the world.
But while the desire to decarbonise aviation seems clear, the path forward is not straightforward. It is a complex picture of politics, economics, trust and differing priorities.
By navigating this turbulence wisely, the sustainable fuel sector can be part of a broader flight path to net zero. But if managed poorly, targets to dramatically increase its use will remain elusive.
Salman Ahmad received funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to undertake work that informs the contents of this article. He is also a professional member of the Project Management Institue and the Association for Supply Chain Management.
In the heart of London’s St James’s Park, where John Nash’s 200-year-old landscape has witnessed the rise and fall of empires, a new chapter is about to unfold. The site that has long served as the nation’s ceremonial backdrop will soon become home to something unprecedented: a memorial not just to a monarch, but to an entire era.
The winner of the competition to design Queen Elizabeth II’s memorial has been announced, and perhaps it was inevitable that it would be Norman Foster.
However, it was also clear that the memorial was intended to be a new national landmark that somehow encapsulated the queen and changed national values and identities during her long reign.
Almost inevitably, it is to be situated in a Grade-I listed setting in St James’s Park, London. This presented designers with the further challenge of how to sensitively respond to John Nash’s historic landscape design across a site that spans the breadth of the park.
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After initial expressions of interest were sifted, the five candidates shortlisted in February had to come up with a master plan that was emotionally resonant and sustainable.
It also had to be compatible with the existing use of this extensive site, not least as a thoroughfare presenting vistas of Buckingham Palace and Whitehall. This memorial therefore involved much more than the simple statues of the Queen’s father and grandfather that came before it.
Even the memorial to Queen Victoria, undoubtedly the most commemorated woman in British history, is modest in scale compared to this new project.
The Queen Elizabeth II memorial is clearly intended to be very different from Victoria’s imperial confection. The brief for the design specified that it had to be immediately comprehensible to peoples of all races and religions, respect the park’s wildlife, be easy to maintain and be reasonably vandal proof. Above all, the proposal had to evoke the late queen’s qualities and “tell the story of her long reign through integrated design, landscaping and placemaking”.
The process was therefore an exercise in landscape architecture, rather than producing an artwork.
The queen herself had considerable familiarity with architecture. During her reign, she opened 122 buildings in London alone, as well as iconic buildings around the world, such as Sydney Opera House.
The queen described the latter as “a splendid achievement of engineering and architecture”. Her similar enthusiasm when opening the Barbican in London suggests that her architectural tastes were less traditional than her eldest son’s.
Yet there was no dominant school of architecture among the buildings she opened, nor a New Elizabethan style that defined her reign. It would be impossible to evoke the eclectic architecture range of her reign without pastiche.
However, if there was no defining architecture, there arguably was a defining architect – the nonagenarian Sir Norman Foster. A working-class lad from Manchester who built a globally renowned architectural brand, his architectural career, which commenced in 1956, nearly coincides with the queen’s reign.
During that reign, many of the significant buildings she opened, such as Stansted Airport, were designed by Foster. In his career, he has won every major architectural award and produced major landmark buildings all over the world. In consequence, he has been described as the “perfect architect for his era”.
With all due respect to the acclaimed teams of designers he was competing with, it therefore seems appropriate that his firm, Foster + Partners, should have been chosen to evoke the reign of a monarch during which his buildings featured so prominently.
A ‘unifying force’
To win the bid, Foster + Partners had to assemble a multidisciplinary team, including the British artist Yinka Shonibare. Their proposal was felt to address many of the dualities of the Queen’s reign: tradition and modernity, public duty and private faith and the relationship between the UK and the Commonwealth that was always dear to Elizabeth II’s heart.
To express these dualities, their master plan provided for two gates and two gardens, united by a path and a new translucent bridge over the park’s lake. As Foster reflected, this was intended to convey the queen’s role “as a unifying force”.
Probably one factor that worked in their favour was the significance given to the Duke of Edinburgh. The firm’s suggestion of a statue of the royal couple together is unusual. The statues of the queen’s parents, in contrast, are separate if adjacent on a staircase on the north side of The Mall facing the park where their daughter’s memorial will appear. This plan brings her back together with the beloved husband she so missed after his death in 2021. It’s a move that the queen would no doubt have thoroughly approved.
The design concept will, of course, be refined. The architectural renders at present can only give a glimpse of what the memorial landscape will look like in practice, let alone convey the ambience it seeks to evoke. Such details will need to be developed before the designs are submitted for planning permission.
Nevertheless, it does seem appropriate that, for an era that defies architectural categorisation it should reflect the vision of the man who, more than any other, has been the architect of the age.
Pippa Catterall 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.
A Dallas man with three prior domestic violence convictions was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
Thomas Keithlun Brown, 26, pled guilty to the federal offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in September 2024. He was sentenced on June 18, 2025, to 70 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Ed Kinkeade.
At sentencing, prosecutors argued for a 70-month sentence given the defendant’s extensive history assaulting women and domestic violence convictions.
This case is part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas’s Domestic Violence Initiative. This initiative is aimed at keeping firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers by using the tools of federal prosecution. History shows that gun violence and domestic violence are intertwined, and that offenders with domestic violence in their past pose a remarkably high risk of homicide.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Denton Police Department conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John Boyle and Luis Suarez.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Joscha Abels, Post-Doctoral Researcher, Institute of Political Science, University of Tübingen
It was the briefest of messages, but the potential consequences could have been significant. Elon Musk posted a four-word tweet on June 14: “The beams are on”. The message prefigured a consequential intervention – not only in Iranian domestic affairs but potentially in the geopolitics of the Middle East. The US billionaire was responding to a request on his online platform X, asking him to activate the Starlink satellite system over Iran in support of anti-government protests.
This has effectively limited the inflow of media reports to the Iranian public. It has also made it more difficult for Iranians to organise amid violent crackdowns by the regime’s security forces. The activation of Starlink could allow them to bypass government censorship and restore contact with the outside world – and each other.
It is not the first time Iran’s government has restricted internet access to stifle unrest – nor is it the first time that Musk got involved. In 2022, amid nationwide protests following the death of a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, at the hands of the security forces, ostensibly for wearing her hijab incorrectly, Musk activated Starlink over Iran for the first time.
This triggered the smuggling of thousands of Starlink terminals into the country from neighbouring states. These terminals are flat rectangular devices, no larger than a baking tray. It is estimated that around 20,000 of them have found their way into Iran, giving Musk’s latest move a more immediate impact.
Still, reestablishing internet coverage remains difficult. The few available Starlink terminals are traded on the black market at exorbitant prices, and Starlink services in Iran still require payments of a monthly subscription fee. Iran’s government has also issued threats against citizens who use the system.
A new kind of warfare
Starlink is the most advanced communication satellite system in the world. Orbiting Earth at an altitude of about 550kms, its satellites deliver high-speed internet to customers around the globe. Out of more than 12,000 active satellites in orbit, around 7,600 belong to Starlink.
The system is operated by SpaceX, a space tech firm headquartered in Texas. SpaceX has recently become the world’s most valuable privately held company according to Bloomberg, surpassing even ByteDance (TikTok) and OpenAI.
Musk continues to act as the company’s largest stakeholder and chief executive, even while wielding huge political influence (following his recent rift with the US president, there is evidence he still wields considerable political clout in the US).
Starlink owes much of its geopolitical relevance to modern warfare. Secure communications have become essential on today’s data-driven battlefields. The mass availability of drones has fundamentally changed how wars are fought. High-bandwidth connections are needed for drones to transmit live video and receive targeting data.
As land-based connections are vulnerable to sabotage and outright attacks, mega-constellations such as Starlink provide a robust alternative. Comprising thousands of units, several hundreds of kilometres above ground, their services are difficult to disrupt.
Ukraine: a cautionary tale
Nowhere has the importance of satellite communications for geopolitics been more evident than in Ukraine. Russia prepared its invasion by conducting cyberattacks on Ukraine’s Viasat system. Musk responded by activating Starlink, announcing the move in the same casual style that he used for Iran.
The effect was immediate. Starlink quickly became indispensable for Ukraine’s counter-offensive efforts. Amid the Russian onslaught, it provided the nation’s military with secure communications to push back against the invasion. For SpaceX, this yielded not just hugely positive publicity but also substantial financial injections from investors.
Just months into Starlink’s activation, SpaceX initiated a strategic shift. Ukrainian forces reported outages along the front lines, especially when pushing into Russian-occupied territory. In October 2022, Musk floated the idea that SpaceX might withdraw support altogether, citing high operational costs.
By February 2023, the company had begun limiting Starlink’s use for the operation of Ukrainian drones. SpaceX’s chief operating office, Gwynne Shotwell stated that the system was “never intended to be weaponized”.
Power in private hands
Starlink’s role in Ukraine offers a striking example of how modern communications can change the course of conflicts, as I argued in a recent article in the European Journal of International Relations. At the same time, it serves as a cautionary tale about the reliability of critical systems in the hands of private corporations and powerful individuals.
In Ukraine, Musk held the power to effectively veto military operations. No democratic body provided oversight – the signal could be switched off with a tweet. Starlink’s role in Iran raises similarly uncomfortable questions: who decides when – or whether – citizens get to communicate?
While the region is struggling to establish a fragile ceasefire, political unrest in Iran is unlikely to subside soon. The deeper truth remains that communications within Iran’s civil society currently depend on the world’s wealthiest person – and no alternatives are in sight.
Joscha Abels receives funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG), grant 526359979.
BEAUMONT, Texas – A Port Arthur woman has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Sasha Sheree Abshire, 36, pleaded guilty to production of child pornography and was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael Truncale on June 24, 2025.
According to information presented in court, in July 2024, law enforcement authorities received information that sexually explicit photos of a pre-school age child were being offered for distribution online by an individual with a screen name associated with Abshire. Abshire subsequently sent images of child pornography to another person from a cell phone that was later determined to belong to Abshire who was living at an address in Port Arthur. Some of the sexually explicit images contained an adult woman’s face. Social media accounts belonging to Abshire confirmed the woman in some of the photos was in fact Abshire. Federal agents arrested Abshire at her Port Arthur home and confirmed that she was the woman who produced the child pornography.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Port Arthur Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove.
Most people experience periods of loneliness, isolation or solitude in their lives. But these are different things, and the proportion of people feeling lonely is stable over time. So why do we keep talking about an epidemic of loneliness?
Before the COVID pandemic, several studies showed that rates of loneliness were stable in England, the US, Finland, Sweden and Germany, among other places, over recent decades.
While COVID changed many things, loneliness levels quickly returned to pre-pandemic levels. In 2018, 34% of US adults aged 50 to 80 years reported a lack of companionship “some of the time” or “often”. That proportion rose to 42% during the pandemic but fell to 33% in 2024.
That’s a lot of lonely people, but it is not an epidemic. In some countries, such as Sweden, loneliness is in decline – at least among older adults.
Despite these statistics, the idea that loneliness is increasing is pervasive. For example in 2023, the US surgeon general warned about an “epidemic of loneliness and isolation”. The UK even has a government minister with an explicit responsibility for addressing loneliness.
Loneliness is a problem, even if it is not an epidemic. Social connection is important for physical and mental health. Many people feel lonely in a crowd or feel crowded when alone. In 2023, the World Health Organization announced a “Commission on Social Connection”. The WHO is right: we need to reduce loneliness in our families, communities and societies.
But the idea that loneliness is an “epidemic” is misleading and it draws us away from sustainable solutions, rather than towards them. It suggests that loneliness is a new problem (it is not), that it is increasing (it is not), that it is beyond our control (it is not), and that the only appropriate reaction is an emergency one (it is not).
In the short term, loneliness is an undesirable psychological state. In the long term, it is a risk factor for chronic ill health.
Loneliness is not a sudden crisis that needs a short-term fix. It is a long-term challenge that requires a sustained response. An emergency reaction is not appropriate – a measured response is. Initiatives by the US surgeon general and WHO are welcome, but they should be long-term responses to an enduring problem, not emergency reactions to an “epidemic”.
Vivek Murthy, the former US surgeon general warned about an epidemic of loneliness in America. lev radin/Shutterstock
Medicalising normal human experience
Conceptual clarity is essential if true loneliness is to be addressed. Pathologising all instances of being alone risks medicalising normal human experiences such as solitude. Some people feel alive only in crowds, but others were born lighthouse keepers. In a hyper-connected world, loneliness should be solvable, but solitude must be treasured.
So, if there is no loneliness epidemic, why do we keep talking as if there is? Media framing of the issue and the human tendency to panic reinforce each other. We click into news stories based on subjective resonance rather than objective evidence.
Human behaviour is shaped primarily by feelings, not facts. We dramatise, panic, and overstate negative trends. If trends are positive, we focus on minor counter-trends, ignore statistics and make things up.
In the case of loneliness, the problem is real, even if the “epidemic” is not. Loneliness is part of the human condition, but alleviating each other’s loneliness is also part of who we are – or who we can become.
Addressing loneliness is not about solving a short-term problem or halting an “epidemic”. It means learning to live with each other in new, more integrated ways that meet our emotional needs. Loneliness is not the problem. It is a consequence of living in societies that are often disconnected and fragmented.
The solution? We cannot change the essentials of human nature – and nor should we try. But we can be a little kinder to ourselves, speak to each other a little more, and cultivate compassion for ourselves and other people.
We need to connect with each other better and more. We can. We should. We will.
Brendan Kelly 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.
The human body is a machine whose many parts – from the microscopic details of our cells to our limbs, eyes, liver and brain – have been assembled in fits and starts over the four billion years of our history.
But scientists are still puzzling over why we evolved into this particular form. Why do humans uniquely have a chin, for example? And why, relative to body weight, is a human testicle triple the size of a gorilla’s but a fifth of that of a chimpanzee? As I show in my new book, The Tree of Life, we are still searching for the answers to many of these “why” questions. But we are starting to find answers to some of them.
The story of evolution tells us how, starting from simple beginnings, each species was built – when each of the components that make a living creature was added to its blueprint. If we climb the evolutionary tree of life, we can follow a twisting path that visits the increasingly specialised branches that a species belongs to. We humans, for example, were animals before we became vertebrates; mammals before evolving into primates and so on.
The groups of species we share each of these branches with reveal the order our body parts appeared in. A body and a gut (inventions of the animal branch) must have come before backbone and limbs (vertebrate branch); milk and hair (mammals) came before fingernails (primates).
There is a way we can study the separate problem of just why we evolved each of these body parts, but it only works if the feature in question has evolved more than once on separate branches of the tree of life. This repeated evolution is called convergence. It can be a source of frustration for biologists because it confuses us as to how species are related. Swallows and swifts, for example, were once classified as sister species. We now know from both DNA and comparisons of their skeletons that swallows are really closer relatives of owls than swifts.
Size matters when it comes to evolution
But convergent evolution becomes something useful when we think of it as a kind of natural experiment. The size of primate testicles gives us a classic example. Abyssinian black and white colobus monkey and bonnet macaque adult males are roughly the same size. But, like chimps, humans and gorillas, these similar monkeys have vastly dissimilar testicles. Colobus testicles weigh just 3 grams. The testicles of the macaques, in contrast, are a whopping 48 grams.
You could come up with several believable explanations for their different testicle sizes. Large testicles might be the equivalent of the peacock’s tail, not useful per se but attractive to females. But perhaps the most plausible explanation relates to the way they mate. A male colobus monkey competes ferociously for access to a harem of females who will mate exclusively with him. Macaques, on the other hand live in peaceful mixed troops of about 30 monkeys and have a different approach to love where everyone mates with everyone else: males with multiple females (polygamy) and females with multiple males (polyandry).
The colobus with his harem can get away with producing a bare minimum of sperm – if a droplet is enough to produce a baby, then why make more? For a male macaque the competition to reproduce happens in a battle between his sperm and the sperm of other males who mated before or after. A male macaque with large testicles should make more sperm, giving him a higher chance of passing on his genes. It’s a sensible explanation for their different testicle sizes, but is it true? This is where convergent evolution helps.
If we look across the whole of the mammal branch of the tree of life we find there are many groups of mammals that have evolved testicles of all different sizes. In almost all these separate cases, larger testicles are consistently found in promiscuous species and smaller in monogamous.
A small-testicled, silverback male gorilla has sole access to a harem. Big-testicled chimps and bonobos are indeed highly promiscuous. Dolphins, meanwhile, may have the biggest mammalian testicles of all, making up as much as 4% of their body weight (equivalent to human testicles weighing roughly 3 kilos). Although wild dolphin sex lives are naturally hard to study, spinner dolphins at least fit our expectations, engaging in mass mating eventscalled wuzzles.
It was thanks to the multiple observations provided by convergent evolution that we were able to discover this consistent correlation between testicle size and sex life right across the mammals. And as for humans, we have testicle size somewhere in the middle, you can make of this what you want!
But what of the human chin?
The human chin has been fertile ground for arguments between scientists over its purpose. As with testicles, there are half a dozen plausible ideas to explain the evolution of the human chin. It could have evolved to strengthen the jaw of a battling caveman. Maybe the chin evolved to exaggerate the magnificence of a manly beard. It might even be a by-product of the invention of cooking and the softer food it produced – a functionless facial promontory left behind by the receding tide of a weakening jaw.
Intriguingly, however, a chin can be found in no other mammal, not even our closest cousins the Neanderthals. Thanks to the uniqueness of the Homo sapiens chin, while we have a rich set of possible explanations for its evolutionary purpose, in the absence of convergent evolution, we have no sensible way of testing them.
Some parts of human nature may be destined to remain a mystery.
This article includes links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org The Conversation UK may earn a commission.
Max Telford 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 Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Operation Interflex reaches three-year milestone
UK-led training programme of Ukrainian recruits launched on 26 June 2022.
Crown copyright
More than 56,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained by the UK and 13 partner nations on Operation Interflex; the UK-led, multination training programme.
Today (Thursday 26 June 2025) marks three years since the first Ukrainian trainees landed on British soil to begin the vital military training that turns civilians into soldiers capable of returning home to repel Russia’s illegal invasion of their country.
During this time Operation Interflex has continued to evolve to match the specific threats being faced on the frontlines in Ukraine. A variety of training programmes have been delivered via Operation Interflex focussed on equipping trainees with the battlefield essentials: the basic infantry course, leadership training, and instructor courses, which continuously adapt to Ukraine’s needs.
Led by the UK, Operation Interflex has been delivered alongside 13 other partner nations: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Albania, Estonia, Kosovo, Lithuania, and Romania. Service personnel from these nations are united in the objective to deliver high quality training that meets the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
At a recent meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) on the 4 June, the Defence Secretary announced that the UK will spend a further £247m this year on training the Armed Forces of Ukraine, supporting Operation Interflex’s highly successful training programmes. This funding not only supports Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, but it is also vital in ensuring both European and UK security, underpinned by the Government’s Plan for Change.
Recent polling data reveals that 90% of all the trainees who have completed Interflex training since January 2025 feel more confident in their lethality and survivability at the end of training. The polling also revealed that one of the most valued elements of the training is the battlefield first aid, with 93% of basic recruits saying they felt more confident about treating casualties after receiving the training.
Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard MP said:
From each Ukrainian soldier made combat-ready on UK soil, to the £13bn committed in military support, we are proud of every element of our contribution to Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s illegal invasion.
The Government is clear that providing military support to Ukraine is essential to both UK and European security. Keeping the country safe is the Government’s first priority, and a foundation of its Plan for Change.
The UK and its allies are united in our support for Ukraine. I am sure they share my constant awe of the resilience shown by the Ukrainian people in the face of Russian aggression.”
Colonel Andrew Boardman, Commanding Officer of Operation Interflex:
Today marks three years since the launch of Operation INTERFLEX to train Ukrainian personnel in the UK. Over this period, the multinational coalition of 14 nations, led by the UK, has trained over 56,000 Ukrainian soldiers, a testament to the enduring strength and shared resolve of our international partnership.
This milestone reflects not only our unity of purpose but our unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s freedom and NATO’s collective security.”
The UK is proud to be a leading partner in providing vital support to Ukraine. The government has committed £13 billion of military aid for Ukraine, with £4.5 billion expected to be provided this year. This military aid includes training programmes like Operation Interflex, but also military capabilities and equipment such as drones, air defence systems and munitions.
The UK and Ukraine’s allies are committed to supporting Ukraine secure a just and lasting peace. The training effort provided by Operation Interflex aims to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position to achieve this peace and to safeguard their sovereignty and our collective security against Russian aggression.
Many women have been supported to help quit for good through help from the Health Trainers.
Cllr Lucy Steels- Walshaw, Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care at City of York Council, said “Stopping smoking during pregnancy is a positive step you can take for the health of you and your baby.
“Stopping smoking can be challenging, but you do not have to face this alone. The council’s health trainers can offer support tailored to your needs and look at techniques and strategies to keep you motivated on your journey to becoming smoke free”.
The Health Trainers offer an incentive scheme of £170 in shopping vouchers which are offered, if they continue to quit during their pregnancy and quit for good.
Lucy Evans, from Acomb, gave birth at full term to a 7lb 14oz healthy baby girl, Violet, 12 weeks ago. She stopped smoking a week after her first health trainer appointment early in her pregnancy, and received free nicotine gum and patches as well as one-to-one support sessions.
She has just received her final voucher this week, which she plans to spend on clothes for Violet and a treat for herself.
She said: “I wanted to quit to make sure my baby was healthy and would definitely recommend this scheme, you get so much support and help and it makes you want to quit even more.
“I feel a lot healthier, I’m not coughing as much and am breathing better, and I feel like I can handle stress a lot better as I’m not relying on smoking.”
The service offers personalised, individual support and advice, and signing up is really simple.
Across the region, the Smoking at Time of Delivery (SATOD) data shows that 7.5 per cent (3,901) of pregnant women across Yorkshire and the Humber were recorded as smoking in 2024/25.
This is 1.8 per cent lower than the previous year, when maternal smoking rates were 9.3 per cent across the region. This equates to 642 fewer women smoking compared to last year.
This is the lowest rate of smoking during pregnancy recorded in Yorkshire and the Humber since data began to be collected. This also reflects improvement across England as a whole, where SATOD rates fell to 6.1 per cent from 7.4 per cent last year.
Smoking during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of harm to both mother and baby. It increases the risk of stillbirth, miscarriage, and sudden infant death. Children born to parents who smoke are also more likely to experience respiratory illness, learning difficulties, and diabetes, and are more likely to grow up to be smokers when compared to children born into smoke-free households.
As well as the health harms caused by smoking during pregnancy, it also adds to the cost of living and pushes families further into poverty. The average smoker spends £3,000 per year on tobacco, with younger women from the most deprived areas being the most likely to smoke and be exposed to second-hand smoke during pregnancy.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
KUNMING, June 26 (Xinhua) — The China-Laos railway carried more than 2.48 million tonnes of foreign trade cargo worth over 10 billion yuan (about 1.4 billion U.S. dollars) from January to May this year, official data showed Thursday.
During this period, there was a significant increase in both the volume and cost of transportation. The volume of transportation increased by 7.9 percent year-on-year, and the cost by 33.2 percent.
In May alone, the railway carried 512,000 tons of cargo worth 3.76 billion yuan, a new record since the railway opened in December 2021.
As of May 22, the total volume of cargo transported via this railway exceeded 60 million tons, with cross-border shipments reaching 13.9 million tons.
The range of goods transported has expanded significantly – from 10 to over 3,000 items. Among them are electronics, photovoltaic products, communications equipment, automobiles, agricultural products, industrial goods and essential items. -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
Moscow, June 26 /Xinhua/ — China advocates overcoming disunity through dialogue among civilizations. The Global Civilization Initiative, put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2023, calls for respecting the diversity of world civilizations, paying attention to both the preservation of cultural heritage and innovation, and strengthening international humanitarian cooperation and exchanges. This is stated in an article by Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui, published on Thursday by the TASS news agency.
“Since the launch of this initiative, platforms for equal dialogue between different civilizations have been created within its framework, such as the Forum of Ancient Civilizations, the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations, the Conference on Dialogue of China-Africa Civilizations, and others,” the ambassador recalls.
“This initiative advanced the idea of establishing the UN International Day of Dialogue Among Civilizations, which allowed the international community to unite its broad efforts to strengthen mutual understanding between peoples and overcome misunderstandings and disunity. This initiative gradually transformed from a Chinese proposal into an international consensus,” the article says.
“China and Russia have deep cultural traditions, unique cultural characteristics and outstanding achievements in civilizational development,” Zhang Hanhui notes. “In recent years, humanitarian exchanges between China and Russia have become even deeper and more meaningful.”
According to the diplomat, countries around the world are currently facing common challenges. “Faced with the stubborn adherence of individual countries to the concepts of ‘civilizational superiority’, ‘clash of civilizations’ and ‘cold war between civilizations’, China has consistently fulfilled its mission of promoting human progress and striving for universal harmony in the world,” the article emphasizes.
“China advocates overcoming disunity through dialogue among civilizations, overcoming conflicts through mutual learning, overcoming claims to superiority through the coexistence of civilizations, and a joint response to global challenges,” sums up the Chinese Ambassador to the Russian Federation Zhang Hanhui. –0–
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Louisiana Congresswoman Julia Letlow honored LSU’s national champion baseball team on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.
On Sunday LSU captured their eighth NCAA Division I baseball title, capping off a 53-win season with an undefeated College World Series run. Letlow’s 5th Congressional District includes LSU’s campus.
To see a full video of Congresswoman Letlow’s remarks, clickHERE. A full transcript can be found below.
Congresswoman Letlow Remarks:
I rise to congratulate the Louisiana State University baseball team for taking home their eighth national title.
Under the leadership of Coach Jay Johnson, LSU captured their second title in three years. The Tigers triumphed through their championship season with 53 wins and an undefeated College World Series.
Coach Johnson and his team exemplified excellence on and off the field, making Louisiana proud of not only their athleticism – but also their upstanding character and service to the Baton Rouge community.
As LSU’s representative in Congress, I joined my constituents in following the team’s journey to yet another championship.
ESPN this week referred to LSU as the “Greatest Ever College Baseball Program.” I couldn’t agree more!
This victory wasn’t just about raising the trophy at the end. It was a testament to the resilient, winning spirit of our state.
To the players, coaches, and staff: thank you for inspiring a new generation of Tigers to dream big. And thank you for representing Louisiana with honor on the national stage.
In just a few days, Canada will mark the 158th anniversary of our Confederation. This day is an occasion for all Canadians to celebrate who we are with pride and conviction, as well as to look back on our shared history with reflection, and to the future with hope and determination.
This year, more than ever, Canada Day holds special meaning. Over the past few months, we have seen Canadians come together in a tremendous display of unity. Whether by buying Canadian, exploring our country, cheering on our sports teams, or celebrating our artists, Canadians have shown inspiring solidarity.
This July 1, it is your day, Canada. I invite all Canadians to experience a 100% Canadian day—celebrating with family and friends and taking part in the festivities and free activities organized in their communities all across the country!
Wherever you are, don’t miss out:
Experience the highlights of the day: Watch the national noon ceremony and national evening show live on CBC and Radio-Canada platforms, or join the celebrations in person at LeBreton Flats Park in Ottawa—or on giant screens on Parliament Hill and in front of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Take part in theO Canada! Station initiative: Until July 2, share what makes you proud to be Canadian by recording a short video for a chance to win one of two unforgettable VIA Rail trips, valued at up to $15,000 each.
Immerse yourself in Canadian music: Listen to the Official Canada Day Playlist featuring the incredible Canadian artists performing this year.
Be part of the conversation: Share your Canada Day pride with the hashtag #CanadaDay.
Celebrate all summer long: Keep choosing Canada with the Canada Strong Pass, offering discounts and free access to some of our country’s most iconic destinations and experiences.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brett Guthrie (2nd District Kentucky)
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Guthrie (KY-02) issued the following statement following the House passage of H.R. 3944, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2026 yesterday evening.
“Our nation owes a true debt of gratitude for those who have chosen to serve our nation in uniform. Last night, the House took a step to ensure that our veterans have access to the benefits that are owed to them and that our active duty servicemembers have the highest quality facilities to support their mission,” said Congressman Guthrie. “This legislation also includes significant funding to upgrade existing infrastructure at Fort Knox, ensuring local soldiers are in the best possible position to carry out their duties in Kentucky and beyond.”
Specific information about the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2026, before adoption of amendments, can be found here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Allen (R-GA-12)
Today, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions (HELP), introduced the Employee Rights Act of 2025 (ERA). This legislation seeks to modernize outdated federal labor laws to meet the needs of today’s workers.
The ERA represents the Republican vision for the future of the American workforce—promoting growth, freedom, and innovation—while also ensuring our laws protect workers and guarantees unions are acting in the best interest of union members. After introducing the bill, Congressman Allen issued the statement below:
“Following a four-year assault on workers’ choices and freedoms under the Biden-Harris Administration, the Employee Rights Act puts 21st-century workers first by advancing commonsense labor policies,” said Congressman Allen.“To rebuild a vibrant, pro-growth economy, Congress must empower workers to achieve the American Dream through a variety of innovative pathways, not limit their choices with burdensome regulations and policymaking. I am grateful for Chairman Walberg’s support of this legislation to modernize our outdated labor laws and put the American worker back in the driver’s seat.”
“With Republicans leading the way, our economy is booming like never before—but our federal labor laws are stuck in the past,” said Chairman Walberg. “After years of Biden-Harris efforts to manipulate labor laws to favor activists and union leaders, we need updated policies that protect workers’ independence and interests in today’s evolving workforce. The Employee Rights Act is another strong step in reversing policies that undermine workers’ independence and fail to hold union leadership accountable to their members. I will always support giving workers the right to choose their own path to success.”
“The Employee Rights Act is the most comprehensive labor legislation of this Congress, from protecting the secret ballot and unionization elections, to safeguarding workers from harassment and protecting their privacy, to putting workers in control of their own destiny. It truly puts the American worker first. We applaud Representative Allen for his steadfast leadership and support of worker freedom,”said F. Vincent Vernuccio, President of the Institute for the American Worker.
To read the full bill text, CLICK HERE. To read a one-pager on the bill, CLICK HERE.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 25, 2025
Contact: Jin.Choi@mail.house.gov
Reps. Barragán and Lofgren Lead Democrats’ Response to Rep. Kim’s Distorted, Partisan Resolution Regarding Trump’s Authoritarian Response to the LA Protests
Washington, D.C.— Today, Representatives Nanette Barragán (CA-44) and Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, led Democrats in introducing a resolution to condemn Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and Marines during the LA protests, while reaffirming support for state and local law enforcement and the people’s First Amendment right to peacefully protest. This resolution provides a fact-based response to Representative Young Kim’s distorted, partisan, and misleading resolution that House Republican leadership will have the House vote on later this week.
Rather than working on a bipartisan basis to condemn violence, defend the peaceful expression of First Amendment rights, and thank members of law enforcement, Rep. Kim’s resolution instead falsely claims that violence was widespread across LA and that California’s leadership has “prioritized protecting illegal immigrants and violent individuals over United States citizens” among other highly partisan claims.
In contrast, the Barragán-Lofgren resolution accurately notes that violence in LA was limited and under control by local and state law enforcement. When communities exercised their First Amendment right to assemble and protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, President Trump wrongfully deployed the National Guard and active-duty members of the U.S. Marine Corps in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act and without the consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom or local officials. Democrats’ resolution commends the state and local law enforcement officers who have worked to protect public safety and maintain peace, supports Americans’ right to protest peacefully, condemns acts of violence, and supports the military servicemembers in the Marines and National Guard while objecting to their current deployment to Los Angeles County.
“Our communities have been terrorized by Donald Trump and Stephen Miller’s indiscriminate mass deportation ICE operations — in response, people spoke up and protested to express their fear, anger, and anxiety,” said Rep. Nanette Barragán. “State and local law enforcement had the situation under control and the Trump Administration intentionally escalated the situation when they deployed troops into Los Angeles. Our resolution makes clear that we will not stand by while the federal government tries to intimidate Californians into silence through a show of military force. We must protect the right to protest, condemn violence, and reject authoritarian tactics that have no place in America.”
“Rep. Kim’s resolution regarding the L.A. protests is not just misguided, inaccurate, and disingenuous: it’s dangerous,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation. “President Trump’s deployment of Marines and the National Guard in response to largely peaceful protests was unprecedented and wrong. Trump’s refusal to coordinate with state and local officials in deploying active-duty troops also put both protestors and state and local law enforcement officers at risk. House Republicans should be conducting vigorous oversight of the shocking deployment of servicemembers – a blatant attempt to take over states’ law enforcement responsibility – not reflexively jumping to providing justification for Trump to send troops into other communities or defending his dangerous attempt to squash constitutionally-protected dissent.”
“Communities throughout California have been upended by ICE raids where masked ICE agents are using excessive force to go after people without probable cause. People want safer communities, not to see elementary school students and sick people at hospitals deported without due process. Instead of deescalating violence, Trump has fomented it. By deploying Marines and the National Guard against protestors in LA, Trump exacerbated a situation that local officials had under control. The resolution introduced by Rep. Kim does not accurately state the facts of the situation and instead falsely lays blame on Californians for Trump’s escalatory actions. By introducing a resolution with the correct facts, Democrats are standing up for Californians, including our law enforcement officials, who have been repeatedly demonized by partisan hacks looking to score cheap political points,” said Rep. Lieu.
“There was only one reason Trump deployed the National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles: to launch his pathetic, made-for-TV reality show to justify his authoritarian crackdowns and cruel ICE raids,” said Rep. Kamalger-Dove. “But Angelenos know our city is not on fire. We see right through the reality TV president’s theatrics that are meant to distract from this Administration’s tanking of our economy, devastating cuts to Medicaid, and the brutality and inhumanity of its mass deportations. If you pan away from the set, you won’t see Trump’s toy soldiers or violence, but real people hurting from his policies. Let’s focus the camera back on that.”
“The Trump Administration is using our military service members as political pawns to create a false narrative of uncontrolled violence, trample on legal precedent, and perpetuate fear and hate in our communities,” said Rep. Cisneros. “Last week, I led a letter with over 34 of my colleagues demanding that the President withdraw troops from L.A. and allow our local officials and law enforcement to do their jobs. I’m proud to join California Democrats in demanding answers from the Administration.”
“As a proud born-and-raised Angeleno, Los Angeles will always be home. The Republican resolution we are voting on this week is a distorted and inaccurate attack on Los Angeles and our great state,” said Congresswoman Luz Rivas. “I thank Representatives Barragan and Lofgren for leading our California colleagues in introducing this resolution that reaffirms our support for peaceful protest and condemns President Trump’s mobilization of the National Guard and Marines on American soil. The President’s unprovoked and politically-motivated escalation of our military sowed more chaos and harm across our communities. My California House Democratic Caucus colleagues will continue to support the Constitutional right to peacefully protest the Trump Administration’s heartless immigration agenda while also swiftly condemning any acts of violence. Our Republican colleagues – especially our California Republican colleagues – need to do the same.”
“Trump’s deployment of Marines to Los Angeles was a dangerous overreach that bypassed both state and local authority. We all condemn violence. Californians have a right to protest peacefully — and the Governor’s office assured me that local law enforcement had the capacity to get the situation under control,” said Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30). “The Republican resolution isn’t about safety — it’s political theater aimed at stripping Americans of their rights. Instead of targeting violent criminals, Trump is going after hardworking community members and using military force to intimidate dissent. Our resolution makes clear: we won’t let fear or federal overreach silence Californians exercising their constitutional rights.”
“This week, Republicans are forcing a vote on a partisan resolution to legitimize Trump’s unacceptable attacks on our community in Los Angeles and to excuse his warrantless mass ICE raids, his takeover of our National Guard, and his deployment of U.S. Marines on the streets of Southern California. This is just wrong. I’m proud to instead join my California Democratic colleagues in introducing this resolution to stand up to Trump’s attacks on California, defend our constitutional rights to due process and free expression, and thank the state and local law enforcement officers who have worked to protect public safety and prosecute those committing acts of violence and vandalism,” said Rep. Chu.
The resolution is cosponsored by: Reps. Aguilar, Bera, Brownley, Bynum, Carbajal, T. Carter, Chu, Cisneros, Correa, Costa, Dean, DelBene, DeSaulnier, Doggett, Espaillat, Friedman, Garamendi, R. Garcia, S. Garcia, J. Gomez, Gray, J. Hayes, Huffman, Ivey, Jacobs, Hank Johnson, Kamlager-Dove, T. Kennedy, Khanna, Landsman, Larsen, Latimer, Leger Fernandez, Levin, Liccardo, Lieu, Lofgren, Matsui, McCollum, Min, Morelle, Mullin, Panetta, Pelosi, Peters, Pettersen, Rivas, Ross, Ruiz, Salinas, L. Sanchez, Sherman, Simon, Swalwell, Takano, Thanedar, Thompson, N. Torres, Tran, Vargas, Waters, Whitesides.
Gdańsk, 24–26 June 2025 – Over 100 coast guard experts and decision-makers from across Europe gathered in Gdańsk for the 8th Annual European Coast Guard Event, hosted by Frontex in partnership with the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) and European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). Held under the Tripartite Working Arrangement, the event provided a space for open dialogue, fresh ideas, and closer cooperation between EU agencies and national maritime authorities.
This year’s edition focused on strengthening interagency services and building more effective partnerships to respond to shared challenges at sea.
Deep dive into Multipurpose Maritime Operations
AECGE 2025 was fully dedicated to Multipurpose Maritime Operations (MMOs) – the flagship operational model for joint EU agencies–Member States coast guard cooperation. Since 2019, a total of 16 such operations have taken place in key European maritime basins. Just days before the event, MMO Baltic Sea 2025 operation was launched, bringing together seven Member States and showing how far tripartite cooperation has come, in both scale and ambition.
MMOs are increasingly recognised by the Member States as valuable operational instruments, particularly in the current dynamic geopolitical landscape and in light of emerging maritime risks. They support joint situational awareness, cross-sector response capabilities, and operational solidarity across borders. The European Union Maritime Security Strategy (EUMSS) identifies the MMO model as a reliable tool for fostering interoperability – especially relevant in addressing complex, evolving threats.
Participants took part in hands-on breakout sessions aimed at shaping the future of multipurpose operations. Together, they explored how to:
• Bring more countries and authorities into the fold
• Improve planning and coordination between agencies
• Boost participation in joint trainings and exercises
• Tailor the length and scope of future operations to real-world needs
MME BRACE 2025: Joint exercise in the Bay of Gdańsk
On the second day of the event, theory met practice with the execution of MME BRACE 2025, a Multipurpose Maritime Exercise held in the Bay of Gdańsk. The exercise was developed and coordinated by Frontex and the Kashubian Border Guard Squadron of the Polish Maritime Border Guard, with participation from EFCA, EMSA, and other national maritime authorities.
Under the leadership of Frontex, MME BRACE 2025 brought together Poland’s Border Guard, search and rescue, fisheries, and maritime security communities, along with operational experts from EU agencies. The drill tested real-time coordination in complex scenarios involving several coast guard functions.
It demonstrated the MMO concept’s potential to strengthen joint response capabilities, interoperability, and cross-sectoral trust between EU and national actors.
Celebrating cooperation, shaping the future
AECGE 2025 also marked the 20th anniversaries of Frontex and EFCA, highlighting two decades of service in support of Europe’s coast guard authorities.
An official handover of the TWA chairmanship from Frontex to EMSA took place at the historical Ziółkowski Pier, underscoring the agencies’ shared commitment to continuity and operational excellence.
MMOs remain a cornerstone of EU-level support for the Member States in the maritime domain. Under the Tripartite Working Arrangement, Frontex, EFCA, and EMSA reaffirmed their joint commitment to a more safe, secure, and sustainable maritime environment.
In a world of fast-moving changes and growing complexity, unity remains our greatest strength. In line with the event’s motto – Together we navigate tomorrow – it is the spirit of cooperation that allows us to anticipate challenges, act with confidence, and navigate safely, whatever the future may hold.
IAM Local 1125 (District 725) member Bob Svenson recently received his long awaited notice that he has cleared the bar and is now a fully accredited Veterans Administration claims representative. He is now able to represent veterans seeking help with VA claims.
The status is hard to achieve because it allows these representatives to act much like an attorney, representing veterans in the claims process, and more.
“Many times the VA will come back and say your condition is not service connected and the veteran will just walk away,” said Svenson, a disabled U.S. Navy veteran. “Maybe one percent of those people will say, ‘Nope,’ and they’ll fight for it. I want to help everyone fight to get what they deserve.”
“Bob fought hard for this accreditation and the VA does not make it easy because it’s a very serious process when processing benefits from the VA,” said IAM Assistant Veterans Services Coordinator Bryan Stymacks. “He was banging on doors and making calls to people that could push the VA to act on his application. It takes three to five years sometimes to get through the process to be accredited.”
The IAM Union launched its Veterans Services Program in January 2021 with one accredited VA claims representative. So far, that representative, IAM Veterans Services Coordinator Rich Evans, has successfully gained more than $406,000 in monthly benefit increases, providing ongoing support to veterans and their 155 spouses and 259 children. The cumulative total of backpay recovered since the start of the program now stands at nearly $3.6 million.
“I sought accreditation on my own from the VA in 2016 and I know how hard it is to fight within the VA system”, said Evans. “So now there are two accredited claims representatives within the IAM Veterans Services Program, and we could probably use about 20.”
The IAM offers representation to IAM members and their families free of charge. Also the first labor organization to be recognized by the VA as a Veterans Service Organization (VSO), much like the DAV and American Legion. Accredited representatives can demand thousands of dollars to help with a claim, but the IAM views the representation as a guaranteed benefit of IAM membership.
The IAM Veterans Services Department continues to grow and and expand its services to military veteran members, many of whom do not realize that benefits like VA Healthcare can work as a supplement to other health insurance, reducing the out of pocket costs for healthcare for the veteran and enrolling the veteran in the proper programs as they become eligible for Medicare at retirement age. You can find out more here: IAM Veterans Services Intake Form
“I have three sets of families; my family that’s blood, my next family is my union family, and then it’s my military,” said Svenson. “I don’t care where on the spectrum they are, those are my families – you don’t mess with them.”
Svenson has been a member of the IAM Veterans Steering Committee since he attended the first veteran’s service training course at the Winpisinger Center in 2020. He is very active in the veterans councils in the western United States, and is based in San Diego with several roles at Local 1125.
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